A Greek coastal colony founded in Lucania, southwest Italy, c 600 BC. It is known for three almost complete Doric temples of the 6th and 5th centuries BC, a forum (3rd century BC), amphitheater, shrine, temple of Peace, and a number of smaller temples. The temples were dedicated to Argive Hera, Poseidon, and Athena. There is some occupational evidence for both Palaeolithic and Neolithic, and there is a Copper Age necropolis at Contrada Gaudo, just north of the classical town. Traditional sources ascribe the Greek colony to Sybaris, and proto-Corinthian pottery suggests the date of 600 BC. Some of the local tombs were decorated with murals; the famous 'Tomb of the Divers' with 'Etruscan'-style painted decoration is from the 5th century BC. After many years' resistance the city came under the domination of the Lucanians sometime before 400 BC, after which its name was changed to Paestum. Alexander, the king of Epirus, defeated the Lucanians at Paestum about 332 BC, but the city remained Lucanian until 273, when it came under Roman rule and a Latin colony was founded there. Paestum was still prosperous during the early years of the Roman Empire, but the gradual silting up of the mouth of the Silarus River eventually created a malarial swamp, and Paestum was finally deserted after being sacked by Muslim raiders in 871 AD. The abandoned site's remains were rediscovered in the 18th century.