Temple of Apollo, Roman temple ruins in Pompeii, Italy
The Temple of Apollo is a Roman sanctuary on the north side of the Forum in Pompeii, surrounded by a colonnade with slender columns. The raised area in the middle shows the original cella where priests performed rituals and the statue of the god stood.
The sanctuary began in the 6th century BC as a Greek worship site and was later remodeled by the Romans after 120 BC. The earthquake of 62 AD damaged the structure heavily, and restoration remained incomplete until the eruption of Vesuvius.
Apollo was the most important god for Pompeii's residents, and his sanctuary reflects this through statues and altars that allowed offerings and prayers. People brought their concerns here, and the site connected Greek traditions with Roman faith in everyday practice.
Access is through the main entrance to the archaeological park and then through the Forum, where the sanctuary sits on the left side. The columns and steps are clearly visible, but there is little shade, so a visit in the morning or late afternoon is advisable.
On the outer wall sits the mensa ponderaria, a stone table with hollows of different sizes that served as official measures for merchants. This control panel shows how the administration prevented fraud and monitored fair trade in the city.
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