Archaeologists in southern Italy have recently uncovered ancient warrior helmets, weaponry, and the remains of a temple structure at a site once home to a significant Greek colony. These discoveries, located in Velia in the Campania region, are believed to have been established by settlers expanding the influence of ancient Greece, known as Magna Graecia. The artifacts date back to the 6th century BCE, a period marked by the Battle of Alalia, where Greek forces from Phocaea triumphed over Etruscans and Carthaginian allies in a naval engagement off Corsica.
The excavations at Velia also revealed temple walls and inscribed vases conveying sacred significance. According to a report in the Guardian, Italy’s Minister of Culture, Dario Franceschini, highlighted the significance of the findings, including the discovery of the oldest archaic temple dedicated to Athena on the Elea-Velia acropolis. Franceschini emphasized the importance of continued investment in archaeological research to uncover further pieces of Mediterranean history.
The settlement at Velia was founded around 540 BCE by Phocaean settlers from Asia Minor. Italy’s Ministry of Culture plans to conduct additional investigations to reconstruct the history of this Greek colony based on these significant archaeological findings.
