Temple of Venus and Roma

Built by Emperor Hadrian in 121 AD, the temple was a tribute to the goddesses Roma and Venus

The Temple is located in the east side of the Forum Romanum, near the coliseum

•It is built on a peristyle

•Two main chambers, one housing Roma (which faces west)

•And the other housing Venus (facing to the east)

•It is made of brick faced concrete and coated with marble

Style

The Temple was one of the largest in Rome, the only one to have ten columns

A Funny Story

When Hadrian’s best architect, Apollodorus, criticized the design of the temple, he was exiled and later executed

Destruction

• In 307, the temple was ruined in a fire, but was later restored by emperor Maxentius

• It was once again ruined in an earthquake around 850, and Pope Leo IV had a church built in it’s place

Santa Francesca Romana