Page:Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography Volume II.djvu/530

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page needs to be proofread.

514 PAESTUM. fact, two temples united in one. It has 18 co- lumns in each side, and is 180 feet long by 80 in ■width. The third temple, which is at some distance from the other two, nearer to the N. gate of the town, and is commonly known as the Temple of Ceres or Vesta (though there is no reason for either name), is much smaller than the other two, being only 108 feet in length by 48 in breadth : it presents no remarkable architectural peculiarities, but is, as well as the so-called Basilica, of much later date than the great temple. Mr. Wilkins, indeed, would assign them both to the Roman period: but it is dif- ficult to reconcile this with the history of the city, which never appears to have been a place of much importance under the Roman rule. (Swmburnes Travels, vol. ii. pp. 131—138 ; Wilkins's 3Iagna Graecia, pp. 55 — 67.) The otlier remains are of Uttle importance, ine vestiges of an amphitheatre exist near the centre of the city; and not far from them are the fallen ruins of a fourth temple, of small size and clearly of Roman date. Excavations have also laid bare the foundations of many houses and other build- ings, and the traces of a portico, which appear to indicate the site of the ancient forum. The remains of an aqueduct are also visible outside the walls; and numerous tombs (some of which are said to be of much interest) have been recently brought to light. PAGASAE. Plin. iii. 5. s. 10). It is probable that the worship of the Argive Hera, or Juno, was brought hither by the Troezenian colonists of Posidonia. Pliny places the temple on the N. bank of the Silarus ; Strabo, probably more correctly, on the S. The extensive gulf which extends from the pro- montory of Minerva (the Punta delta Campwnella') to the headland called Posidium (the Punta di Li- cosa), and is now known as the Gulf of Salerno, derived its ancient name from the city of Paestum, being called by the Romans Paest.ujus Sinus, and by the Greeks the gulf of Posidonia (noffeiSoKio- ^1 rrjs KoK-rros. (Strab. v. p. 251 ; Sinus Paestanus, ^ Plm. iii. 5. s. 10 ; Mel. ii. 4. § 9; Cic. ad Alt. xvi. * 6.) EE.H.B.] PLAN OF PAESTUM. A. Temple of Neptune. B. Temple, commonly called Basilica. C. Smaller temple, of Vesta (?). D. Amphitheatre. E. Other ruins of Roman time. F F. Gates of the city. G. River Salso. The small river which (as already noticed by Strabo), by stagnating under the walls of Paestum, rendered its situation so unhealthy, is now called the Salso : its ancient name is not mentioned. It forms extensive deposits of a calcareous stone, resembling the Roman travertin, which forms an excellent building material, with which both the walls and edifices of the city have been constructed. The ma- laria, which caused the site to be wholly abandoned during the middle ages, has already sensibly dimi- nished, since the resort of travellers has again at- tracted a small population to the spot, and given rise to some cultivation. About five miles from Paestum, at the mouth of the Silarus or Sele, stood, in ancient times, a cele- brated temple of Juno, which, according to the tra- dition adopted both by Strabo and Pliny, was founded by the Argonauts under Jason (Strab. vi. p. 252 ; COINS OF PAESTUM. PAESU'L A {XiaiaovXa), a town of the Turdetani in Hispania Baetica. (Ptol. ii. 4. § 13.) It is identified by Ukert with Salterns, but its site is uncertain. PAESUS (nai(T<J$), an ancient town on the coast of Troas, at the entrance of the Propontis, between Lampsacus and Parium. (Hom. 11. ii. 828, v. 612; Herod, v. 117.) At one period it received colonists from Miletus ; but in Strabo's time (xiii. p. 589) the town was destroyed, and its inhabitants had trans- ferred themselves to Lampsacus, which was likewise a Milesian colony. The town derived its name from the small river Paesus, on which it was situated, and now bears the name Beiram-Dere. [L. S.] PAGAE. [Pegae.] PAGALA (to TiaydXa, Arrian, Indie, c. 23,) a place on the coast of Gedrosia, to which the fleet of Nearchus came after leaving the river Arabis. It seems probable that it is the same as a place called Segada or Pegala by Philostratus, and which was also in the country of the Oritae (^Vit. Apoll. iii. 54). It cannot be identified with any existing spot. [V.] PAGASAE (Xaya<Tai: also Pagasa, gen. -ae, Plin. iv. 8. s. 15; Mela, iL 3. § 6; Prop. i. 20. 17: Eth. Uayacratos, Pagasaeus), a town of Magnesia in Thessaly, situated at the northern extremity of the bay named after it. (no70(njTiKbs k6itos, Scylax, p. 24; Strab. ix. p. 438; UayacrlTr)s, Dem. Phil. Epist. 159; Pagasaeus Sinus, Mela, I.e.; Pagasicus, Plin. I. c.) Pagasae is celebrated in mythology as the port where Jason built the ship Argo, and from which he sailed upon his adventurous voyage : hent e some of the ancients derived its name from the con- struction of that vessel (from irriyvvijn'), but others from the numerous and abundant springs which were found at this spot. (Strab. ix. p. 436.) Pagasae was conquered by Philip after the defeat of Ono- marchus. (Dem. 01. i. pp. 11, 13; Diod. xvi. 31, where fur na7ai we ought probably to read Hayaaai.^