Temple of Neptune, Paestum

Second Temple of Hera (Paestum)
Second temple of Hera
General information
Location	Paestum, Campania

The Temple of Hera II (also erroneously called the Temple of Neptune), is a Greek temple in Paestum, Campania, Italy. The name Temple of Neptune is a misnomer from the 18th century, even though it was actually dedicated to the goddess Hera. It is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site. The Second Temple of Hera contained only Doric style columns which signifies the close bond it has with Earth and by using these columns which were larger and wider pointed to that. It is also perfectly aligned to face a double peaked mountain which the Greeks associated with something of importance as this was not a common happening.

The Temple of Hera II was closely modeled on the Temple of Zeus at Olympia. The Second Temple of Hera has six columns along its shorter sides and fourteen columns along its longer sides.

Reconstruction of the second temple of Hera from Pierer's Universal-Lexikon, 1891.

Plan of the second temple of Hera.

Y. Gianni, 1898: Second Temple of Hera (foreground) with First Temple of Hera (background)

A company of soldiers set up its office between the columns (Doric) of the temple of Hera II, after the 1943 Allied Invasion of Italy at Paestum

Coordinates: 40°25′12″N 15°00′19″E / 40.4199°N 15.0053°E / 40.4199; 15.0053