The Temple of Minerva (Italian: Tempio di Minerva) is an ancient Roman building in Assisi, Umbria, central Italy. It currently houses a church, Santa Maria sopra Minerva, built in 1539 and renovated in Baroque style in the 17th century.
The temple was built in the 1st century BC[1] by will of Gnaeus Caesius and Titus Caesius Priscus, who were two of the city's quattuorviri and also financed the construction. The attribution to the goddess Minerva derives from the finding of a female statue, although a dedication stone to Hercules has been found, and the temple was likely dedicated to this male demi-god.[1] In the Middle Ages the temple housed a tribunal with an annexed jail, as testified by one of Giotto's frescoes in the St. Francis Basilica, which portrays the church windows with bars.
Of the ancient temple, the façade has been preserved, with six Corinthian columns supporting the architrave and a small pediment. The columns were originally covered by a very strong plaster, which was perhaps colored.[1] The cella was completely demolished during the church's construction, in the 16th century, while a small section of the temple was found in the 20th century near the altar.
The temple was visited and described by the German poet Goethe during his travels in Italy, as the first ancient structure in good condition seen during his life (1786).[2]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Santa Maria sopra Minerva (Assisi).
temple, minerva, assisi, temple, minerva, italian, tempio, minerva, ancient, roman, building, assisi, umbria, central, italy, currently, houses, church, santa, maria, sopra, minerva, built, 1539, renovated, baroque, style, 17th, century, temple, built, century. The Temple of Minerva Italian Tempio di Minerva is an ancient Roman building in Assisi Umbria central Italy It currently houses a church Santa Maria sopra Minerva built in 1539 and renovated in Baroque style in the 17th century The Temple of Minerva AssisiThe temple was built in the 1st century BC 1 by will of Gnaeus Caesius and Titus Caesius Priscus who were two of the city s quattuorviri and also financed the construction The attribution to the goddess Minerva derives from the finding of a female statue although a dedication stone to Hercules has been found and the temple was likely dedicated to this male demi god 1 In the Middle Ages the temple housed a tribunal with an annexed jail as testified by one of Giotto s frescoes in the St Francis Basilica which portrays the church windows with bars Of the ancient temple the facade has been preserved with six Corinthian columns supporting the architrave and a small pediment The columns were originally covered by a very strong plaster which was perhaps colored 1 The cella was completely demolished during the church s construction in the 16th century while a small section of the temple was found in the 20th century near the altar The temple was visited and described by the German poet Goethe during his travels in Italy as the first ancient structure in good condition seen during his life 1786 2 Wikimedia Commons has media related to Santa Maria sopra Minerva Assisi See also editList of Ancient Roman templesReferences edit a b c Travelitalia com travelitalia com Tempio di Minerva by Assisi OnLine www assisionline it External links editPage at Travelitalia website in Italian 43 04 17 N 12 36 53 E 43 0714 N 12 6147 E 43 0714 12 6147 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Temple of Minerva Assisi amp oldid 1165609813, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
