Temple of Peace, Roman temple in Imperial Fora, Italy
The Temple of Peace was a Roman temple in the Imperial Fora with a rectangular enclosure, a central apsidal hall, and five rooms opening onto the southeastern colonnade. The remains of this structure now lie beneath the Church of Saints Cosmas and Damian, with limited archaeological remnants visible at ground level.
Emperor Vespasian ordered the temple's construction in 71 CE to commemorate the victory over Jerusalem and display treasures from the conquest. The building became an important monument demonstrating Roman power and the spoils from the war against the Jews.
The temple functioned as an open gallery displaying Greek artworks and significant items from Jerusalem, including the seven-branched menorah. Visitors could see treasures from different cultures brought together for this specific purpose.
The temple remains are hidden beneath a church, so visitors can only see limited traces at ground level. Exploring the site requires attention to detail and understanding how Roman and Christian history layers on top of each other.
The ancient writer Pliny the Elder documented that hundreds of sculptures and artworks from Greece and Asia Minor were specifically relocated to this temple. This relocation made the site a center for plundered art treasures from across the empire.
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