150 Route 10. PAESTUM. Environs
in the entire tract along the coast between this point and Batti¬
paglia, has been somewhat diminished by the improvements of
the last few years.
The ancient Town-walls, forming an irregular pentagon, on
the river Salso, not far from the coast, about 2 M. in circum¬
ference, constructed of blocks of travertine, are almost entirely
preserved: also a gate on the E. side towards the mountains,
with two bas-reliefs on the key-stones representing dolphins and
sirens. Outside the latter, fragments of an aqueduct, pavement
of the road and several towers. Without the N. gate , by which
the town is entered from Salerno, was a Street of tombs. Seve¬
ral of these, which have been opened, contained Greek weapons;
in one of them examined in 1854 were found fine mural pain¬
tings : warriors taking leave of their friends. The objects disco¬
vered in the course of the excavations, which are still continued,
are to be seen in the Villa Belletti.
The Temples at Ptestum (custodian 1 1.) of ancient Greek
construction, are, with the single exception of those at Athens,
the finest extant monuments of this description. They are three
in number. The largest and most beautiful is that in the centre,
the so-called **Temple of Neptune, 66V2 yds. in length, 262/3 yds.
in width. At each extremity are 6 massive, fluted Doric co¬
lumns , 28 ft. in height; on each side 12, in all 36 columns of
7 ft. in diameter, all well-preserved. In the interior of the
Cella are two series of 8 columns each (about 6 ft. in diameter),
with a second row of smaller columns above, which supported
the roof. The latter are preserved on one side only. The stone
is a species of travertine, to which age has imparted a mellow
tone. It contains fossil reeds and aquatic plants. The whole
was once covered with stucco, in order to conceal the imper¬
fections of the stone. The temple was a hypasthron, i. e., the
cella, where the image stood, was uncovered. The proportions
of the symmetrically tapering columns, whether viewed from the
vicinity or from a distance, are perfect. This temple, as its entire
character betokens, is one of the most ancient specimens of
Greek art. Photographs, models etc. may easily be procured. A
stone basis in front of the E. facade probably appertained to a
large sacrificial altar/
To the S. of the latter, towards the river Silarus, rises the
second temple, the so-called * Basilica (a misnomer), of more
recent origin, but also of great antiquity. It is 60'/3 yds. in
length, 27 yds. in width, and its 50 columns are each 6 ft. in
diameter, but the proportions of the whole are less majestic than
those of the temple of Neptune. At each extremity 9 columns, on
each side 16. also of travertine stone. The shafts of the columns
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