Roman Paestum: Images of a City in Transformation
International Study Conference
National Archaeological Museum of Paestum, 18-20 September 2025
Call for Papers
Abstract submission deadline: 15 April 2025
In modern thinking the image of Paestum often overlaps with the marvellous Greek temples in Doric
order that tower over the archaeological area. The identification of the site and the modern town with
its three major sacred buildings is mainly due to the outstanding state of conservation of the structures,
which are to this day among the best preserved across the entire Greek world. The visibility and
monumentality of the city’s earliest past, which from the 5th century BC was also marked by the
production of painted tombs, had an impact on modern scholarship. So far, research has mostly
focused on the Graeco-Lucanian phase of the polis of Poseidonia, while the Roman city of Paestum,
so called by the Romans after the establishment of a colony in 273 BC, has received less attention.
However, the archaeological evidence related to the period following the beginning of the 3rd century
BC contributes to drawing the picture of an extremely vital and dynamic city, in terms of building
activity as well as material and artistic culture.
This conference seeks to examine the dynamics of the development and transformation of the city of
Paestum and the territory around it from the Roman period to Late Antiquity (273 BC - 5th century
AD). In this perspective, it offers the opportunity to present the results of recent studies, explore new
approaches and exchange innovative ideas that will foster future research in the field. One of the key
themes is represented by the social and cultural interactions between the local community and the
complex network of Italic towns that gradually entered the orbit of Rome. Considering the importance
of the topic, the conference papers will be collected and published in a proceedings volume. The
conference also follows the recent opening of the new Roman section of the National Archaeological
Museum of Paestum, named after Mario Torelli, who curated the first permanent exhibition 25 years
ago.
In order to give a coherent structure to the conference and, at the same time, ensure a wide variety of
contents, we welcome papers and posters addressing issues within one or more of the following
research areas:
• Archaeological excavations (closed or in progress)
• Urban planning (including data and updates on urban and extraurban viability)
• Architecture (sacred, civil, and private)
• Topography and Landscape Archaeology
• Epigraphy
• Historiography
• Numismatics
• Sculpture
• Pottery and Coroplastics
• Metal objects
• Biological Anthropology and Archaeometry
Individual presentations should not exceed 20 minutes and each session will be followed by a
discussion. Posters will be displayed during the conference and briefly presented within a specific
session.
The official languages of the conference are Italian and English.
Languages accepted for the publication of the conference proceedings are Italian, English, French,
German, Spanish.
The deadline to submit abstracts (max 400 words, in Italian or English) to the conference email
address is 15 April 2025. Applicants will be notified of the results of the selection process by 15
May 2025.
The Archaeological Parks of Paestum and Velia encourage the participation of students and
PhD candidates and, for this purpose, will award two scholarships that will cover travel and
accommodation expenses. Candidates who are interested in applying for a scholarship should
indicate it in the abstract submission email.
Any queries related to the conference or the review process should be sent to the Organizing
Committee.
Scientific Committee
Jon Albers (Ruhr- University of Bochum)
Rebecca Ammerman (Colgate University)
Raffaella Bonaudo (Soprintendenza Archeologia, Belle Arti e Paesaggio per le province di Salerno e
Avellino)
Federico Carbone (University of Salerno)
Tiziana D’Angelo (Archaeological Parks of Paestum and Velia)
Bianca Ferrara (University of Naples Federico II)
Fausto Longo (University of Salerno)
Mauro Menichetti (University of Salerno)
Umberto Soldovieri (Scuola Normale Superiore)
Organizing Committee
Silvio Leone (Archaeological Parks of Paestum and Velia)
Teresa Marino (Archaeological Parks of Paestum and Velia)
Rosaria Sirleto (Archaeological Parks of Paestum and Velia)
Conference Email Address
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National Archaeological Museum of Paestum, 18-20 September 2025
Call for Papers
Abstract submission deadline: 15 April 2025
In modern thinking the image of Paestum often overlaps with the marvellous Greek temples in Doric
order that tower over the archaeological area. The identification of the site and the modern town with
its three major sacred buildings is mainly due to the outstanding state of conservation of the structures,
which are to this day among the best preserved across the entire Greek world. The visibility and
monumentality of the city’s earliest past, which from the 5th century BC was also marked by the
production of painted tombs, had an impact on modern scholarship. So far, research has mostly
focused on the Graeco-Lucanian phase of the polis of Poseidonia, while the Roman city of Paestum,
so called by the Romans after the establishment of a colony in 273 BC, has received less attention.
However, the archaeological evidence related to the period following the beginning of the 3rd century
BC contributes to drawing the picture of an extremely vital and dynamic city, in terms of building
activity as well as material and artistic culture.
This conference seeks to examine the dynamics of the development and transformation of the city of
Paestum and the territory around it from the Roman period to Late Antiquity (273 BC - 5th century
AD). In this perspective, it offers the opportunity to present the results of recent studies, explore new
approaches and exchange innovative ideas that will foster future research in the field. One of the key
themes is represented by the social and cultural interactions between the local community and the
complex network of Italic towns that gradually entered the orbit of Rome. Considering the importance
of the topic, the conference papers will be collected and published in a proceedings volume. The
conference also follows the recent opening of the new Roman section of the National Archaeological
Museum of Paestum, named after Mario Torelli, who curated the first permanent exhibition 25 years
ago.
In order to give a coherent structure to the conference and, at the same time, ensure a wide variety of
contents, we welcome papers and posters addressing issues within one or more of the following
research areas:
• Archaeological excavations (closed or in progress)
• Urban planning (including data and updates on urban and extraurban viability)
• Architecture (sacred, civil, and private)
• Topography and Landscape Archaeology
• Epigraphy
• Historiography
• Numismatics
• Sculpture
• Pottery and Coroplastics
• Metal objects
• Biological Anthropology and Archaeometry
Individual presentations should not exceed 20 minutes and each session will be followed by a
discussion. Posters will be displayed during the conference and briefly presented within a specific
session.
The official languages of the conference are Italian and English.
Languages accepted for the publication of the conference proceedings are Italian, English, French,
German, Spanish.
The deadline to submit abstracts (max 400 words, in Italian or English) to the conference email
address is 15 April 2025. Applicants will be notified of the results of the selection process by 15
May 2025.
The Archaeological Parks of Paestum and Velia encourage the participation of students and
PhD candidates and, for this purpose, will award two scholarships that will cover travel and
accommodation expenses. Candidates who are interested in applying for a scholarship should
indicate it in the abstract submission email.
Any queries related to the conference or the review process should be sent to the Organizing
Committee.
Scientific Committee
Jon Albers (Ruhr- University of Bochum)
Rebecca Ammerman (Colgate University)
Raffaella Bonaudo (Soprintendenza Archeologia, Belle Arti e Paesaggio per le province di Salerno e
Avellino)
Federico Carbone (University of Salerno)
Tiziana D’Angelo (Archaeological Parks of Paestum and Velia)
Bianca Ferrara (University of Naples Federico II)
Fausto Longo (University of Salerno)
Mauro Menichetti (University of Salerno)
Umberto Soldovieri (Scuola Normale Superiore)
Organizing Committee
Silvio Leone (Archaeological Parks of Paestum and Velia)
Teresa Marino (Archaeological Parks of Paestum and Velia)
Rosaria Sirleto (Archaeological Parks of Paestum and Velia)
Conference Email Address