Tristan Hughes

There was, almost certainly for centuries, a Greek population that remained at Pestum.

But Pestum did ultimately decline.

More than a millennia later, in the Middle Ages, flooding and climate shifts turned Pestum into a malarial swamp.

The site was abandoned and its magnificent temples fell into obscurity for centuries, marking the spot of a once mighty city.

Only in the 18th century was Pestum's story revived.

Since then, Pestum and its great temples have continued to inspire.

From painters and young aristocrats on their grand tours in the Georgian period, to Allied soldiers invading Italy in World War II, to filming the 1963 sword and sandal epic Jason and the Argonauts, to people visiting the site today.

When you think of ancient Italy, you naturally think of Rome.

But coming to a site like Pestum makes you realise that the Romans didn't live in a vacuum.

They shared Italy with a huge range of extraordinary cultures – Etruscans, Samnites, Lucanians, and of course, the Greeks.

And Pestum is the greatest place where you can see that today.

Thanks to the amazing work of experts like Catherine and Tiziana, we're still learning more about Pestum and the people who lived in this city.

We're learning more about the Greeks of Magna Graecia full stop, their interactions with the local peoples, their lasting impacts on the ancient Mediterranean world, their incredible art and architecture that has stood the test of time, epitomized by Pestum's magnificent temples.

I'll end this episode with a poem, written by Cornish poet Nicholas Michel almost 200 years ago after he visited Pestum and laid eyes on its majestic ruins.

Thank you for listening to this special Ancients episode all about the ancient wonder that is Pestum.

Hopefully this has inspired you to add the site to your ancient history sites bucket list, and you won't be disappointed.

If you want to see all the things we've talked about and so much more, then do go and check out my latest documentary on History Hit, which explores the story of the city and its people, from its Greek beginnings to its final takeover by the Romans.

We'll put a link to the documentary in the show notes.

Thank you once again for listening.

If you enjoyed this special episode, please remember to follow The Ancients on Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.