Two more temples excavated in Paestum

The site of Paestum in southern Italy and once part of Magna Graecia is known for its three well-preserved temples. One is dedicated to Poseidon (hence the city’s Greek name of Poseidonia), the second to Athena although originally attributed to Ceres, and the third one to Hera. The last one is the oldest of the three and counts an uneven number of columns. At the time of my first visit in the 1970s, it was defined as a Basilica (see: Experiencing the perfection of a Greek temple). 

[Picture from Italy Mama Mia!]

Meanwhile, two more Doric temples have been located close to the ancient city walls. The best-preserved one from the 5th century BC has kept its stylobate or temple floor measuring 11.5x7.5 meters with outlines of the cella. The cella or noas would have held the statue of the divinity to which the temple was dedicated. The remains of Doric capitals were very similar to those belonging to the Temple of Hera mentioned above. 

The second temple apparently was older and probably collapsed during the 6th century BC. Some architectural elements have been salvaged and reused for the construction of the first temple. 

Archaeological excavations are still ongoing in Paestum as documented in an earlier blogpost Luxurious Greek villa revealed in Paestum.