Temple of Castor and Pollux, Roman temple in Campus Martius, Italy
The Temple of Castor and Pollux is an ancient Roman temple in the Forum Romanum in Rome, of which three Corinthian columns and their entablature still stand. These columns are among the most recognizable remains of the Forum and are visible from several points across the site.
The temple was dedicated in 484 BC, following the belief that the divine twins had aided the Romans at the Battle of Lake Regillus. After fire destroyed the building, it was rebuilt under Emperor Tiberius in the early 1st century AD in the form that partially survives today.
The temple is named after the twin brothers Castor and Pollux, who were worshipped as protectors of horsemen in Roman religion. Visitors walking through the Forum today can still sense how central this spot was to public life, as it stood at the heart of where people gathered.
The temple stands within the Forum Romanum, which is entered through a ticketed archaeological area and is best explored on foot. Going early in the day gives a clearer view of the columns and allows more time to move around the surrounding ruins without crowds.
Excavations showed that one of the rooms inside the temple complex was used as a working space by a dentist in ancient Rome. This points to how freely such sacred buildings were woven into the practical routines of everyday Roman life.
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