Rome and the Plain of Paestum

A detailed analysis of the Roman conquest of Campania reveals that the coastal strip of the Gulf of Salerno, including areas around Paestum and Velia, was densely populated with Greek and Etruscan towns that maintained their urban structures even after being conquered by the Lucanians or Samnites in the late fifth century BCE. These towns featured well-preserved defensive walls, residential zones, public spaces, and places of worship, providing significant insights into the urban planning and architectural practices of the region during this transitional period. The study employs a combination of archaeological evidence, historical records, and spatial analysis to reconstruct the urban landscape and its evolution under successive conquests.

Pellegrino, C., & Serritella, A. (2024). Rome and the Plain of Paestum. The Routledge Handbook of the Archaeology of Urbanism in Italy in the Age of Roman Expansion, 267–286. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003271895-19