Paestum Temples of Poseidon
Paestum Archaeological Park · Poseidonia · Temple of Neptune
Archaeic-Classical Greek 600–450 BCE·Greek (Achaean colonists) then Lucanian and Roman·🇮🇹 Campania, Italy
About
About Paestum Temples of Poseidon
Best preserved triad of Archaic-Classical Greek Doric temples on Italian mainland at Poseidonia (founded 600 BCE by Sybaris): Basilica (Temple of Hera I) 550 BCE earliest, Neptune (Temple of Hera II) 460 BCE canonical 6x14 with two-tier interior colonnade, Temple of Athena 500 BCE with eclectic Doric/Ionic. Walls 4.75 km. Roman later phase but Greek temples spared.
Why it mattersOnly mainland Greek temples rivaling Agrigento completeness; Neptune interior colonnade unique two-tier preservation
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Hera/Neptune/Poseidon dedication debates – outdated temple names persist
- 02Diver tomb fresco 470 BCE foreign Greek style
Theories
- 01Greek colonization as grain port thesis
- 02Doric evolution direct transfer vs local refinement
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- Basilica 550 BCE, Athena 500 BCE, Neptune 460 BCE
- Period
- Archaeic-Classical Greek 600–450 BCE
- Culture
- Greek (Achaean colonists) then Lucanian and Roman
- Purpose
- Colonial Greek sanctuary precinct and polis center
- Abandoned
- 273 BCE Roman colony Paestum founded over Greek
- Excavation
- Excavation ongoing
600 BCE
Sybaris founds Poseidonia
550 BCE
Basilica earliest Doric temple in Italy
460 BCE
Neptune temple (Hera II) built
390 BCE
Lucanian takeover; tomb paintings
On the ground
Structures & features
40.4219° N · 15.0056° E · 15 m · 3 mapped features
Temple of Neptune (Hera II)
temple460 BCE 6x14 with preserved two-storey interior colonnade
40.4224° N · 15.0062° EBasilica (Temple of Hera I)
temple550 BCE 9x18 archaic irregular Doric with decorated entablature
40.4202° N · 15.0051° ETemple of Athena
temple500 BCE 6x13 with first appearance of Ionic in entablature
40.4245° N · 15.0059° E
Gallery