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.
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.
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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Detailed post with matching pictures as usual, Indrani.
Just realized that the post is almost 5 years old. 😛
A nice Info.. Well Presented, Indrani! So much information about these Ancient Structures in your current Series of i-Share!
These columns are almost alike the columns I saw in Noida’s Dalit Prerna sthal recently but the time is different . That was in 494BC and here it was in 2012. Beautiful historical post Indrani ji .
Such rich architecture.
I’ve always felt that there is a certain charm to ruins.
The first picture is stunning 🙂
Very nice. Especially love the contrast of the blue and white.
Wow; very nice.
Love the way how you click the pillars in detail every time. 🙂
Nice to know of the bit of history around the temple of the twin Gods, Indrani.
Perfect….. I wonder how well you manage to travel this much!!! Hats off Indrani!!
The details are intricately beautiful… 🙂 Very aesthetic!
beautiful captures and informative post as always… 🙂
Thanks for the pictures and little background into the Temple.
Great pictures, Rome is indeed so replete with history!
I like seeing all the details of this ancient masterpiece.
Very beautiful pictures. Lovely post.
Hi
beautiful photos
thanks for sharing
As fragile as it is eternal. Beautiful photos. You make me want to be there.
Nicely captured 🙂 Blue sky looks stunning above those structures!!
Pixellicious Photos
Good morning Indrani, Yes, I like the blue sky and the ancient remains of a different time.
(It was heavily raining and blowing; I was the only one walking along the beach!
Great shots!! Boom & Gary of the Vermilon River, Canada.
Beautiful columns with a beautiful capitals.
The columns are so beautiful against the vivid blue sky.
They were the best of building skills, nice pictures.
Beautiful blue sky as background to the columns! Doesn't this make you wonder what will be left of our buildings in 2,000 years?
the pillars look really imposing! great pics!
Picture-perfect sky! The blue sky and white structure help each other look outstanding.
Some Japanese wooden architectures are really old dating back to 7th or 8th century, while original foundation of these in Rome dates back to Before Christ and the latest reconstruction was 1st century. Amazing preservation, though lament for the loss of the most.
I hear Rome is like an outdoor museum. I'd like to visit some day.
Thank you for sharing.
Nice pics, Rome is on my wish list, so may be one day would be able to see these wonderful monuments in persons.
Cultures come, cultures go! It's amazing that the Greek and the Romans laid the foundation of our European culture and that your country, China and Japan had even older cultures than those of Europe.
Have a great weekend and Earth Hour!!
the clear blue sky is a perfect canvass for this classic beauty. great captures.
Wonderful contrast between the Temple and the deep blue sky.
Beautiful.
Sydney – City and Suburbs
visiting spots like this is likely stepping into the textbook.
As a child I was fascinated by all things Roman and Greek though I still haven't travelled to that part of the world. Thanks for sharing your photos.
Beautiful structure. The details are amazing.
Perfect skies as background for these incredible structures! Another terrific post, Indrani! Thank you as always for sharing your travels with us! Hope you have a wonderful weekend!
Sylvia
While it's wonderful that these three columns have been preserved, it's a shame that so much has been lost. But the detail that remains is fascinating, and your photo is beautiful with that blue sky.
beautiful
Roman architecture is amazing indeed.. Beautiful pics!
Very nice pictures…..lovely city
greetings, Joop
That is indeed a gorgeous blue sky! Perfect backdrop for these columns.
Good day! LV of Thoughts From Meme's Corner suggested me to visit your blog.
It is indeed worth-the-visit. You capture the world majestically. Beautiful photos. Please have some time to view mine @ World of Vhincci