a squared plus b squared equals c squared

Who among us does not remember this equation from high school geometry? And we also remember that the “c” is the hypotenuse of a right triangle. We have Pythagoras to thank for this formulation, or in Italian, Pitagora. Yesterday was our first day in Basilicata, the region to the west of Puglia. We are in a town on the coast called Metaponto where Pitagora lived the last 15 of his 85 years (580 - 495 BCE).

Pitagora on the main square, Piazza Pitagora

We’ll tour a Greek archeological site today, as well as an archeological Museum here in Metaponto. Yesterday we stopped at the Tavola Palatina to see the ruins of a Greek Temple dedicated to Hera, sister/wife of Zeus and Goddess of Women. Unfortunately, only 15 of the original 32 Doric columns remain, and there is no frieze or tympanum.

 Tavola Palantine, Metaponto, Basilicata