Temple of Vespasian and Titus

Coordinates: 41°53′34″N 12°29′02″E / 41.892727°N 12.483891°E / 41.892727; 12.483891

Temple of Vespasian and Titus

Temple of Vespasian and Titus
Location Regione VIII Forum Romanum
Built in 79
Built by/for Titus and Domitian
Type of structure Roman Temple
Related List of ancient monuments
in Rome
Temple of Vespasian and Titus

The Temple of Vespasian and Titus (Latin: Templum divi Vespasiani,[1] Italian: Tempio di Vespasiano) is located in Rome at the western end of the Roman Forum between the Temple of Concordia and the Temple of Saturn. It is dedicated to the deified Vespasian and his son, the deified Titus. It was begun by Titus in 79 after Vespasian's death and Titus's succession. Titus’ brother, Domitian, completed and dedicated the temple to Titus and Vespasian in approximately 87.

Importance

Throughout Roman history, there was an emphasis on increasing the fame and glory of a family name, often through monuments commemorating the deceased. Therefore, the temple was constructed to honor the Flavian Dynasty, which comprised the emperors Vespasian (69-79), Titus (79-81), and Domitian (81-96). Historians question whether or not Titus and Domitian had a good relationship; however, Domitian ensured the deification of his brother into the imperial cult in order to exalt the prominence of the Flavian name.[2] Titus and Vespasian were each deified through the ceremony of apotheosis.[3] In doing so, tradition guaranteed that Roman citizens and subjects would honor Vespasian and Titus (or at least honor their genius) as Roman deities. This imperial cult worship was as much a sign of allegiance to the emperor of Rome, or as a political and diplomatic gesture, as it was a formal religion.

Structure

The Temple of Vespasian was in the Corinthian order, hexastyle (i.e. with a portico six columns wide), and prostyle (i.e. with free standing columns that are widely spaced apart in a row).[4] It was particularly narrow due to the limited space, measuring 33 meters long and 22 wide. In a constricted space between the temple and the Concord, a small, two story vaulted room made of brick and concrete, and lined with marble, was built against the wall of the Tabularium, and apparently was dedicated to Titus.[5]

History

Construction and renovation

The pediment and frieze, in the tabularium.

Titus began construction and presumably finished the foundations, made of tuff concrete,[6] and the core of the podium, made of white marble.[1][7] Domitian, however, completed the interior work after Titus’ death.[7] The cella (inner) walls were in travertine, lined with marbles imported at great expense from the eastern provinces.[8] The interior is highly ornate and the frieze depicts sacred objects that would have been used as the symbols, or badges, of the various priestly collegia in Rome.[8] Around 200 to 205, Emperors Septimius Severus and his son, Caracalla, conducted renovations on the temple.[9]

Medieval and modern history

The temple suffered significant damage during mediaeval times, particularly c. 1300 (under Pope Boniface VIII), and in Pope Nicholas V's remodelling of the Forum (which involved the demolition of both angles of the temple on the Forum side and the reconstruction of its front as a fortress with corner towers).[6] All that survives today is the podium's core (with some of its peperino lining), parts of the cella (two fragments of its travertine wall and part of the pedestal at its back for the cult statues), and three Corinthian columns at pronaos's south-east corner.[1]

References

  1. 1 2 3 Platner, Samuel B., and Ashby, Thomas. A Topographical Dictionary of Ancient Rome. London: Oxford UP, 1929; p. 556.
  2. ↑ Grant, Michael. The Roman Emperors. 1st ed. New York: Scribner’s, 1985; p. 61.
  3. ↑ Herodian, History IV. ii
  4. ↑ Middleton, J. H. The Remains of Ancient Rome; Vol. 1. London and Edinburgh: Adam and Charles Black, 1892; p. 339.
  5. ↑ Middleton (1892), p. 341.
  6. 1 2 Middleton (1892), p. 377.
  7. 1 2 Jones, Brian W. The Emperor Titus. New York: St. Martin's Press, 1984; p. 143.
  8. 1 2 Middleton (1892), p. 340.
  9. ↑ Middleton (1892), p. 389.
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