PAESTUM (city in Lucania)
Ancient Greek city in present-day village Paestum, Italy
- Kind of place
- City
- Region
- Lucania
- Where
- 40.42° N, 15.01° E
The Greeks named the town Posidonia. Pliny, Nat. Hist. 3.10 ¶1 Pæstum is described as having warm rose-beds along its coast. Ovid Met. 15.622-744 (4) Roses in this location are noted for blooming, fading, and blooming again. Georgics 4.116
Described in the sources
The city is located in the Tyrrhenian Gulf. Athenaeus 14.31 Poseidonia is a region where a rock is located. Diodorus 4.22 A gulf bearing the name Pæstum is situated near the town. Pliny, Nat. Hist. 3.10 ¶1 The Posidoniate Gulf is now known as the Gulf of Paestum. Strabo 5.4.13 The Gulf of Pæstum is located opposite the island of Leucasia. Pliny, Nat. Hist. 3.13 ¶2 The inhabitants were originally Greeks before becoming completely barbarised. Athenaeus 14.31 Pæstum is located in the third region of Italy, which includes Lucania and Bruttium. Pliny, Nat. Hist. 3.10 ¶1
Gods and worship
They still celebrate one Greek festival to recall ancient names and customs. Athenaeus 14.31
Stories and history
The people eventually became Tyrrhenians or Romans. Athenaeus 14.31 The Leucani seized control of the city at some point. Strabo 5.4.13 The Romans eventually deprived the Leucani of the city. Strabo 5.4.13 The inhabitants changed their language and national habits. Athenaeus 14.31 The inhabitants later moved the city to a higher elevation. Strabo 5.4.13 Participants in the festival bewail their losses and then go home. Athenaeus 14.31 A river overflowing nearby marshy districts makes the city unhealthy. Strabo 5.4.13 The Sybarites originally built the city's fortifications close to the sea. Strabo 5.4.13