Temple of Romulus
The Temple of Romulus is located in the area of Velia in Rome and was built between the Temple of Antoninus Pius and Faustina and the Basilica of Maxentius . The round brick building, its dome and its two side rooms, each with its own entrance and apse , were combined with remains of the templum Pacis to form the church of SS. Cosma e Damiano in the 6th century and integrated as the vestibule of this church. This explains the good state of preservation. Its richly decorated main entrance is flanked by two porphyry columns. The temple is closed by the original, antique bronze door, the lock of which is still working.
It was long suspected that Emperor Maxentius dedicated the temple to his son Valerius Romulus , who died early . Today, however, assumed to be more likely that the Temple of Jupiter Stator was built and a simple fence from Republican to replace time. According to a myth, the fleeing troops of Romulus in the fight against the Sabines turned at this point after Romulus had appealed to Jupiter. According to another theory, the temple venerated the Penates , whose statues would have been placed in the side rooms after their former temple on the Velia was demolished in order to build the Maxentius Basilica there.
Until the 16th century, there were remains of an inscription inside the temple, from which the temple was consecrated to Emperor Constantine by the Senate. Since it is extremely unlikely that Constantine would have dedicated a temple to the son of his greatest adversary , a re-consecration to Constantine by the Senate could have been arranged after the battle of the Milvian Bridge .
Web links
Coordinates: 41 ° 53 ′ 30.8 " N , 12 ° 29 ′ 14.2" E