Ancient Greek Temples of Paestum 
Aerial view of Paestum, with the Temples of Neptune and Hera on left
(south), the forum in the center, and Temple of Ceres at right (north).
See our Paestum Map for a larger, fully interactive view.
View of the Temples of Neptune and Hera. Photo by Gary Cohen.
For more photos and larger sizes, see our Paestum Photo Gallery.
The Temple of Neptune/Apollo (450 BC). Photo by Phil Hollman.
Columns of the Temple of Neptune/Apollo. Photo by Dirk Huijssoon.
Temple of Hera (550 BC). Photo by Pedro Prats.
View of the Temple of Ceres or Athena (500 BC). Photo by nunavut.
Temple of Ceres or Athena (500 BC). Photo by Pedro Prats.
Roman ruins in the center of the site. Photo by Tim Schleicher.
Ancient Greek mural from the Tomb of the Diver. Photo by Rita Willaert.
Ancient Greek statues in the Paestum museum. Photo by Rita Willaert.
Sandy beach near Paestum. Photo by Michelle Callinan.
Paestum is an ancient Greco-Roman city in the Campania region of southern Italy. Located near sandy beaches in a region known for its delicious mozzarella di bufula, Paestum includes three well-preserved Doric Greek temples, ruins of ancient houses and a museum of artifacts. As an extra bonus, the site is off the beaten tourist path and is often deserted.
History
Paestum, or Poseidonia as it was originally known, was founded by Greeks from Sybaris in the 6th century BC. The city was colonized by the Romans in 273 BC, who latinized the name to Paestum.
By the 9th century AD, the land had become swampy and a combination of malaria and Saracen raids decimated the population. The city and its great temples were deserted and gradually overtaken by the forest, where it remained hidden until the 18th century during the building of a road.
What to See
Paestum is home to three magnificent Doric temples, which are thought to be dedicated to the city's namesake Poseidon (known to the Romans as Neptune), Hera and Ceres. The temples of Neptune and Hera are located next to each other at the southern end of the site, while the smaller Temple of Ceres is at the northern end. You can walk up close to the temples, but they are roped off to prevent interior access.
The Temple of Neptune (or Apollo or Hera II) dates from 450 BC and is the most complete of the three - everything remains intact except the roof and parts of the inner walls. It has double rows of columns. On the east side are remains of two altars, one large and one smaller. The smaller one was added by the Romans when they cut through the larger altar to build a road to the forum. Statues around the larger altar may indicate that Apollo was patron of the temple. Another possible dedication is Hera, like the temple next to it.
The Temple of Hera next door is the oldest of the three temples, built about 550 BC. It is sometimes called the Basilica, based on an error of earlier archaeologists in thinking it was a Roman public building. Unlike the other temples, the dedication of this one is certain, thanks to inscriptions to Hera on the temple. An open-air altar was unearthed in front of the temple, where the faithful could attend rites and sacrifices without entering the cella (the holiest area accessed by priests).
The Temple of Ceres (or Athena) was built in c.500 BC in a transitional style between Ionic and early Doric. It was later used as a Christian church, as indicated by three Christian tombs discovered in the floor. There was also a new Christian church built in Paestum in the 5th century, which still stands today (near the museum).
The middle of the site consists of the Roman forum, with extensive foundations of various public and private buildings.
Northwest of the forum is a small Roman amphitheater, of which only the southern half is visible. In 1930, a road was built across the site, burying the northern half. It is said by local inhabitants that the civil engineer responsible was tried, convicted and received a prison sentence for what was described as wanton destruction of a historic site.
The excellent museum across the road displays Greek and Roman artifacts from Paestum and around. Especially interesting are the rare Greek tomb paintings, the best of which are from the so-called Tomb of the Diver. The namesake mural shows a diver in mid-plunge, thought to represent the passage from life to death. The same tomb has murals of festive scenes and male lovers banqueting.
Other Greek artifacts on the main floor include a collection of 6th-century BC bronze vases decorated with rams, lions and sphinxes, as well as gleaming bronze helmets and breastplates. The upper floor is devoted to Roman artifacts, which include an abstract statue of Pan with his pipes, a 3rd-century rlief of a baby in pointed hat an amulets, and a sarcophagus cover depicting an embracing couple.
Quick Facts
| Names: | Paestum; Poseidonia |
| Type of site: | Greek temples; Roman site |
| Faith: | Ancient Greco-Roman |
| Status: | Ruins |
| Dates: | c.600 BC - 800 AD |
| Architecture: | Classical: Doric |
| Location: | 1 hr south of Salerno, 15 min from Agropoli, SW Italian coast, Campania, Italy |
| Hours: | Site: daily 9am-1 hr before sunset; Museum: daily 8:45am-7pm, closed 1st & 3rd Mon. |
| Cost: | €4 for site or museum; €6.50 for both |
Location Map
Below is a location map and aerial view of Paestum. Using the buttons on the left, zoom in for a closer look or zoom out to get your bearings. Click and drag the map to move around. For a larger view, see our Paestum Aerial Map or get our free Google Earth download.
Sources
- Rough Guide to Italy, 7th edition (2005), 918.
- Paestum.de
- Paestum - In Italy
- Paestum - Wikipedia
More Information
- Computer reconstructions of Paestum - PaestumGate
- Paestum Travel Forum - TripAdvisor
- Paestum Hotel Reviews - TripAdvisor
