Archaeologists find Doric-style temples in ancient Poseidonia.

Archaeologists excavating in the ancient city of Poseidonia discovered two Doric temples.

Poseidonia was established as a Greek colony in 600 BC in the modern-day Province of Salerno, Campania, Italy.

The city emerged as a prominent religious center, as evidenced by the construction of three massive temples (dedicated to Hera and Athena) in the Archaic interpretation of the Greek Doric order, dating back to around 550–450 BC.

After the Pyrrhic War, the expanding Roman Republic seized Poseidonia in the third century BC, renaming the city Paestum and establishing a Latin colony.

According to a press release published by the Italian Ministry of Culture, archaeologists discovered two previously unknown Doric style temples while excavating the western side of Poseidonia near the ancient city walls.

One of the temples, dating back to the early fifth century BC, has well-preserved architectural vestiges of the stylobate, a stepped platform that supported the columns that held up the temple roof.

The stylobate is 11.5 by 7.6 metres in size, and visible elements include the four-sided peristatis columns that ringed the inner sanctuary known as the cella. Typically, the cella would house a cult image or statue of the deity worshipped at the temple.

Excavations also discovered partial temple column capitals similar to the Doric capitals at Poseidonia's Temple of Hera, the city's oldest surviving temple dedicated to the goddess Hera.

Image Credit : Italian Ministry of Culture

Archaeologists discovered remnants of a second temple at the same place, which predates the one described above. According to the scholars, this temple most likely collapsed around the sixth century BC, with architectural components and masonry recycled into the new temple building.

"Recent finds demonstrate that there is still much to be done in Paestum [Poseidonia] in terms of excavation, research, and valorisation. After decades of research, the Ministry of Culture is launching significant initiatives," stated Culture Minister Gennaro Sangiuliano.