One of the most recognizable archaeological remains of Roman civilization and a significant source for Roman design is the old Roman temples. A notable aspect of ancient Roman religion was the formation and support of these groups. The main room also known as the cella contained the shrine image of the deity to whom the sanctuary was dedicated, as well as occasionally a little elevated special place for incense or beverages. A room or rooms used by sanctuary orderlies to store equipment and donations were located behind the cella. The top 10 most famous ancient Roman temples are listed below. Let’s check them out.
Famous Ancient Roman Temples
1. Roman Temple of Augustus and Livia
In the French city of Vienne, the Temple of Augustus and Livia, constructed at the end of the first century BC, is still largely unaltered. The temple in Vienne was first devoted to Augustus and is strikingly similar to the well-known Roman temple Maison Carrée in Nîmes. The Roman emperor Claudius, who was born nearby in Lyon, rededicated the old Roman temple to his wife Livia in 41 AD.
Also Read: Top 10 Most Famous Domes Of The World
Image Source: Wikimedia
2. Pantheon, Italy
The Pantheon in Rome, one of the best-preserved Roman buildings, was built in 126 AD as a shrine for all Roman deities. Since the seventh century, the sanctuary has served as a Roman Catholic church. A massive round colonnade with three positions of gigantic rock Corinthian parts makes up the Pantheon. The colonnade opens into a rotunda that has an oculus as its focal aperture and is covered in a solid arch. When it is pouring rain in Rome and you can see the rain filling the structure via the oculus, that is a fantastic moment to visit the Pantheon.
Image Source: Wikimedia
3. Temple of Zeus at Aizanoi
Inhabited since 3000 BC, Aizanoi prospered throughout the Roman Empire by producing wool, corn, and wine. The Temple of Zeus, which is the most impressive building in Aizanoi and the best-preserved Roman temple in all of Anatolia, was constructed in the second century AD. Renting out nearby land allowed for the construction of the temple to be funded. The people who worked the temple fields, however, refused to pay the taxes because the boundaries of the lands were unclear. The issue was resolved by Emperor Hadrian, and copies of the writings, which were so important to the city, were later inscribed on the temple walls.
Image Source: Wikimedia
4. Sbeitla Forums Temple, Tunisia
A really all-around protected Roman city, Sbeitla (or Sufetula), is located in western Tunisia. The city has a sizable, almost square area that has been divided off by a wall and cleared with stone blocks. Three Roman shrines are on the opposite side of the discussion from a portal. The inhabitants of Sbeitla built separate sanctuaries for each of the three most important Roman deities, Jupiter, Juno, and Minerva, as opposed to creating one sanctuary for all three. In Spain’s Baelo Claudia, a similar line of action has recently been discovered.
Image Source: Wikimedia
5. Dougga Capitol
The “best-preserved Roman small town in North Africa” is Dougga, which may be found in northern Tunisia. The theatre, the capitol, and a Punic-Libyan mausoleum are some of the most well-known structures there. A Roman temple from the second century CE, the capital was primarily devoted to the three most significant Roman deities: Jupiter, Juno, and Minerva. It also features a dedication to Lucius Verus and Marcus Aurelius, the two emperors.
Image Source: Wikimedia
6. Temple of Augustus in Pula, Croatia
The most notable building from the initial Roman discussion at Pula, Croatia, is the Temple of Augustus. It was probably created in Augustus’ lifetime, between 2 BC and his death in AD 14, and was devoted to the first Roman emperor. The sanctuary was converted into a gathering and afterward used as a storage facility in accordance with Byzantine regulations. When the refuge was bombed during WWII, it suffered severe damage. Since then, a sizable portion of the construction has been altered.
Image Source: Wikimedia
7. Garni Temple, Armenia
The Armenian King Trdates I constructed the Garni shrine in the first century AD, which was dedicated to Helios, the Roman god of the sun. The construction was probably funded by the money the ruler received from the Roman Emperor Nero in exchange for military assistance against the Parthian kingdom. The Garni Temple, unlike other Greco-Roman temples, is made of basalt and has 24 Ionic sections that are arranged on a raised platform. The old Roman sanctuary was completely destroyed by a seismic wave in 1679, and it remained in ruins until it was rebuilt in the 1970s.
Also Read: Top 10 Most Famous Greek Temples
Image Source: Wikimedia
8. Maison Carree, France
The Roman general Marcus Vipanius Agrippa erected Maison Carrée at Nimes, France, in 16 BC as a memorial to his two young boys who had both passed away. It is one of the world’s best-preserved Roman temples. The fact that the Maison Carrée was converted into a Christian church in the fourth century, protecting it from demolition, is responsible for its outstanding state of preservation. In addition, it has served as a stable, a storeroom, a town hall, and eventually a museum.
Image Source: Wikipedia
9. Palmyra, Syria
Palmyra, which is one of Syria’s most popular tourist destinations and one of the typical Roman visit destinations across the country, is situated in a desert garden 130 miles north of Damascus. Palmyra was a major and wealthy city for a considerable amount of time. It was located alongside the train routes that connected Persia with the Mediterranean ports of Roman Syria. The enormous Temple of Bel, the great curve, and the passage that was previously made up of 1,500 Corinthian pieces are just a few of the attractions that visitors may see at the location today.
Image Source: Wikimedia
These are the most famous ancient Roman temples. Kindly share and do post your comments.
