Temples

Temple of Concord

The temple was first built as a wooden structure in 366 B.C.E. to celebrate the Gaio-Licinian Rogations, an accord made between the plebians and the patricians.  In 121 B.C.E., Lucious Opimius rebuilt the temple in stone.   Tiberius rebuilt and renamed the building the Temple of Augustan Concord in 10 C.E.  It is located at the eastern base of the Capitoline Hill in the Roman Forum.  Part of the temple serves as the podium base of the Tiberium building, which still stands to this day.  

The Temple of Jupiter Optimus Maximus sat on top of the Capitoline Hill, the foundation of the temple goes back to the Tarquins, but was rebuilt and altered many times.  It had many different names including the Capitoline Temple, Temple of Jupiter, Juno and Minerva.  It was one of Rome's most magnificent temples due to its size and beauty.  The temple was 204 ft long 175 ft wide with eighteen 54 ft columns.  It was destroyed by fire in 83 B.C.E., 69 C.E. and 80 C.E. and was also sacked by the Gauls in 455 C.E.  All Roman consuls took their vows at the temple and all generals finished their victorious triumphal processions at the temple on top of the Capitoline Hill.

The temple is dedicated to the god Portunus and was built during second century B.C.E.  The temple is located in the Forum Boarium. The god Portunus was associated with seaports and water crossings, this is why the temple was placed next to the Tiber river.  The Romans believed Portunus would keep a watchful eye over the ships entering port. The temple displays many features of both Etruscan and Greek  architecture, this blend of architectural styles became the style of choice during the Roman Republican period. Amazingly, the Temple of Portunus still stands to this day in its original location. 



The Temple of Saturn was built in 497 B.C.E. and is one of the oldest temples in Rome.  For many years the temple was used as the treasury for the city of Rome.  Due to the location of the Temple of Saturn, sitting on a ridge at the base of the Capitoline Hill, it was the highest building in the Roman Forum.   Like many other buildings of Rome, it underwent many restorations over the years, the biggest occurred in 42 B.C.E. by the triumvirs.   At the base of the temple on its eastern side was a bronze tablet displaying  the laws of Rome.

The Temple of Vesta was founded during the time of the Kings, the earliest of the Roman periods lasting from 753 until 509 B.C.E.   It was also rebuilt many times, the latest taking place between 197-211 C.E.  A fire was kept burning inside the temple at all times.  Twenty columns formed the outer ring of the Temple of Vesta.  The temple was located in the Roman Forum beside the Temple of Julius. 

The temple honouring both Venus and Roma was built by the Emperor Hadrian.  Construction began in 121 C.E. and was not complete until 141 C.E.  The double temple is the largest built in the city of Rome.   It was dedicated to Venus Felix, the ancestress of the Roman people and to Roma Aeterna, the genius of the city.  The temples are back to back with one entrance facing east and the other west.  The temples were built on a podium measuring 476 ft in length and 328 ft in width.