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The "Giardino Romano" was called this way in the 1950s when, following archaeological investigations, the space took on the appearance of a vast rectangular esplanade.
The "Giardino Romano" was called this way in the 1950s when, following archaeological investigations, the space took on the appearance of a vast rectangular esplanade.
In ancient times, however, the area must not have appeared in this way, on the contrary, it must have been occupied by various structures such as the smallest temple of ancient Poseidonia-Paestum.
In ancient times, however, the area must not have appeared in this way, on the contrary, it must have been occupied by various structures such as the smallest temple of ancient Poseidonia-Paestum.
After crossing the entrance from the road that leads from the southern sanctuary with the so-called temple of Neptune towards the Roman forum you find yourself in front of the asclepeion, the sanctuary of Asclepius, god of medicine, and a vast green area where initially, after the deduction of the Latin colony, a temple was built here in Paestum, probably to Mater Matuta, a deity who, like Asclepius, also has a connection with health.
After crossing the entrance from the road that leads from the southern sanctuary with the so-called temple of Neptune towards the Roman forum you find yourself in front of the asclepeion, the sanctuary of Asclepius, god of medicine, and a vast green area where initially, after the deduction of the Latin colony, a temple was built here in Paestum, probably to Mater Matuta, a deity who, like Asclepius, also has a connection with health.
The foundations of this building remain but at a certain point it was dismantled. What you can still see is the complex that was created in the imperial era: an open area more or less aligned with the gate but oriented in a slightly different way.
The foundations of this building remain but at a certain point it was dismantled. What you can still see is the complex that was created in the imperial era: an open area more or less aligned with the gate but oriented in a slightly different way.
Here is the smallest temple in Paestum, with an altar in front. The small temple essentially consists of a podium and a road leading from the square to the podium. It couldn't have been a large building, it was rather a shrine: four columns with perhaps a statue of the goddess or god underneath. It is a typology of monuments that we often encounter in heroic cult. Perhaps this is also related to Asclepius but it is not known. What is interesting to note in this space, behind a thermal complex - the so-called forum baths - is that on both sides there are very low walls that divide the central space from the area behind it. From the spa complex there is a water pipe that goes towards environments which, however, do not appear to be swimming pools. In some places there are pipes coming out, so it doesn't seem like they were used to contain the water. They could be flowerbeds where herbs were grown, which some late ancient sources also mention, which recall Paestum as a place where medicinal herbs grow.
Here is the smallest temple in Paestum, with an altar in front. The small temple essentially consists of a podium and a road leading from the square to the podium. It couldn't have been a large building, it was rather a shrine: four columns with perhaps a statue of the goddess or god underneath. It is a typology of monuments that we often encounter in heroic cult. Perhaps this is also related to Asclepius but it is not known. What is interesting to note in this space, behind a thermal complex - the so-called forum baths - is that on both sides there are very low walls that divide the central space from the area behind it. From the spa complex there is a water pipe that goes towards environments which, however, do not appear to be swimming pools. In some places there are pipes coming out, so it doesn't seem like they were used to contain the water. They could be flowerbeds where herbs were grown, which some late ancient sources also mention, which recall Paestum as a place where medicinal herbs grow.
It seems like an ancient tradition linked first and foremost to the centaur Chiron who was venerated here and is linked to medicine, but also to Asclepius, perhaps to Mater Matuta. This tradition seems to have evolved over the centuries, survived and then gave rise to a medical school which we can deduce existed in Paestum also on the basis of written sources from the late era.
It seems like an ancient tradition linked first and foremost to the centaur Chiron who was venerated here and is linked to medicine, but also to Asclepius, perhaps to Mater Matuta. This tradition seems to have evolved over the centuries, survived and then gave rise to a medical school which we can deduce existed in Paestum also on the basis of written sources from the late era.
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