Roman Forum
Title
Roman Forum
Identifier
1366
Work Type
open spaces
Work Location
Italy (nation)
Rome (inhabited place)
Style/Period
Roman (ancient Italian style)
Subject
forums (open spaces)
temples (buildings)
Dioscuri (Greek mythology)
Description
Bird's eye view of the Roman Forum with the Temple of Castor and Pollux in the center. The temple for Castor and Pollux was built on the southern side of the Forum at the intersection of the Vicus Tuscus. The choice of site is significant: it is near the spring of Juturna, where the heroes were reportedly seen watering their horses after helping the Romans at the battle of Lake Regillus (499/6 BC). The building, first vowed in 484 BC by the dictator, Postumius, went through various phases, starting from the early fifth century BC. The last major remodeling occurred in 6 AD under Tiberius, who dedicated it in his name and that of his deceased brother, Drusus (cf. the Temple of Concordia). Thereafter, Caligula made it the vestibule to his palace. Claudius restored its use as a temple. Much of the podium and three (of 11) columns from the east side of the peripteros survive. The temple (32.1 x 49.5 meters) was built of white Luna marble and its design was peripteral, octostyle, and Corinthian. The cella had interior columns, possibly in giallo antico. The pavement was probably a black and white mosaic. Besides serving as the cult center of Castor and his twin brother Pollux, the podium of the temple also housed the office of weights and measures; and the cella was occasionally the meeting place of Roman Senate. Its front staircase doubled at various times as a rostra that orators addressing crowds in the Forum plaza could use,"--Digital Roman Forum (UCLA), website.
Material/Medium
marble (rock)
Measurements
32.1 x 49.5 meters
Reproduction Type
jpeg
Copyright Statement
©2013 Lawrence Technological University. These images may be used for personal or educational purposes. They are not available for commercial purposes without the explicit permission of LTU.
ID Number
A1REROM1-4699BE2A4
- Date Added
- August 29, 2013
- Collection
- LTU Digital Images
- Item Type
- VRA Core
- Tags
- forums, temples
- Citation
- “Roman Forum,” LTU Digital Images, accessed May 10, 2024, https://ltuimagecollection.omeka.net/items/show/12454.