Paestum: history of the famous temples

Among the many destinations to visit in Campania, Paestum is certainly one of the best known and most fascinating. The ancient Greek colony, now considered a UNESCO World Heritage Site, boasts a long history behind it and is rich in spectacular temples.

The history of Paestum

Located in an important region of Magna Grecia, the history of Paestum begins in the seventh century BC. A group of colonists from Sibari create a for8fied seBlement near the mouth of the river Sele and call it Poseidonia, in honor of the god of the sea: the area proves to be very strategic as it creates an important crossroads between the trade channels of the Ionian and the Tyrrhenian . In 510 BC the Sibari motherland is destroyed by the army of Crotone and the Sybarite leading figures take refuge in Poseidonia bringing with them their riches that give life to the different temples that characterize the colony. In 273 BC the colony was conquered by Rome, which changed its name to Paestum and redeveloped it in social and economic terms: it was under Roman influence that numerous buildings rose, including the famous amphitheater. The city had several centuries of splendor, but the emergence of new trade routes in the East and the cover-up of the Salso river pushed the inhabitants to leave Paestum in the 9th century AD, leaving the ancient temples, converted to Chris8an worship, in a state of neglect. It was only in the late 1700s that the interest in pre-classical architecture by numerous ar8sts allowed the rediscovery of Paestum.

The first temple of Paestum: the Basilica

Paestum's fame revolves around 3 imposing temples. The most imposing, and also the oldest one, dates back to 560 BC. Based on a solid stone structure, the construc8on today has no pediment but has been preserved very well despite over 2000 years of age. The internal room has a central row of columns. The real func8on of this temple has never been fully clarified, in fact today it is generally recognized as the "Basilica": various materials found have inscrip8ons that associate the temple with Hera, Zeus' wife.

The temple of Cerere in Paestum

To the north of the city, at the highest point, stands the temple of Cerere. Unlike the other places of worship present in Paestum, this is the only one of which there is concrete evidence that demonstrates its aBribu8on to the goddess of war and craqs. The structure appears to be one of the first to combine the Doric order with the Ionic order and has an internal raised area accessible through a large “pronao” surrounded by columns. Made in the 5th century BC the temple of Athena was later converted into a Chris8an church by knocking down the walls of the altar cell and using the ambulacrum to the south as a cemetery.

The temple of Neptune in Paestum

Among the structures present in Paestum, the temple of Neptune is the largest and the one in the best condi8ons in the whole city. The construc8on is based on large stone blocks and is free of mortar. The original structure provided for an imposing internal area divided into three naves through high two-floors colonnades. Although known as the "temple of Neptune", its aBribu8on is s8ll not sure: many experts think that the temple is dedicated to Hera, but the discovery of a statue of Zeus near the temple suggests the possibility that it could be aBributed to the father of the Greek gods.

Do you want to discover the history of the temples of Paestum on spot? Contact us and we will help you manage your holidays in the ancient Greek colony in complete safety.