Heroon

Continuing on the ancient paved road leading south, we meet the Heroon, a small subterranean sacred building or Hypogeal Shrine, built in the late 6th century BC (520/510 BC).

The Heroon was an important building of the Agora in the Greek Poseidon city, probably a monument dedicated to the cult of the city founder hero.

Inside the building were found: 6 amphorae, used for collecting water; an attic vase with black figures; 8 bronze vases with their corks, still containing residues of honey for libations; and 5 long iron skewers, resting on 2 limestone slabs. The entire set is now stored in the National Archaeological Museum of Paestum.
The monument was built in stone and covered with a double roof of brick tiles. Originally it was covered by a mound of earth.
In 273 BC, the time of the Latin colony, the Heroon was surrounded by a stone fence with the intention to cancel the most representative monument of the previous city.