Monument to Great Sea Battle
Researchers discover 2,500-year-old ancient temple in southern Italy
The remains of the temple from antiquity are about 2500 years old and were apparently the memorial of a great naval battle
© Parco Archeologico Paestum e Velia / ANSA / DPA
Archaeologists have discovered the remains of an ancient temple in southern Italy. The complex was apparently dedicated to the goddess Athena and was intended to commemorate a sea battle.
Researchers have made a remarkable discovery in southern Italy. They found the remains of an ancient temple from around 2500 years ago. The building, which was apparently dedicated to the goddess Athena, was apparently intended to commemorate a devastating sea battle.
According to the scientists of the Paestum and Velia Archeological Park in the Italian province of Salerno, the temple was about 18 meters long and seven meters wide. “The archaeological finds on the Acropolis of Elea (Velia) suggest a sacred purpose for the structure,” said the director general of the Italian museums, Massimo Osanna, according to a statement from the Ministry of Culture on Tuesday.
Antiquity: The temple was apparently built as a monument to the great naval battle off Corsica
The results provide further insights into the oldest phase of a city that was once founded by settlers from Asia Minor, the statement said. Apparently, relics of a great naval battle between Punic and Etruscan on the one hand and Greek settlers on the other were kept in the temple. Among other things, the researchers found two helmets in the ruins. Analyzes should now check whether, for example, conclusions about the identity of their owners can be drawn from inscriptions.
The naval battle, which was apparently the starting point for the temple, took place between 540 and 535 BC off the east coast of the island of Corsica. The Greek historian Herodotus recorded them in his reports.
Italy’s culture minister is happy about the find
According to this, Punians and Etruscans are said to have expelled Greek settlers from the city of Alalia on Corsica. Originally, these came from the ancient Greek city of Phokaia, which is located in modern-day Turkey on the Aegean Sea. According to the records, the Greeks therefore fled and founded the city of Elea (Velia) on the Italian mainland.
As Der Spiegel reports, according to Herodotus’ records, the Greeks could have won the encounter at sea – but they lost a large number of boats in the process. The crews were captured and stoned to a large extent later.
Italy’s culture minister, Dario Franceschini, was delighted with the find of the former temple: “It is important to continue investing with conviction in archaeological research, which will not stop bringing back important pieces of Mediterranean history.”
Sources: ansa, The mirrorwith material from DPA