Shrine of Venus Cloacina

The Shrine of Venus Cloacina is an ancient temple in the Roman Forum with a circular marble base at its core. The structure stands directly above the Cloaca Maxima, one of the largest drainage systems of the ancient world.

The shrine was founded in the early 600s BC and was originally dedicated to the goddess of the sewer system. Later it became associated with Venus, showing how Roman worship evolved over time.

Romans honored the goddess of purification here using myrtle branches, which represented both physical and spiritual cleanliness. The practices show how Romans linked everyday necessities like drainage systems to spiritual meaning.

The shrine is located in the Roman Forum near the Basilica Aemilia, where a stone marker indicates its position. The circular marble ring at ground level is the best way to spot this ancient site when exploring the forum.

The structure rests on eight stacked layers of stone that accumulated over the centuries. Each time new construction raised the ground level in the forum, these layers were added underneath.