Temple of Romulus, Roman temple in Roman Forum, Italy
The Temple of Romulus is a Roman temple in the Forum featuring a circular structure with a distinctive entrance framed by red porphyry columns and white marble. A bronze door between the columns remains remarkably preserved and shows the craftsmanship typical of Roman construction methods.
Emperor Maxentius commissioned this temple around 309 CE to honor his son Romulus, who was deified after his death at a young age. The building survived centuries of change and was later incorporated into a Christian church, ensuring its preservation into a new era.
The temple was transformed into a vestibule for the Church of Saints Cosmas and Damian in the 6th century, blending Roman architecture with Christian worship. You can see how the ancient structure was adapted to serve a new faith while keeping its original form intact.
The interior can be viewed through a glass panel in the adjoining church, since the main entrance from the Forum is not accessible to visitors. Head into the church building to find the window that allows you to look into the rotunda and observe the interior details.
The building houses the only surviving original Roman bronze door in the entire Forum, having endured more than two thousand years. This door is a rare example of Roman metalwork and demonstrates how durable the materials were that Romans used in their construction.
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