What feature is commonly found in the center of Paestum’s city layout?

In Paestum’s city layout, the presence of civic areas at the center serves as a fundamental element around which the city was organized. These areas typically housed essential public buildings such as temples, government structures, and gathering spaces, reflecting the importance of civic life in ancient Greco-Roman society. The civic areas would have been designed to facilitate community engagement, political activity, and religious ceremonies, representing the heart of social and political life within the city.

The design of Paestum emphasizes the significance of community and governance, demonstrating how the arrangement of space can influence social interactions and civic responsibilities. This layout is characteristic of many ancient cities, where civic spaces were strategically positioned to foster a sense of identity and communal involvement among the inhabitants. By focusing on the civic area as a central feature, Paestum underscores the city’s role as a hub of civic activity, separate from residential or purely commercial spaces, which would typically be found in adjacent areas.