Monday, January 28, 2008

Netherlands? Nee!


You might have guessed that this photo wasn't taken in The Netherlands. What gave it away? The greek ruin, the mountain, or the weather? Anyway, this isn't Greece either. The ruins of Pæstum lie off the Italian coast south of Salerno. There are three temples still (partially) standing, and a nice museum showcasing some of the archaeological finds from the area. Being somewhat off the beaten track, the site (although much smaller and less complete) is practically deserted compared to nearby Pompeii.

It's estimated that Greeks colonized this area, known to them as Poseidonia, sometime around the 7th century BC. The structure in this photo is currently considered to be the temple of Apollo (previously attributed to Poseidon then Hera). The date estimate is 450 BC, nearly 2500 years old. Truly amazing, especially on a beautiful winter day.

6 comments:

Lezard said...

SO that's where you went, you lucky....! What a sky !!!!! and the temple is obviously quite impressive. What causes the shade on the photo: a tree, another ruin?

Raquel Sabino Pereira said...

Wow...
Great shot!!!!!!!!

Ioanna said...

Yes, I thought it was in Greece! Everything matches! I'm impressed! Greetings from Ioannina, Greece! :)

Livio Bonino said...

I knew that Romans was arrives in Netherlands but I did not know also the Greeks, and they even built here a temple!
Funny! Paestum is a wonderful place indeed and beautiful also the roman temple close by.
Livio

Daniel Chérouvrier said...

Still going strong and beautiful.

R&R said...

Thanks to all for the comments! Lezard, there is another temple ruin right next to this one, but the shadow on the photo is in fact from a tree.