The forum and temple were perhaps planned as early as 54 BC, and construction began shortly thereafter.[2]
On the eve of the Battle of Pharsalus, Caesar vowed the temple to Venus Victrix. He eventually decided to dedicate the temple to Venus Genetrix, the mother of Aeneas, and thus the mythical ancestress of the Julian family.[1][2] The Temple was dedicated on 26 September 46 BC, the last day of Caesar's triumph.[3] The forum and temple were eventually completed by Octavian.[4]
The area was damaged by the fire in 80 AD. Later the temple was rebuilt by Domitian and was restored and rededicated by Trajan on 12 May 113 AD. It was then burned again in 283 AD, and again restored, this time by Diocletian. The three columns now visible belong to this later reconstruction.[1]
The temple was built of brick faced with marble and had eight columns (octastyle) on the facade, and also eight columns on each side. The columns were spaced one and a half diameters apart (pycnostyle). The ceiling of the temple was vaulted. There were some nontraditional elements in the design of the temple such as the height of the podium it sat upon and the method of accessing it.[2]
Access to the cella was afforded by circulation through the flanking arches, up narrow stairs on either side, to a landing in front of the temple, from which several more steps extending the width of the facade conducted to the cella level.[2]
It was placed at the far end of the court enclosed by the Forum, a standard practice among the Romans.[1]
The Temple was styled in Corinthian order. This included carved mouldings, capitals, and entablature. One of the mouldings, the cyma moulding, has carved dolphins, shells, and tridents. These particular symbols refer to Venus and the sea.[2]
There were three fountain basins: one at the front of the façade and one on either corner of the Temple.
^ abcdeDiana E. E. Kleiner. (Multimedia Lecture). Yale University. Archived from the original on 2018-09-16. Retrieved 2014-02-15.
^ abcdeGrossi, Olindo (1936). "The Forum of Julius Caesar and the Temple of Venus Genetrix". American Academy in Rome. 13: 215–2. doi:10.2307/4238590. JSTOR 4238590.
^ abRichardson, Lawrence (1992). The New Topographical Dictionary of Ancient Rome. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. pp. 166–167. ISBN0801843006.
^"Temple of Venus Genetrix". University of Virginia Institute for Advanced Technology in the Humanities. 2008. Retrieved 3 September 2023.
February 15, 2024
temple, venus, genetrix, latin, templum, veneris, genetricis, ruined, temple, forum, caesar, rome, dedicated, roman, goddess, venus, genetrix, founding, goddess, julian, gens, dedicated, goddess, september, julius, caesar, ruins, forum, caesarshown, ancient, r. The Temple of Venus Genetrix Latin Templum Veneris Genetricis is a ruined temple in the Forum of Caesar Rome dedicated to the Roman goddess Venus Genetrix the founding goddess of the Julian gens It was dedicated to the goddess on September 26 46 BCE by Julius Caesar 1 Temple of Venus GenetrixRuins of the Forum of CaesarTemple of Venus GenetrixShown in ancient RomeClick on the map for a fullscreen viewCoordinates41 53 39 N 12 29 05 E 41 8942 N 12 4848 E 41 8942 12 4848 Contents 1 History 2 Location and structure 3 Adornment 4 See also 5 ReferencesHistory editThe forum and temple were perhaps planned as early as 54 BC and construction began shortly thereafter 2 On the eve of the Battle of Pharsalus Caesar vowed the temple to Venus Victrix He eventually decided to dedicate the temple to Venus Genetrix the mother of Aeneas and thus the mythical ancestress of the Julian family 1 2 The Temple was dedicated on 26 September 46 BC the last day of Caesar s triumph 3 The forum and temple were eventually completed by Octavian 4 The area was damaged by the fire in 80 AD Later the temple was rebuilt by Domitian and was restored and rededicated by Trajan on 12 May 113 AD It was then burned again in 283 AD and again restored this time by Diocletian The three columns now visible belong to this later reconstruction 1 Location and structure editThe temple originally sat up against the saddle that joined the Capitoline Hill to the Quirinal Hill 3 The temple was built of brick faced with marble and had eight columns octastyle on the facade and also eight columns on each side The columns were spaced one and a half diameters apart pycnostyle The ceiling of the temple was vaulted There were some nontraditional elements in the design of the temple such as the height of the podium it sat upon and the method of accessing it 2 Access to the cella was afforded by circulation through the flanking arches up narrow stairs on either side to a landing in front of the temple from which several more steps extending the width of the facade conducted to the cella level 2 It was placed at the far end of the court enclosed by the Forum a standard practice among the Romans 1 Adornment edit nbsp EntablatureItems deposited inside the Temple included a statue of Venus Genetrix by Arcesilaus as well as statues of Julius Caesar Numerous Greek paintings by Timomachus of Ajax and Medea six collections of engraved gems a breastplate decorated with pearls from Britannia and a controversial golden statue of Queen Cleopatra as the goddess Isis once filled the Temple 1 The Temple was styled in Corinthian order This included carved mouldings capitals and entablature One of the mouldings the cyma moulding has carved dolphins shells and tridents These particular symbols refer to Venus and the sea 2 There were three fountain basins one at the front of the facade and one on either corner of the Temple See also editList of Ancient Roman temples List of ancient monuments in RomeReferences edit a b c d e Diana E E Kleiner Julius Caesar Venus Genetrix and the Forum Iulium Multimedia Lecture Yale University Archived from the original on 2018 09 16 Retrieved 2014 02 15 a b c d e Grossi Olindo 1936 The Forum of Julius Caesar and the Temple of Venus Genetrix American Academy in Rome 13 215 2 doi 10 2307 4238590 JSTOR 4238590 a b Richardson Lawrence 1992 The New Topographical Dictionary of Ancient Rome Baltimore Johns Hopkins University Press pp 166 167 ISBN 0801843006 Temple of Venus Genetrix University of Virginia Institute for Advanced Technology in the Humanities 2008 Retrieved 3 September 2023 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Temple of Venus Genetrix amp oldid 1197558325, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
