Paestum was a major ancient Greek city on the coast of the Tyrrhenian Sea, in Magna Graecia. The ruins of Paestum are famous for their three ancient Greek temples in the Doric order dating from about 550 to 450 BC that are in an excellent state of preservation. The city walls and amphitheatre are largely intact, and the bottom of the walls of many other structures remain, as well as paved roads. The site is open to the public, and there is a modern national museum within it, which also contains the finds from the associated Greek site of Foce del Sele.
Paestum contains three of the best-preserved ancient Greek temples in the world, including the two Hera Temples shown above.
Aerial view of Paestum, looking north; two Hera Temples in foreground, Athena Temple in background, the modern museum on right.
First temple of Hera, c. 550 BC
Second temple of Hera, c. 450 BC
Magna Graecia was the name given by the Romans to the Greek-speaking coastal areas of Southern Italy in the present-day Italian regions of Calabria, Apulia, Basilicata, Campania and Sicily; these regions were extensively populated by Greek settlers starting from the 8th century BC.
Image: Paestum Temples (Italy, October 2020) 16 (50562474147)
Image: Segesta Ancient Greek Temple 0932
Image: Eos chariot 430 420 BC Staatliche Antikensammlungen
Image: Youth donkey Louvre Cp 5103
