Dr. Tiziana D'Angelo

You've got Lucanians sort of migrating south in the 5th, and Pestum is becoming much more ethnically mixed as a result.

The history of the 4th century BC is really a seminal one for Rome.

It's the period in which Rome really starts its push to control the rest of Italy.

So right at the beginning of the 4th century, Rome is really rather in the doldrums.

It gets sacked by the Gauls.

It has to rebuild.

It's...

not in a very happy state.

But by the middle of the century, it embarks on a whole series of wars in Italy, which ultimately end up by the early third century with it conquering the whole of Italy.

Polybius famously says that it conquered the whole of Italy within a very short period of time, and this is a tremendous achievement.

A lot of ancient sources theme this as a series of coherent wars against the Samnites.

Livy says rather grandly that

you know, this is going to determine whether Samnite or Roman shall rule Italy.

It really does see it as a sort of complete showdown with the Samnites.

Peaceton is very much a special site today.

I mean, the reason why is, I think, partly its visual impact.

You know, it is in this very low-lying area.

And as you approach it from the railway station or as you pass it on the train, you know, you see this vast plain with these three absolutely magnificent Doric temples.

And it is really quite eye-popping.

Now that it is visible again, it is this really very visually striking sight, one which gives you a tremendous sense of what these cities were and how important they were.