ARCHAEOLOGISTS at the ancient Greek colony of Paestum in Italy have found disturbing indications that dogs were sacrificed in pre-Roman times.
Nine weeks into the excavation, archaeologists have reached the so-called "sterile" layer, the layer is not affected by human presence.
Paestum Archaeological Park director Gabriel Zuchtriegel says in an interview with Rep TV that experts found dog bones and ceramics related to an ancient ritual.
While the ancients sacrificed many species of animals to the gods, dogs generally were not considered sacrificial animals.
Only the Sacred Geese of Juno/Hera squawked to wake the Roman defenders and save the city.
Afterwards, on 3rd August, a dog would be crucified as admonition to all watchdogs to be vigilant.
Paestum was a major ancient Greek city on the coast of the Tyrrhenian Sea in Magna Graecia (southern Italy).
The ruins of Paestum are famous for their three ancient Greek temples in the Doric order, dating from about 600 to 450 BC, which are in a very good state of preservation.
The amazing temple of Poseidon/Neptune is shown above.In addition, Paestum is famous for Etruscan-era tombs which are adorned with stunning art with Greco-Etruscan motifs, often homoerotic art.
The city walls and amphitheatre are largely intact, and the bottom of the walls of many other structures remain, as well as paved roads.
The site is open to the public, and there is a modern national museum within it, which also contains the finds from the associated Greek site of Foce del Sele.
After its foundation by Greek colonists under the name of Poseidonia (Ancient Greek: Ποσειδωνία) it was eventually conquered by the local Lucanians and later the Romans.
The Lucanians renamed it to Paistos and the Romans gave the city its current name.
As Pesto or Paestum, the town was abandoned in the Early Middle Ages, and left undisturbed and largely forgotten until the 18th century.
CLICK HERE for the news story and video interview.
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