Temple of Castor and Pollux in Roman Forum

The scope of history in Forum, Rome is amazing. Each structure standing there speaks volumes of richness of the ancient Roman era. When I look back at the pictures I had taken at Forum, I feel so pleased with the blue sky we had that day.

The sky had enhanced the beauty and magnificence of the ruins of Temple of Castor and Pollux in Forum Rome that day.

Temple of Castor and Pollux in Forum

Castor and Pollux Temple Roman Forum

These are the pictures of Temple of Castor and Pollux. Also see pictures of statues of the twin brothers here: Castor and Pollux statues in Turin Italy. Both Pollux and Castor are shown with their horses. They were expert horsemen and athletes of their times.

History of Temple of Castor and Pollux

The temple was built in 494BC in honor of the twin Gods Castor and Pollux. They are the original Gemini twins, brothers of Helen of Troy.

The temple was built in the memory of the first legendary victory of the Romans over the Latins. As the battle reached the decisive phase the Romans invoked the divine twins of Jove, Castor and Pallox who appeared in 2 white horses and led the Romans to victory.

It is believed that people had seen them during the battle of Lake Regillus against Etruscans, helping Romans.

So when Romans won the war they build the temple in honor of these twin Gods. The temple was rebuilt and restored several times in 117BC, then again in 73BC. After the devastating fire of 14 or 9 BCE Augustus rebuilt the temple. Tiberius built a new one in 6AD.

Temple details of Castor and Pollux in Forum

It is seen more as a victory monument, as it symbolized the military power of the Roman city state of that era. The Roman elite identified themselves with the grand monument as it was then.

Role of the Dioscuri Temple

The temple always played a central role in the happenings on the Forum. For centuries Forum was the center of day to day life in Rome.

With time the temple’s functions were extended and altered several times. In the late Republic the Senate held their meetings in its cella and used its podium as a speaker’s platform. It was used as a space for political decision making, a venue for public speeches, gladiator matches, nucleus of commercial affairs and criminal trials.

Soon it became a political platform, as a stage on which politicians sought to gain the support of the people and was witness to the rioting incidents during the 1st century B.C.

At the beginning of the Imperial Period the political implications of the temple reduced.  Temple of Dioscuri was increasingly used as a space for representation of Imperial family. Emperor (Caligula) and princes (Tiberius) tried to establish ideological connections between themselves and the Disoscuri.

Parts of the temple soon began functioning as a office of weights and measures and as a treasury for the money of private individuals as well as of members of the Imperial dynasty.

Architecture of the Dioscuri Temple

Right from the days of its inception the grand Temple of Pollux and Castor dominated the east half of Forum. The temple was reconstructed and modified several times over the centuries, with that the grandeur too had increased manifolds.

Forum adapted to newer roles, usage and representation. Each phase of Forum left its stamp on the structural modifications making it rich with fine architectural details.

In the late 2nd century B.C. the whole architectural complex was rebuilt from the ground up in the form of a towering and grandiose temple. Private benefactors fiercely competed against one another to monumentalize the buildings located on the edges of the Forum.

During the Augustan era, Forum was reshaped once again by the first Emperor of Rome. He used the opportunity to represent the Imperial dynasty. The temple was restored again, resulting in a prestigious and towering marble structure. Tiberius was supposed to commend himself to the people as the new heir to Augustus.

Fall of Roman Empire

With the fall of Roman Empire the great monuments and temple built by them began to crumble and vanish slowly. Most of the marble used for constructing got stolen away, recycled and reused for other noteworthy monuments.

Today only three columns stand tall mutely on the eastern long side. These 3 columns are of the upper architecture, these are remains of the Augustan building from 6 A.D.

These columns too had crumbled in an earthquake. They have been later reassembled and propped up. These Corinthian Columns look so much like the ones in Temple of Olympian Zeus in Athens Greece.

Also in Roman Forum: Temple of Antoninus and Faustina

Tickets and Timings of Roman Forum

Entry to Roman forum is not free. We bought the ticket at Colosseum which included entry to Palatine Hills, Roman Forum and Colosseum. Temple of Castor and Pollux is in Roman Forum.

All the 3 sites are adjacent to each other and can be toured in one single day. Luckily we didn’t face any long queue. You can buy the tickets online too to avoid the possible long queues.

Current price is 12 euros. Please check with site once before you plan your visit to Rome.

Timings: 10.30am to 7pm.

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