Second Temple of Hera (Paestum)

Second Temple of Hera (Paestum)
Second temple of Hera
General information
Location	Paestum, Campania
Completed	c. 450 BC
UNESCO World Heritage Site
UNESCO World Heritage Site
Part of	"Paestum, Velia, the Certosa di Padula, Mount Cervati and the Vallo di Diano" part of Cilento and Vallo di Diano National Park with the Archeological Sites of Paestum and Velia, and the Certosa di Padula
Criteria	Cultural: (iii), (iv)
Reference	842-001
Inscription	1998 (22nd Session)

The Temple of Hera II (also erroneously called the Temple of Neptune or of Poseidon), is a Greek temple of Magna Graecia in Paestum, Campania, Italy. It was built in the Doric order around 460–450 BC, just north of the first Hera Temple of around 550–525 BC. 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.

The name "Temple of Neptune" is a misnomer from the 18th century, it is now thought it was actually dedicated to the goddess Hera, although it is possible that Poseidon (Neptune to the Romans) was also a dedicatee.

A. W. Lawrence described it as "the best preserved of all Greek temples".^[1] It was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1998.