Temple of Hercules Musarum, Roman temple near Circus Flaminius, Rome, Italy
The Temple of Hercules Musarum was a Roman shrine in the Campus Martius region with classical columns and decorations from the Republican period. Its floor plan remains visible today through Fragment 33 of the Forma Urbis Romae, a marble map of ancient Rome made in the 3rd century.
Marcus Fulvius Nobilior built this shrine after his conquest of Ambracia in 189 BC. A major renovation took place under Lucius Marcius Philippus in the 30s BC.
The temple served as a gathering place for poets and writers who came here for literary events and performances. This mix of a strength god with the Muses showed how Romans saw power and artistic skill as connected.
The shrine survives only in fragments today, so it takes some historical knowledge to make sense of what remains on the ground. Visitors should prepare beforehand or hire a knowledgeable guide to understand the site and its layout.
The shrine was known for its imported Greek statues, including a complete set of the nine Muses. These artworks were part of Roman plunder from Greece and made the place a showcase of ancient masterpieces.
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