Capaccio, two new Doric temples discovered in the Paestum park

Nin the western part of the ancient city of Poseidonia-Paestum, a few hundred meters from the sea, a stratigraphic excavation campaign has revealed two Greek temples of Doric style, dating back to the first decades of the 5th century BC. These temples are of great importance, offering new perspectives on the origins of the Magna Graecia polis and on the evolution of Doric architecture in the region.

The first temple, discovered in June 2019 and investigated starting from September 2022, represents an architectural unicum, with dimensions of 11.60×7.60 m and a peristasis of 4×6 columns. Recent findings suggest that the history of the sanctuary could be even older, with the ritual use of fragmentary Doric capitals dating back to the XNUMXth century BC

These discoveries indicate that an older temple, of modest size but with architectural features similar to the first great temples of Paestum, was replaced by a new structure in the 6th century BC. The significance of the discoveries not only concerns the architecture of the sanctuary, but also provides valuable information on the urban planning of Poseidonia.

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Behind the temple, the collapse of the defensive walls of the ancient city was discovered, indicating that, when the older temple was erected, Poseidonia did not yet have defensive walls. The discovery of a beaten road under the collapsed walls is an element of great interest, documenting the growth of the city in the 6th century BC.

The Minister of Culture, Gennaro Sangiuliano, stressed the importance of these discoveries and announced further initiatives to enhance the cultural heritage in the region. The Director General of Museums, Massimo Osanna, highlighted how recent discoveries contribute to the knowledge and enjoyment of cultural heritage, underlining the role of the National Museum System. The Director of the Archaeological Park of Paestum and Velia, Tiziana D'Angelo, anticipated the conclusion of the excavations and the creation of a new fruition path to make this important sanctuary accessible to the public.