A potted history........
With its coastal position, for the Greeks who founded the city in the 7th century BC, the name 'Poseidonia' - honouring their god of the sea - must have been an obvious choice.
During the Middle Ages Paestum was abandoned when the surrounding plains succumbed to the malarial mosquito, after drainage canals built by the Romans had fallen into disuse - with the ruins remaining lost until chanced upon by road builders during the 18th century.
The site's archaeological museum contains many decorated panels from burial monuments. Unusually, some depict various human activities: the most celebrated of all was found in what's now known as the 'Tomb of the Diver'.
But watch out for the museum - although not the site - being closed on the 1st and 3rd Mondays of each month!
27-MAY-2002
For us, an early start...
... on one of the day's first ferries, from Ischia Porto to Naples for the train.
However it was 06:38, not an hour earlier (as recorded by the camera) since I'd
forgotten to change its clock after we flew in from London!
27-MAY-2002
Temple of Athena...
... formerly ascribed to Ceres
27-MAY-2002
The second temple of Hera ...
