Capitol (Roman Empire)
The Capitol ( Latin capitolium ) is in the Roman religion sacred to the Capitoline Triad , that of the deities Jupiter Optimus Maximus , Juno Regina and Minerva formed Trias .
The archetype was the Capitoline Temple , the sanctuary on the Capitol in Rome . All cities that built a capitol were based on this archetype, for example in such a way that the capitol was always close to the forum , the city center, and if possible at an elevated point. According to Varro , there is said to have been a forerunner in Rome, namely a temple on the Quirinal , dedicated to the same triad Jupiter, Juno and Minerva , which was called capitolium vetus ('old capitol').
A capitol was initially only built in Roman colonies , but then also in cities that wanted to express a special bond with the Roman Empire or for which such a bond was to be imposed, as in the case of the Colonia Aelia Capitolina , the former Jerusalem , which was initiated Hadrian's capitol.
literature
- Reinhard Förtsch: Capitolium. In: The New Pauly (DNP). Volume 2, Metzler, Stuttgart 1997, ISBN 3-476-01472-X , Sp. 972 f.