Paestum

Paestum or Poseidonia is an archeological site dating from the VII E located in Italy, on the commune of Capaccio-Paestum in Campanie.

In 1998, UNESCO classified this site with the world heritage of Humanity.

History

The creation date of the city is not known exactly. The documents agree to say that the Greek city was built at the end of 7th by Greeks of Sybaris, an important Greek city of Calabria. Strabon, to the VII E, speaks about a village-fortress at the edge of the sea which it calls Poseidonia. With the O C and VI E, the city is at the top of its glory.

With the O C (410-420), Poseidonia becomes Lucanie, the conditions of this change are not known, perhaps a revolt of Lucaniens working in the city. The city takes again the name of Paistom .

In -273, the Romans found a colony of Roman law. The city bears the name of Paestum now.

The city always remained under the Roman domination but starts to enter during one time of decline between the 4th century and the 7th century, probably because of changes in the drainage which led to the marsh like on contemporary arrival of the malaria in Europe.

Then, following the destruction caused by Buckwheats at the 9th century and the Norman ones at the 11th century, the site was abandoned during the Middle Ages, when the inhabitants, driven out, founded Capaccio.

During the 18th century, the fashion of the “Large Turn” ignites well provided European youths. It is then of good tone to traverse the Europe and particularly the Italy with the research of most beautiful works of Article Rome, the Campanie and in particular Naples (thanks to the recent excavations of Pompéi and Herculanum) are the most attended places. Mow, rather than to accomplish a voyage in Greece (then under Turkish domination) to go to admire architecture Helene, it is differently easier to go in Paestum to explore the three Temple S doric preserved since centuries by the fear of the Malaria in the marshes around Paestum.

Monuments

Paestum gathers important architectural monuments of greque and Roman time. Among most important, one can quote the three large temples: two of Doric order and one of Doric order and ionic which constitute some of the more good examples of these styles. Except the temples, one can also mention the presence of small a Roman Amphithéâtre which acted as meeting place for the inhabitants; or the Comitium or even of other public edifices of Roman epoch. The ramparts of the city (4.75Km) today are well preserved and one can recognize the various constructive phases even there Lucanie and Roman. It is also noted that the four large doors of the city are Roman.

The Basilica

The basilica (Temple of Hera) was built into 550 before J. - C. It belongs to largest Greek temples the builds out of stone. The antiquated character of this monument is expressed through some singularities of its structure to knowing its construction of nine columns on the frontal sides.

The Temple of Cérès

The temple of Cérès was built 500 before J. - C. This temple smaller but is balanced more in the forms. This building is also known under the name of Temple of Athéna.

The Temple of Poséidon

The temple of Poséidon (Neptune was built towards 450 before J. - C. Actually, this temple is also dedicated to Hera. It reveals, in addition, the ancient shapes of the temple of Olympian Zeus.

The museum

The museum includes/understands an important collection of Greek ancient objects of the Southern Italy. They are in particular funerary objects coming from the discoveries made in the neighborhoods of Paestum and more precisely from the Greek Nécropole S and lucaines. Among those one also finds there many vases, weapons and frescos.

Most important are the tables coming from famous the Fresque of the Tomb of the Plunger (480-470 av. J. - C.), single examples of painting of the Greek Antiquité which interpret the transition from the life to the kingdom of deaths, like the jump of a plunger in water. The illustrating big number of the tombs of the frescos belong in particular to the period lucanienne of the history of the city.

Gallery

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