The Capitoline Temple , also called the Capitol ( Latin Aedes Iovis Optimi Maximi Capitolini, aedes Capitolina [1] [2] [3] ), was the oldest temple on the Capitol Hill of the same name.
The Capitoline Triad ( Jupiter , Minerva and Juno ) was revered in it. According to legend, the construction of the temple began at Tarquinia Prisca , at the site of the Sabine Sanctuary. The temple was consecrated in 509 BC. e. and survived until the VI century, but not in its original form - during the civil wars of the 80s BC. e. the temple burned down and in the early 60s BC e. was rebuilt under the leadership of Quintus Lutation Katula , who received the nickname "Capitoline" for this.
The Capitoline Temple was divided into 3 cells (side chapel), the middle one was dedicated to Jupiter , where his statue stood. Jupiter, sitting on a throne of gold and ivory, was dressed in a tunic decorated with palm twigs ( tunica palmata ), and purple toga embroidered with gold ( toga picta, palmata ) [4] . Zella on the right was dedicated to Minerva , and on the left - Juno , each deity had his own altar [5] . The roof was decorated with terracotta (later bronze [6] ) sculpture - Jupiter on the quadriga .
The Capitoline Temple was the religious center of republican and imperial Rome, and was also of great importance in strengthening the Roman state. The Senate gathered in it, the magistrates made sacrifices, and the archive was located there. The temple was for the Romans a symbol of the power, strength and immortality of Rome [4] .
Content
Other Capitoline Temples
As Roman expansion expanded, capitoline temples (temples dedicated to the Capitoline triad) appeared in many other Roman cities: in Ostia , in Cumi, in Brescia , in Verona, etc.
Interesting Facts
In 84 BC e. the Roman dictator Sulla , who used to take everything that he liked to Rome, removed several carved capitals from the columns of the temple of Zeus of Olympus and used them for the construction of this temple.
Notes
- ↑ Pliny the Elder . Natural History , XXXIII, 16: Latin Text
- ↑ Pliny the Elder . Natural History , XXXV, 14: Latin Text
- ↑ Pliny the Elder . Natural History , XXXVI, 45: Latin Text
- ↑ 1 2 Platner, Samuel Ball; Ashby, Thomas. Aedes_Jovis_Capitolini (English) . A Topographical Dictionary of Ancient Rome . Bill Thayer's Web Site.
- ↑ Varro ap. Serv. Aen. III.134
- ↑ Titus Livy . History from the founding of the city , X, 23: text in Latin and Russian