The Temple of Hera II (also erroneously called the Temple of Neptune or of Poseidon), is a Greek temple in Paestum,

Campania Campania (, also , , , ) is an administrative Regions of Italy, region of Italy; most of it is in the south-western portion of the Italian peninsula (with the Tyrrhenian Sea to its west), but it also includes the small Phlegraean Islands and the i ...

Italy Italy ( it, Italia ), officially the Italian Republic, ) or the Republic of Italy, is a country in Southern Europe. It is located in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, and its territory largely coincides with the homonymous geographical re ...

. It was built in the

Doric order The Doric order was one of the three orders of ancient Greek and later Roman architecture; the other two canonical orders were the Ionic and the Corinthian. The Doric is most easily recognized by the simple circular capitals at the top of col ...

around 460–450 BC, just north of the first Hera Temple. If still in use by the 4th-and 5th century, it would have been closed during the

persecution of pagans in the late Roman Empire Persecution of pagans in the late Roman Empire began during the reign of Constantine the Great (306–337) in the military colony of Aelia Capitolina (Jerusalem), when he destroyed a pagan temple for the purpose of constructing a Christian church ...

Description

The temple has six columns along its shorter sides and fourteen columns along its longer sides. The columns do not have the typical 20 flutes on each column but have 24 flutes. The Temple of Hera II also has a wider column size and smaller intervals between columns. The

entasis In architecture, entasis is the application of a convex curve to a surface for aesthetic purposes. Its best-known use is in certain orders of Classical columns that curve slightly as their diameter is decreased from the bottom upward. It also may ...

, or curve, of its columns give a stronger visual presence. This temple is aligned with a double peaked mountain considered to be sacred by the Greeks. The name "Temple of Neptune" is a misnomer from the 18th century, even though it was actually dedicated to the goddess

Hera In ancient Greek religion, Hera (; grc-gre, Ἥρα, Hḗrā; grc, Ἥρη, Hḗrē, label=none in Ionic and Homeric Greek) is the goddess of marriage, women and family, and the protector of women during childbirth. In Greek mythology, she ...

. It is listed as a

UNESCO World Heritage Site A World Heritage Site is a landmark or area with legal protection by an international convention administered by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). World Heritage Sites are designated by UNESCO for h ...

. The temple was also used to worship

Zeus Zeus or , , ; grc, Δῐός, ''Diós'', label=Genitive case, genitive Aeolic Greek, Boeotian Aeolic and Doric Greek#Laconian, Laconian grc-dor, Δεύς, Deús ; grc, Δέος, ''Déos'', label=Genitive case, genitive el, Δίας, ''D� ...

and another deity, whose identity is unknown. There are visible on the east side the remains of two altars, one large and one smaller. The smaller one is a Roman addition, built when a road leading to a

Roman forum The Roman Forum, also known by its Latin name Forum Romanum ( it, Foro Romano), is a rectangular forum (plaza) surrounded by the ruins of several important ancient government buildings at the center of the city of Rome. Citizens of the ancient ...

was cut through the larger one. It also is possible that the temple originally was dedicated to both Hera and Poseidon; some offertory statues found around the larger altar are thought to demonstrate this identification. The Temple of Hera II resembles the

Temple of Zeus Temple of Zeus may refer to: Greece * Temple of Zeus, Olympia * Temple of Olympian Zeus, Athens * Sanctuary of Zeus Polieus, Athens Italy * Temple of Olympian Zeus, Agrigento * Temple G, Selinunte Selinunte (; grc, Σελῑνοῦς, Sel� ...

Olympia The name Olympia may refer to: Arts and entertainment Film * ''Olympia'' (1938 film), by Leni Riefenstahl, documenting the Berlin-hosted Olympic Games * ''Olympia'' (1998 film), about a Mexican soap opera star who pursues a career as an athlet ...

. With the other temples at Paestum it is one of the best preserved early Greek temples.

Gallery

File:Paestum, Italy (15222525492).jpg, The archaeological area around File:PaestumItalien.jpg, Reconstruction of the second temple of Hera from '' Pierer's Universal-Lexikon'', 1891. File:Y gianni Tempel Paestum 1898.jpg, Y. Gianni, 1898: Second Temple of Hera (foreground) with First Temple of Hera (background) File:"A company of men has set up its office between the columns (Doric) of an ancient Greek temple of Neptune, built about 7 - NARA - 531170.jpg, A company of soldiers set up its office between the columns (Doric) of the temple of Hera II, after the 1943 Allied Invasion of Italy at Paestum

Sources

Temple of Hera II, archaic Doric temple, 470–460 BCE
{{DEFAULTSORT:Temple of Hera II, Paestum Buildings and structures in the Province of Salerno Cilento Hera, Paestum Paestum Tourist attractions in Campania 5th-century BC religious buildings and structures Paestum (ancient city)

Description

Gallery

See also

Sources