Temple of Vesta

Temple of Vesta

The Temple of Vesta (Latin: "Aedes Vestae") in the Roman Forum stands between the Temple of Castor and Pollux, the Temple of Caesar, the Regia and the House of the Vestal Virgins. The temple has a number of significant architectural features. It was modeled after the first Roman houses which were round huts made of mud and straw. Since the worship of Vesta began in private homes, the architecture seems to be a reminder of its history. The temple used Greek architecture with Corinthian columns, marble, and a central cella. The internal cella was surrounded by twenty Corinthian columns built on a podium fifteen meters in diameter. The roof had a vent, which made tending Vesta's sacred flame a demanding task. Another round outer wall went along the entire outside with more columns.

All temples to Vesta were round, and had entrances facing east to symbolise connection between Vesta’s fire and the sun as sources of life. The Temple of Vesta in the Forum Romanum was built in the 3rd century B.C. It is not truly a temple because it was never inaugurated, nor does it hold a statue of Vesta, but only her sacred flame and the Palladium. The Palladium was a statue of Athena (Roman Minerva) believed to have been brought by Aeneas from Troy. According to Dionysius of Halicarnassus, the Romans believed that the Sacred fire of Vesta was closely tied to the fortunes of the city and viewed its extinction as a portent of disaster.

Since there was fire enclosed in the temple, there was risk of burning. The Temple of Vesta did burn twice in its history. In AD 64 a huge fire during the rule of the infamous Nero burned most of Rome, including the Temple of Vesta. After a fire in 191, Julia Domna, the wife of Septimius Severus, had the temple restored. Unfortunately, since that time, the temple has been looted and was stripped of its marble during the 16th century. The section standing today was reconstructed in the 1930s.

Upon close examination of the reconstructed remains. It is clearly visible how the original restorations had been carried out. Instead of rebuilding the temple from scratch much of the scorched marble was resurfaced with Roman concrete completely covering the intricate carvings on white corinthian marble.

Other temples

* The round Temple of Hercules Victor in the Forum Boarium was initially thought to be a temple of Vesta.

* The Temple of Vesta, Tivoli.


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужно сделать НИР?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Temple de vesta — Temple de Vesta …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Temple de Vesta — Cette page d’homonymie répertorie les différents sujets et articles partageant un même nom. Il existe plusieurs temples de Vesta en Italie dont : Temple de Vesta à Rome, datant du VIIe siècle av. J.‑C.. Temple de Vesta à Tivoli,… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Temple de Vesta (Tivoli) —  Pour l’article homonyme, voir Temple de Vesta (Rome).  Temple de Vesta Vue général du temple …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Temple of Vesta, Tivoli — The circular so called Temple of Vesta at Tivoli, of the early first century BCE, has been widely admired since the Renaissance. Its ruins sit on the acropolis of the Etruscan and Roman city of Tibur (now Tivoli), overlooking the falls of the… …   Wikipedia

  • Temple de Vesta (Rome) —  Pour l’article homonyme, voir Temple de Vesta (Tivoli).  Temple de Vesta Vestiges actuels du temple de Vesta …   Wikipédia en Français

  • VESTA (religion romaine) — VESTA, religion romaine Déesse du feu et du foyer, Vesta est d’origine indo européenne (ainsi que le prouve la comparaison de cette divinité avec l’Hestia des Grecs et l’Agni de l’Inde); le fait qu’elle soit invoquée à la fin de toute prière… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • Temple d'Hercule — Victor Temple d Hercule Victor, au Forum boarium Le temple d Hercule Victor dit Olivarius, parfois appelé temple de Vesta en raison de sa forme circulaire qui rappelle le temple de Vesta du Forum, est un temple de la Rome antique, situé sur le… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Temple d'Hercule Vainqueur — Temple d Hercule Victor Temple d Hercule Victor, au Forum boarium Le temple d Hercule Victor dit Olivarius, parfois appelé temple de Vesta en raison de sa forme circulaire qui rappelle le temple de Vesta du Forum, est un temple de la Rome antique …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Temple d'Hercule vainqueur — Temple d Hercule Victor Temple d Hercule Victor, au Forum boarium Le temple d Hercule Victor dit Olivarius, parfois appelé temple de Vesta en raison de sa forme circulaire qui rappelle le temple de Vesta du Forum, est un temple de la Rome antique …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Temple de la Sibylle — La façade du temple avec ses deux colonnes subsistantes Présentation Nom local Tempio della Sibilla Période ou style …   Wikipédia en Français

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”