Temple of Jupiter Optimus Maximus

The Temple of Jupiter Optimus Maximus was a Roman sanctuary on the Capitoline Hill consisting of three side-by-side chambers dedicated to Jupiter, Juno, and Minerva. The building rested on a large rectangular podium surrounded by columns that framed the entrance and flanked the sides.

The temple was dedicated in 509 BCE when Rome became a republic, replacing earlier Etruscan cult sites on the hill. Fires destroyed the sanctuary several times and each rebuilding followed the original plan until the complex was abandoned in the 6th century CE.

Generals took their vows here before heading to war and returned after victory to offer thanks to the highest god of the city. The three deities – Jupiter with his thunderbolt, Juno as protector, and Minerva as goddess of wisdom – received worship in separate chambers, reflecting Roman ideas of divine order.

The foundations and scattered stone blocks lie behind the Palazzo dei Conservatori and are accessible during museum opening hours. The area is level but can become crowded when multiple tour groups arrive at the same time.

The sanctuary had a gilded roof and a huge statue of Jupiter made from clay and gold that stood several meters tall. The complex remained the most important religious building in the city for over a millennium and was still being restored in the 4th century CE.