Temple of Castor and Pollux

Overview of Temple of Castor and Pollux The temple of the dioscuri Castor and Pollux was one of the oldest buildings in the forum romanum. It was erected in the year 484 B.C. and modifications were added through the centuries. It was destroyed in 14 B.C. and rebuilt by Tiberius in 6 B.C. Similar to other buildings in the forum, it deteriorated during the centuries and stones were used for the construction of other buildings. It has remained almost unchanged since the 15th century. The three remaining columns are one of the most famous landmarks in the forum.Castor and Pollux, the twin brothers to whom the temple was dedicated to, are sons of Zeus and Leda, although the parental situation is not really clear and a little confusing. Castor is regarded as a great horseman while Pollux is considered as a great boxer. The temple was build to their honour after they "helped" the romans to win the battle of Lake Regillus. For some reason, Castor was worshiped more than his twin brother and so the temple is sometimes also referred to as Aedes Castoris only (instead of Aedis Castoris et Pollucis).

History of Temple of Castor and Pollux According to Greek and Roman mythology, Castor and Pollux were twin brothers and the sons of Leda and Zeus (Jupiter). The equivalent of the Greek Dioscuri, Castor was born mortal and Pollux immortal. They were both excellent horsemen and hunters. The cult of Castor and Pollux came to Italy via Greek influence in the south, where it is first attested around 570-30 BC.The cult quickly spread north to Latium, where the twins were credited with a great victory. According to legend, two young men on white horses mysteriously appeared on July 15 during the Battle of Lake Regillus (499 or 496 BC). They were later seen watering their horses at the spring of Juturna next to the Roman Forum after delivering the news of victory.After the Romans won the battle, which marked an important victory over the Latins, the victorious general Aulus Postumius vowed to build a temple to the Dioscuri. This he did in just over a decade; the first Temple of Castor and Pollux was dedicated in the Roman Forum in 484 BC. The temple was restored c.168 BC to celebrate the Roman defeat of the Macedonians and again in 117 BC after victories in Dalmatia.In 14 BC or 9 BC, a fire necessitated significant rebuilding in the Forum. Augustus took the opportunity to rebuild the Temple of Castor and Pollux while also connecting it to the imperial cult. The festival day was changed to January 27 and the Dioscuri were associated with the imperial princes Gaius and Lucius Caesar. Both brothers died before the new temple was completed and the dedication passed to Tiberius and his late brother Drusus (d. 9 BC). Tiberius himself presided over the dedication in 6 AD.The temple may have begun to fall into ruin as early as the 4th century. By the 15th century, only the present three columns were left.

Reconstruction issues• Building the ApproachThere was some discussion on the rostra/stairs facing the Forum. Scientific Committee member C. Giuliani had excavated in the area of the stairs and was sure that the stairs descended straight to the Forum floor (without rostra), in contrast to the solution of R. Scott (see sketches to right). Both solutions were modeled.

• Determining Building FootprintThe dimensions of the podium and much of the cella were determined by the Scandinavian Excavations of 1983-1987 (Nielsen and Pousen). The surviving architectural orders (columns and architrave) provided the data for the peripteros reconstruction.

• Pedimental SculptureThe temple also provoked discussion of the treatment of the temple pediment. It was decided to use nondescript figural groupings or vegetal sculpture as a representation of pediment sculptural programs. Modern figural pedimental sculpture groups were used, but faded so that the subject could not be easily identified.

• Reconstructing from ProportionThe unknown dimensions were derived using both the dimensions and proportions of the surviving architectural elements. There are also surviving sculptural representations of the upper façade that were referenced for the roof and facade design.

Temple of Castor and PolluxAlternate names: Temple of Castor and Pollux, Aedes Castoris, Templum Castoris, Aedes Castoris et Pollucis

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. The temple may have been in ruinous condition in the fourth century AD

Historical Events499 BC to 493 BC Vowed by the dictator Postumius at the battle of Lake Regillus,

variously dated to 499, 496, or 493484 BC Dedicated by his son, who was appointed duumvir for this

purpose. Cappellacio blocks of podium in opus quadratum survive

117 BC Restored by L. Caecilius Metellus Delmaticus with same size as first temple. Sources: Cicero Scaur.

74 BC The praetor Verres charged with restoration of the temple.

6 AD Rebuilt by Tiberius; dedicated in name of Tiberius and Drusus.

37 AD to 41 AD Caligula makes temple the vestibule of his palace.

41 AD to 54 AD Claudius returns temple to its original use.

100 AD to 200 AD Tribunal on facade suppressed and replaced by broad staircase sometime before the Severan Marble Plan.

484 BC – NOW

Fun Fact of the Temple of Castor and Pollux

• The original Temple of Castor and Pollux was built in 484 BC by the roman dictator Postumius who vowed to build the temple if obtained a victory over the Tarquin Kings who had previously ruled Rome. According to the legend, Castor and Pollux, mythological twin brothers, helped the Roman army to victory. In republican times the temple served as a meeting place for the Roman Senate, and from the middle of the 2nd century BC the front of the podium served as a speaker's platform. and announced the victory at the forum. Only three pillars remain of the Temple of Castor and Pollux, the current ruins dating from its last reconstruction in 6 A.D.

The Temple Of Saturn

Nikolina Dobras

Overview of the Temple of Saturn The Temple of Saturn in the Roman Forum was a sacred ancient Roman temple dedicated to Saturn, the god of seed-sowing and equated with the Greek god Cronos. It served as the public treasury and was the focus of the popular December festival of Saturnalia. One of the oldest of the Roman Forum structures, the Temple of Saturn was originally built sometime between 501 BC and 497 BC and reconstructed in the fourth century BC. However, this second incarnation burned down and the Temple of Saturn was restored in 42 BC by Roman senator Lucius Munatius Plancus. The Temple of Saturn stands at the west end of the Imperial Forum at the foot of the Capitoline Hill. Used as the treasury and the seat of the financial overseers of the Roman Republic, the questers, the Temple of Saturn was also closely linked with the celebration of Saturnalia, during which slaves and masters would dine together.Largely destroyed in the mid-fifteenth century, (as recorded in the inscription on the facade) all that remains of the Temple of Saturn are six of its Ionic granite columns thought to date to approximately 30 BC.

The History of The Temple of SaturnThe ruins of the Temple of Saturn (Templum Saturni) are located at the western end of the Roman Forum. The ruins found there today are those of the third reconstruction, which was completed in the fourth century AD.The Temple of Saturn is among the oldest in the Forum, together with the Temples of Vesta and Jupiter. Construction of the original temple began in what would be the final years of the Roman Kingdom by the last king of Rome, Tarquinius Supurbus. Construction was completed around 501 BC, in the early years of the Roman Republic, and the building was officially consecrated for use as a temple in 497 BC.The original temple was damaged, probably by fire, and torn down. It was rebuilt in 42 BC by Lucius Munatius Plancus, a private citizen, with the encouragement of the emperor Augustus.The temple was used for the rites of Saturn, the sober Roman god of agriculture. In the temple's innermost chamber, or cella, there stood a veiled statue of the god, holding a scythe. The statue was made in either wood or ivory, and contained oil. The feet of the statue were wrapped in linen. This statue was removed from the cella and carried in procession during Rome's triumphal ceremonies.The festival of Saturn, known as the Saturnalia, was celebrated from December 17 to December 23 every year. The coverings were removed from the statue, and the people of Rome celebrated the festival of Saturn with merry-making and role reversal games.

The History of The Temple of SaturnThe festival of Saturn, known as the Saturnalia, was celebrated from December 17 to December 23 every year. The coverings were removed from the statue, and the people of Rome celebrated the festival of Saturn with merry-making and role reversal games. Since Saturn was seen to be the giver of wealth, his temple housed the Roman state treasury, called the aerarium, which occupied two rooms beneath the stairs located in front of the temple's podium. The same rooms also contained bronze tablets inscribed with Roman laws, as well as the city's archives.The temple was again destroyed fire in 283 AD, and was rebuilt under the emperor Diocletian, though the reconstruction probably wasn't completed until after his death. Parts of the temple built in 42 BC that were not damaged were incorporated into this fourth century reconstruction.In time, and with the growing influence of Christianity, the Temple of Saturn was abandoned. Today it has almost completely fallen to ruins. The only parts that remain standing are eight fluted Ionic columns and a pediment bearing the Latin inscription, Senatus Populusque Romanus incendio consumptum restituit, which means, The Senate and people of Roma have restored that which fire had consumed.

The Temple of Saturn stands at the west end of the Imperial Forum at the foot of the Capitoline Hill. It now consists primarily of eight columns of the pronaos, or porch, standing on travertine blocks. Some of the below the temple stairs can be seen; this may have been where the treasury substructure was housed.The columns are all Egyptian granite: the front six in a grey color from Mons Claudianus, the two side ones in a pink granite from Aswan. Only three of them are true monoliths; the remainder were made of two pieces joined together. The Ionic capitals were carved of white Thasian marble for the 4th-century restoration.The architrave with its frieze of acanthus leaves has been dated to about 30 BC; it was most likely salvaged from the restored temple begun in 42 BC. Four of the column bases also date from this period. Of the remaining four, two were made in the 4th century and the other two are spoils from two different buildings.

Temple of Saturn

FUN FACT OF THE TEMPLE OF SATURN

• The Roman Forum housed a number of temples the most notable being the the temple of Vesta and the temples of Saturn and of Castor and Pollux. The first Temple of Saturn was built during the last years of the kings, before the Roman Republic. The current ruins date from 42 BC. The temple of Saturn was used as the state treasury (Aerarium). The state treasury contained the monies and accounts of the state finances. It also held the standards of the legions; the public laws engraved on brass, the decrees of the Senate and other papers and registers of importance. In 20 BC the Emperor Augustus ordered the erection of a tall column, the Miliarum Aureum, which was placed in front of the temple of Saturn. Due to gradual collapse only the remains of the front portico is left standing with its eight surviving columns.