Paestum, Latinized name of the term Paistom with which it was called after its conquest by the Samnites, is an ancient city of Magna Graecia called Poseidon, in honor of Poseidon, but was a devout also to Era and Athena. Found in more recent time as Pesto, a name kept until 1926, when it was renamed in the current version. The extension of the town is still clearly recognizable, enclosed by its Greek walls, as amended in Lucan and Roman times.
Founded by the Greeks around the seventh century BC, originally called Poseidon, Poseidon, or Neptune, God of the sea, the city was dedicated to him. Between 400 and 273 was later occupied by the Italic people of Lucania.
In 273 he became a Roman colony under the name of Paestum and there is no doubt that the foundation of the city was preceded by the installation of a commercial farm on the left bank, near the mouth of the river Silaros, and that the malarial soil conditions led to move the town eastward, on a lime bank slightly raised on the plains and the coast.
The end of the Roman Empire coincided roughly with the end of the city. Around 500 AD, in fact, following an outbreak of malaria, aggravated by the unhealty land, Paestum was abandoned by the habitants who took refuge in the nearby mountains: the new settlement took its name from the springs of Salso, Caput Aquae, precisely, which probably derives from the name Capaccio. They found refuge from malaria and Saracen raids, bringing with it the cult of St. Maria del Granato, still venerated in the Sanctuary of Madonna del Granato. In the eleventh century the Norman Ruggero began operation depredation of the materials of the temples of Paestum, and Robert Guiscard did rob the abandoned buildings of the city to obtain and marble sculptures to be used in the construction of the Cathedral of Salerno.
With the abandonment of Paestum, the ancient city was only a vague memory. During the Renaissance, poets and other writers have mentioned Paestum, while ignoring the exact location.
Only in the early eighteenth century, scholars begins to find hints, descriptive works in the Kingdom of Naples, three “theaters” or “amphitheaters” places not far from the river Sele. Following the opening by Charles of Bourbon of the SS18 street, which severed the amphitheater into two parts, there was the final discovery of the ancient city. The art historial Winckelmann called attention to the monuments of Paestum, Goethe represented evocatively romantic encounter with the Paestum town, with its solemn and impressive ruins, silent witnesses immersed in the desolation of the plain of Paestum.
In this widespread interest in the early twentieth century, scholars and archaeologists, recognizing a newly formed in limestone bed generated over millennia by precipitation from the waters of the Salso river, undertook the first excavations between 1907 and 1914 surveys the area interested the “Basilica” going in the direction of the Forum between 1925 and 1938 they completed the excavation of the Forum – identification of the so-called “Temple of Peace”, the comitium, the Porta Marina street, and the amphitheater – and intensified searches around the Temple of Ceres, was completed the excavation of the walls, partially restored, were identified and the Marina Door and the Justice Door, in the fifties deepened investigations of areas around the temples, bringing the recovery of the votive offerings of the “Basilica” and “Temple of Neptune”, allowing the recovery not only of extraordinary works and almost unique, as the Tomb of the Diver, but also the rich grave goods with the beautiful pottery produced locally by renowned artists as Assteas, Python and the Painter of Aphrodite.
WELCOME TO THE 5th EDITION OF “PAESTUM BALLONS FESTIVAL 2013″!!! FROM SEPTEMBER 28th to OCTOBER 6th Do you want to feel an amazing emotion? Would you like to surprise someone with a gift really special and original? Live the wonderfull experience of the Ballon Flight and see the Cilento’s Coast and the Archeological Area from another point of view . Departure from the archaeological area of Paestum and landing safely on a flat identified during the excursion air. A ground crew shall turn the passengers in the take-off with motorized vehicle . All that remains , therefore, that enjoy the spectacle of the view of the temples from above and satisfy their curiosity on the flight thanks to the professionalism of the pilots. …
An ancient City founded around the end of the 7th century BC, originally known as Poseidonia, Paestum is one of the most important and fascinating Italian Archeological sites. Forgotten for many Centuries and only rediscovered in the XVI century, Paestum was expanding with the building of roads, temples and other features of a growing city. The main features of the site today are the standing remains of three major temples in Doric style, dating from the first half of the 6th century BC dedicated to Hera and Athena, although they have traditionally been identified as a basilica and temples of Neptune and Ceres, owing to 18th century mis-attribution. The city …
This walking tour takes you through the ruins of Ancient Paestum, and shows the truly magnificence of the city founded around the end of the 7th century BC by colonists from the Greek city of Sybaris, and originally known as Poseidonia, Paestum is one of the most important and fascinating Italian Archeological site.
It was first a Greek city, then a Roman Colony …
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