Temple of Hadrian, Roman temple in Campus Martius, Rome, Italy
The Temple of Hadrian stands at Piazza di Pietra with eleven Corinthian columns in white and grey marble rising against a later building. The ancient cella wall now forms part of the modern façade, blending Roman architecture with later centuries.
Antoninus Pius built this temple in 145 for his adoptive father after he was elevated among the Roman gods. During the 17th century the ancient structure was converted into a palace for papal administration while keeping the columns on the outside.
The temple's pedestals featured carved reliefs depicting Roman provinces, demonstrating the geographical extent of imperial control during the second century.
The square in front of the columns is open during the day and works well for a quick stop during a walk through the city center. The best view of the columns comes from the middle of the piazza, where you can see their height and the marble grain.
The marble for the columns comes from quarries on Proconnesus island in the Sea of Marmara and shows grey and white bands in cross-section. This material was used in many imperial buildings because it could be shipped directly to Rome by sea.
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