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Roman Temples

Tarquin the Elder, in the course of the war against the Sabines, vowed a temple to the triad Jupiter, Juno, and Minerva. This temple was erected on the Capitol, and became the centre of the Roman national worship. Round the temple of the Capitoline triad, on the Area Capitolina, stood a large number of temples, altars, religious or dedicatory monuments and statues. From the end of the monarchial period, the Capitol became the religious centre of pagan Rome. There was a great increase of sanctuaries under the Republic and the Empire. Except, perhaps, for the temples of Fides and Jupiter Custos, it is impossible to fix the exact site of these buildings. The various records are lacking in precision, and nowhere else in the city has the disappearance of ancient remains been more complete.

Altar of Peace called also the Basilica of Constantino, was built by Maxentius on the antient site of the Horrea Piperutoria, and after his death dedicated by Constantine. This edifice, which consisted of three naves, has the northernmost still in good preservation, and divided into three great arches, embracing the whole length of the nave. The center arch, at a later period, was altered into the form of a tribune. The vaultings of all three are decorated with enormous sunk pannels and stuccoed ornaments, and tho walls with niches. The southernmost nave was similar, but without a tribune. All except the indications of the piers have disappeared, as well as the great centre nave, at the extremity of which was the principal tribune, of which there are only a few fragments of the vaulted ceiling on the ground. High up in the piers there ate still some fragments of the great marble cornice, which was supported by eight marble columns, one of which, still standing in the time of Paul V., was removed to the piazza of Santa Maria Maggiore. It is of white marble, of the Corinthian order, and fluted, eighteen Roman feet in circumference and forty-eight high. Winding brick staircases led up to the roof; one is still almost entire. The building was 300 feet long and 220 feet wide. The principal facade faced the Colosseum, and part of an external arcade remains in this direction. The pavement was of giallo antico, pavonazzetto, and cipollino. At a later period this building was converted into a Christian church, at which.-time an entrance was formed towards the Palatine, on the Via Sacra.

Pantheon was built (119-128) by the Emperor Hadrian to replace an earlier temple, which had been built by Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa, friend and right-hand man of the Emperor Augustus. "Pantheon" is Greek for "all the gods," and the temple was built for all of the pagan deities worshipped by the Romans. The Pantheon well deserves the name given to it by topographers, the Sphinx of the Campus Martius, because, in spite of its preservation, it remains inexplicable from many points of view. This state of uncertainty relates to the general outline, as well as to the details of the building. The rotunda is obviously disjointed from the portico, and their architectural lines are not in harmony with each other. On the other hand, it is evident that the Pantheon seen by Pliny the elder, in Vespasian's time, was not the one which now exists.

The Pantheon has always been a stupendous problem in architecture. At the very first sight it perplexes; a series of questions present themselves to the mind. Why a circular building with a rectangular portico? Why a rotunda of brick, and a portico of granite and marble? Why columns arranged as if to lead up to three doors, and into a three-celled temple? It is neither Greek nor Etruscan. It resembles no other known building, least of all, the buildings of the Augustan age. The portico, bears Agrippa's name, and also bears an inscription recording a restoration by Severus and Caracalla in 202. The inscription is on blocks of white marble making the entablature. The Egyptian granite columns also have marble capitals of the Corinthian order, much shattered and blackened. Under the portico there are fluted pilasters of marble with similar capitals. No other Roman structure, except the temple of Jupiter Optimus Maximus, has been so unfortunate, and has undergone so many trials.

In 1892, M. Chedanne who was engaged in restoring the edifice, made some important investigations which overthrew all former views in regard to its date. He found that the bricks in the walls belonged to the age of Hadrian, and that the whole round portion was constructed by that Emperor on an entirely new plan. The original temple was built after the Etruscan pattern, nearly square, having three Cellas with a portico in front, which is the present portico rebuilt aud somewhat altered. It was Hadrian, then, who changed the rectilineal temple into the circular, doubtless with a conscious, purpose and in accord with the spirit of the time. Moreover, the merits of pozzolana, of which the Dome is constructed, had come to be known in Hadrian's time. But certain marks stamped on the brick of the temple toll the date of their origin without mistake to the antiquarian.

Temple of Antoninus and Faustina Erected by the senate to the emperor and his wife in the Forum Romanum. The two sides of the cella of Peperino, once clothed with marble, remain, as well as the magnificent marble entablature over them. The hexastyle portico, with the return columns of the Corinthian order, each of one single piece of Carystian or cipollino marble, still supports a considerable part of the entablature. In the frieze are griffins, candelabra, and other ornaments, in a fine style of art. The ascent to this temple was antiently by a flight of twenty-one steps: and on the entablature of the portico is cut the dedicatory inscription to Antoninus and Faustina. The columns, which were once partly buried, have been cleared of the surrounding earth. On the ruins of the cella has been erected the church of San Lorenzo in Miranda. A representation of this temple, with its steps, statues, and pediment, is given in a coin, published in Bunsen's ' Forum Romanum.'

Temple of Antoninus Pius is in the Forum of Antoninus, now the Piazza della Pietra, and at a short distance from the Column of M. Aurelius Antoninus. Eleven large Corinthian columns, which are much injured, remain on the nortn side, and support a white marble architrave; the rest of the entablature, being much ruined, was restored with stucco. The columns have been walled together, and form the front of the present Custom-house, in the court of which there are several fragments of vaulting adorned with sunk pannels. A representation of the portico with a pediment, belonging probably to this temple, appears on a large bronze coin, from which it appears to have been decagtyle. An octastyle portico with a pediment appears on silver and brass coins of the same emperor, and most probably represents another temple belonging to the Antonine Forum.

Temple of Bacchus At what time first constructed is uncertain. The tetrastyle portico of fc ir Corinthian wh'le marble columns is an addition, taken from some other edifice, probably about the time of the Antonines. These columns have been walled up, and form part of the modern church to which the cella has been adapted. In the reign of Urban VIII. a circular altar with a Greek inscription was found in the subterranean part of this edifice, to the left on entering. The internal part of the cell is adorned with a stucco frieze representing military trophies; the vaulting is adorned with sunk octagonal pannels; slight traces of a bas-relief remain in the centre of the ceiling. These ornaments are in a good style.

Temple of Ceres and Proserpine Rebuilt by Tiberius, and now forming part of the church of Santa Maria in Cosmedin, called also the Bocca del la Verity, is situated almost opposite the circular temple of Vesta. A part of the cell constructed with large masses of travertine, and eight columns of the peristyle, remain partly walled up in the church. The fluted white marble columns are in a good style, and of the Composite order.

Temple of Concord The temples of the forum often served more than a religious purpose ; in Rome the Temple of Concord served for meetings of the Senate, and that of Saturn was at one time the State Treasury, and even the public archives until the erection of the Tabularium. The site only of this temple remains near the temple of Jupiter Tonans. Of this famous building there remain only the ruins of the cella, which was originally covered with giallo antico and pavouazzetto. The pavement was formed of slabs of the same material, and numerous fragments discovered in the late excavations prove that it was profusely enriched with ornamental carvings and statues, and that it was also destroyed by fire. Owing to the narrow site on which it was placed, the cella was wider than the portico.

Temple Divus Rediculus Built in commemoration of Hannibal's retreat from Rome, and situated in the same valley as the Nymphasum of Egeria, about a mile from Rome, and close to the little brook called Almone. At what time it was constructed is unknown, and the name of the temple of Redicolo is probably founded in error, as the temple of this name stood two miles from Rome on the Via Appia, and to the left on leaving the city. It is a most beautiful construction of brick, elegantly designed, and executed with great skill. The walls of the cella externally are of yellow brick, the basement and pilasters of red, and the moulded parts are carved, and the cornice is enriched with modiilions. On the southern side the pilasters are changed for octagonal columns set in a sort of niche. It appears that on this side there was a road, which was the cause of a greater richness and of variation in the design. The portico had originally four peperino columns, of which however only part of one on the ground near the temple remains. The interior was adorned with stuccoed ornaments.

Temple of Fortuna Virilis Originally built by Servius Tullius on the banks of the Tiber. It was burnt and rebuilt in the time of the republic. It is of an oblong figure, constructed of travertine stone and tufa, and stuccoed with a fine and hard marble stucco. The hexastyle portico of the Ionic order has been walled up between the columns, and an engaged intercolumniatiqn is continued on the walls of the cella. The temple is placed on a high moulded basement, and was ascended by a flight of steps. The columns support an entablature, the cornice is bold, and the frieze is decorated with festoons supported by infantine figures, and intermixed with skulls of oxen and candelabra. These are however ill preserved. The style of the architecture is heavy; still the basement is a grand feature.

Temple of Fortune according to Nibby, but, in the opinion of Buusen, the temple of the Vespasiani, is situated in the Forum Romanum, on the Clivus Capitolinus. On the entablature is the following inscription :- SENATVS POPVLVSQVE ROMANVS INCENDIO CONSVMPTVM RESTITVIT. The edifice now consists of a rude Ionic hexastyle portico of granite columns, two of which are returned on the flank, and so badly restored from the ruins of the former temple, that in one instance part of the shaft from the base is placed under a capital. The bases, capitals, and the entablature are of white marble. The internal part of the frieze is ornamented, but this appears to have been some of the old masonry used in the rebuilding. The portico and temple were placed on a high basement of travertine, which was covered with a veneer of marble, and in front there was a flight of steps.

Temple of Janus no longer exists, but the site is placed, with every appearance of probability, by Bunsen, at the junction of the four great forums, in the immediate vicinity of the Mamertine prison, the arch of Septimius Severus, and the Basilica Pauli.

Temple of Jupiter Capitolinus - Rome extended her power over Latium, and as a common center of worship for the enlarged state, dedicated the temple of Jupiter Capitolinus. Here the unity of the new nation was symbolized by the common worship paid to Jupiter, Juno and Minerva. The temple of Jupiter Capitolinus was the terminal point of the Triumphs.9 The victor went to thank Jupiter and pay him homage for the victories gained through his protection ; he offered a solemn sacrifice, and presented the god with rich gifts. The Capitol thus came to be directly associated with the development of Roman greatness. In the building of the temple tradition relates that it was necessary to remove ancient shrines and altars erected there by the Sabines. The gods to whom these had been raised were consulted by auguries if they would give place to the new deities. All consented except Terminus and Youth, who refused to retire from the sacred spot. This gave Rome the assurance that her boundaries should never go back, and that her youth should ever be renewed. Here in his temple the statue of Jupiter himself was erected, with his face turned towards the forum, that he might look down upon his people.

The strongest evidence of the position of the Temple of Jupiter "supremely good and great" - Optimus Maximus - is pictorial. It is represented on the relief in the Palazzo del Conservatori which formed part of the Arch of Marcus Aurelius. That emperor is there, after a victory, offering sacrifice upon the Capitoline Hill; and in the background is a representation of the Temple of Jupiter Capitolinus : it has three doors, and the figures of Minerva, Jupiter, and Juno. This is to the spectator's left, and faces south, as we are told the temple faced. This relief is further corroborated by another in the Louvre, in the background of which is likewise a representation of a temple of the Corinthian order, facing the same way and to the left of the spectator, and having over the door the words Iovi Capitolinus. Upon a relief in the Capitol Museum, another building appears upon a lower level, ornamented with pilasters, having Doric capitals. This building corresponds with the front of the Tabularium towards the Capitol.

In general, any attempt to reconstruct to the imagination a long-vanished building can interest only the archaeologist; but the temple of Jupiter Capitolinus was such a vast innovation in the simple, rustic town, it marked an era of such importance, and it remained the religious centre of Rome so long, that it is worth while to recall the principal details of its aspect, as given by the old writers. Its frontage was a hundred and eighty feet, and its depth two hundred, which makes its entire area a little larger than that of the Pantheon. As to its height we have no exact figures; but it is represented as a heavy-looking building, with low-pitched wooden roof extending out over its double row of columns on the two sides, and triple row in front, like the portico of the Pantheon. The stone employed as building material was peperino, covered with stucco, for the Etruscans, with all their luxury at this time, had no extensive supply of marble.

As soon as he was on the throne, Vespasian hastened to propitiate Jupiter, by re-erecting his temple exactly after the old Tarquinian design, except that the priests permitted him to add somewhat to its height. Vespasian effected a slight change in the architecture of the temple, but his building only stood ten years. In the year 80 A.d. one of the great Roman fires raged three days and three nights, and swept the Capitol as well as the level ground. Then Domitian rebuilt, and an entirely new magnificence was displayed. The material was now entirely solid, - Pentelic marble, brought from Greece; and twelve million dollars' worth of gold was employed upon the roofs and doors. All the Roman world admired, and the poet Martial says facetiously that Jupiter himself, if called upon to pay for this new temple, would be bankrupt, even though he should sell out all Olympus.

Jupiter Feretrius , which was the first dedicated to Jupiter on the Capitoline hill, was. the most ancient in Rome. According to tradition, it was dedicated by Romulus, prior to the treaty concluded with the Sabine king, Titus Tatius. At the end of the Republic, the edifice, which had been enlarged by King Ancus Marcius,2 was falling into ruins.3 It was rebuilt by Augustus, about 31 B.C. (723 ab urbe condita), in accordance with the primitive plan. The edifice, with its very limited dimensions (according to Dionysius of Halicarnassus, the longest side measured less than fifteen feet), is represented on a coinage of the Gens Claudia, under the form of a tetrastyle temple with a high staircase in front.6 Inside were deposited the sceptre and the silex used by the Fetiales in signing treaties of peace.

Temple of Jupiter Stator, thus called for a long time, afterwards the Greecostasis and lately by Bunsen, first the Temple of Castor and Pollux, and afterwards the Temple of Minerva Chalcidica. It is situated in the Forum Romanum, next to the site of a temple of Castor and Pollux. The ruin consists of three marble Corinthian fluted columns on an isolated basement of travertine; the columns support a part of the highly enriched entablature, which is in tolerable preservation. The proportions and execution of this fragment are the very finest, and, since the restoration or true architecture, it has served as the great model of the Corinthian order.

Temple of Jupiter Tonans according to Nibby; Bunsen calls it the Temple of Saturn. It is situated on the Clivus Capitolinus. The temple of Jupiter Tonans, built by Augustus, who, during an expedition into Cantabria (in 26 B.C. =728 ab urbe condita), had narrowly escaped being struck by lightning, and dedicated on the day of the Kalends of September (1st of September), 32 B.C. (722 ab urbe condita), was situated in the southern portion of the Area Capitolina, in front of the temple of Jupiter Capitolinus. On account of its situation, it was commonly called " Jupiter's porter" (janitor). It was supposed to have been restored by Sept. Severus and Caracalla. The portico was hexastyle, of the Corinthian order, and of white Luna marble. 1'he columns are deeply lluted. In order to gain space, the steps are constructed between tho columns in the basement which supports them. The basement was lined with marble, and divided at intervals by small pilasters. Upon the frieze are carved instruments of sacrifice, and the decorations which remain indicate that the building was highly ornamented.

Temple of Mars Ultor, which stood near that of Jupiter Feretrius, was built in 20 B.C. (734 ab urbe condita) by Augustus, who placed in it the insignia formerly lost by Crassus and restored by Phraates, king of the Parthians. The edifice, which is represented on several of the coinages of Augustus, was circular in form, with four or six columns on the circumference. The words of Dio, which appear to place the supposed temple in the Capitol, have given rise to the supposition that there were two temples of Mars Ultor built by Augustus, a supposition which is supported by the fact that one of the medals of that emperor contains what looks like the representation of a round temple, with the letters Mar.Vl. This conclusion is adopted by Niebuhr, and by Becker, who thinks that it is confirmed by the words used by Ovid in speaking of the dedication of this temple. But it is not improbable that a mistake has been caused in this passage by the dislocation of words which are properly applicable to the temple of Jupiter Feretrius. And the verses of Ovid do not seem to imply that two temples were built, but rather that one temple was doubly earned. The coin still remains to be explained.

Temple of Mars Ultor was the most important building of the Augustan Forum. There had been from very early times one outside the Porta Capena, and a second in the Campus Martius; but among their many shrines and temples, to have offered only these two to Mars was very odd of the Romans. One conjectures why he was thus slighted by the most martial race, certainly, that ever lived, and can only conclude that they must have thought themselves strong enough to do without him, or possibly that he was sure to be friendly enough to them in any case. But since, also, the god Mars was the legendary father of their first king, this somewhat scanty worship of him is at least hard to understand. The Forum of Augustus lay to the north of that of Julius, and to the south-east of the great improvement of Trajan. This Forum was the result of the need still felt of larger accommodation for judicial business than was afforded by the Roman and Julian Fora. It was formed, like the latter, on ground previously occupied by private dwellings ; and was opened, like that Forum, in a hurry, and without waiting for the completion of the temple of Mars Temple of Ultor, which was its great ornament. This temple had been vowed by Augustus in the war against Brutus and Cassius, but was not dedicated until BC 2. It was appointed to be the place for taking the opinion of the Senate upon wars and triumphs. Of the temple but little remains: three tall, fluted columns, with beautiful Corinthian capitals of white marble, all blackened and shattered; the architrave surmounting them; a part of the marble ceiling of the peristyle; and one side of the cella wall, partly marble and partly peperino. The temple stood close against the Forum wall. There is no question as to the beauty of the ruin, but its surroundings of commonplace streets and buildings seem to have destroyed its charm.

Pliny praises the Temple of Mars Ultor as one of the most beautiful and perfect works of man ever seen on earth, and places it on the same level with the Forum and Temple of Peace, and with the Basilica. The great pieces of timber used in the roof had been cut in the Ilhaetian Alps, in the dogdays, a precaution which was considered to make wood indestructible. Pliny also mentions among its treasures vases of chiseled iron, a statue of Apollo cut in ivory, two large pictures representing a battle and a triumph, and four noble works of Apelles, one of which, representing the victory of Alexander the Great, was altered in the time of Claudius by substituting the likeness of Augustus for that of the Macedonian king. The temple also contained a set of standard weights and measures, and safes and strong boxes, where large sums belonging to private citizens were kept under the guarantee of the priests. A daring robbery perpetrated towards the end of the first century, when even the precious helmet was wrenched from the head of Mars Ultor, frightened the depositors so that the priests gave up banking, at least for the time.

Temple Minerva Medica A circular domed temple of brick, erected probably about the time of Diocletian. It is thought by Nibby to have been a large hall, erected in the Licinian gardens, which he places here. The circumference has nine niches for statues, seven of which have been found among the ruius at different times. It appears to have been lined with marble and painted with stucco, though only a part of its bare walls and dome, with the buttresses to secure it against a lateral thrust, now remain. In 1828, a lurge portion of the dome, which had been propped up with a wooden scaffolding, fell down.

Temple of Nerva situated in the forum of Nerva, was consecrated by Trajan to the memory of Nerva; it was one of the most sumptuous edifices in Rome. Only three columns and a pilaster, partly buried in the ground, on the south side, now remain. The ornaments were in the finest style, and the proportions of the order form a correct model for the moderns. (See Bunsen's plan for the general design.)

Temple of Romulus Erected by Maxentius to the memory of his son Romulus. These ruins, which are vulgarly called the stables of the Circus of Caracalla, are situated in a large quadrilateral enclosure forming part of the villa of Maxentius on the Appian way, and about one mile from the gate of S. Sebastian. From two medals of Romulus we see this building as it appeared at two separate periods: one medal represents the building with a dome, and without a'portico; the other with the addition of a portico. It may have served both for a temple and a tomb. The lower part or basement is purely sepulchral, with niches for the sepulchral urns. The ceiling is vaulted, and supported by a nuf;e central pier.

Temple of Romulus and Remus called by Bunsen,' AEdes Penatium.' A circular temple in the Forum Romanum, near the temple of Antoninus and Faustina, erected, according to Nibby, at a period when art was in its decline. It is however probable that the circular building belongs to an earlier period than he would assign to it. In the year 527, this building was used as a vestibule to the church of SS Cosmo and Damiano, erected by Felix IV. Urban VIII. applied tho present Etruscan bronze door, found at Perugia, and placed the two antique porphyry columns, with their entablatures, in their present situations. This piece of architecture stood originally a little to the left of the present entrance. Bunsen rakes no notice in nis plan of two cipollino columns, half buried, and standing near the .Aides Penatium ; one is without a capital, and the other has a capital and part of an entablature showing a return, as if they were decorative columns of an enclosure, like that of the temple of Minerva in the Forum of Nerva.

Temple of the Sun on the terrace of the Colonna gardens on the Quirinal hill. This temple, said to have been erected by Elagabalus, was of gigantic dimensions, of noble masses of masonry, and highly enriched, if we may j udge from the two great masses that are left-a part of an architrave and frieze, and the angle of the pediment. The temple was probably Corinthian, and the style, though not decidedly bad, shows plainly that art was on the decline. Many fragments of sculpture dug up in the gardens have been fixed in walls at the back of these two masses. The site was eminently calculated for a colossal temple, as the entire height of the building would have been visible from most parts of Rome.

Temple of Venus and Cupid so called, stands in what is supposed to be the antient Horti Variani, and close to the church of Santa Croce in Gerusalemme. All that remains of this large edifice consists of an immense niche and two lateral walls of brick, belonging perhaps either to a great hall or basilica. Near these ruins is a fragment of the Claudian aqueduct.

Temple of Venus and Rome Designed and built by the emperor Hadrian, who personally directed the construction. It suffered from fire, and was restored by Maxentius. Of this vast building the substructions of the surrounding colonnade and the great niches at the division of the cella, with some fragments of granite columns, are all that remain.

Temple of Vesta One of the temples to Vesta, situated in the Forum Boarium near the banks of the Tiber. Nibby thinks that it was constructed in the time of the Antonines. It is of a pure Greek style, and may have been rebuilt by Vespasian, who probably commemorated it by striking a coin, on the reverse of which this temple is represented. Twenty Corinthian columns, of which nineteen remain, surrounded the circular cella, which was formed of masonry in the Greek taste. These columns are of Parian marble, and fluted; they are raised on a series of steps, most of winch have been destroyed or removed. The antient entablature and roof are wanting, and the latter is supplied by an ugly tile covering.