Temple of Venus Erycina

The Temple of Venus Erycina was a Roman shrine on Capitoline Hill built with stone columns and entablature in the style typical of such religious buildings. It stood near the Temple of Jupiter Optimus Maximus as part of the sacred structures crowning that hill.

Following the Battle of Trasimeno in 217 BC, Roman leaders consulted the Sibylline Books and then ordered the construction of this shrine. The building was completed as a response to a military crisis and showed how crucial the goddess's protection was to Roman security.

This temple was dedicated to Venus Erycina, a goddess called upon for protection during times of war and venerated by Roman leaders. The site linked religious devotion with political power, as magistrates would come here to show their gratitude to the deity.

The temple remains are not open to visitors today because they lie beneath modern buildings on the hillside. Ancient coins provide a window into how the original structure looked and where it once stood.

Two temples honoring this goddess once existed in Rome, with this one on the Capitol being about 33 years older than its counterpart on the Quirinal Hill. The older site on the hill was therefore the first of these two shrines devoted to the same deity.

Location: Rome

GPS coordinates: 41.89156,12.48236

Latest update: December 13, 2025 17:02