Paestum (Greek temples)

The city was founded by the Greeks in the 7th century BC with the name of Poseidonia. Its wealth is documented by the construction, between the 6th and 5th century BC, of numerous temples, of which we can admire the ruins still today.

In 400 BC the Lucani, an Italic population, conquered the city and gave it the name Paistom. In 273 BC it became a Roman colony with the name of Paestum, after that the city had allied with the defeated king Pirro, who lost the war against Rome at the beginning of the 3rd century BC.

The city remained under the Roman domination, but started declining between the 4th and 7th century AD, probably following problems in the draining system which led to swamps and malaria. Following the devastations brought by the Saracens in the 9th century AD and the Normans in the 11th Paestum was abandoned by its inhabitants during the Middle Ages , which founded the nearby town of Capaccio.



01.  The Temple of Athena (500 BC) displaying important Greek architectural elements.

02.  The Basilica (540 BC)

03.  The Temple of Poseidon