The Temple of Hercules is located, together with the Temple of Portunus, in the archaeological area of the Foro Boario, which was the ancient meat market of Rome. Known since the Renaissance as the Temple of Vesta, in analogy to that of the Roman Forum, it was subsequently attributed to Hercules Victor, a deity already present in that area. The Temple is the oldest existing marble building in Rome. It was made of Pentelic Greek marble in the 1st century BC; restorations in Luna marble date back to the age of Tiberius. In the 12th century, it was transformed into a church dedicated to Santo Stefano Rotondo and then to Santa Maria del Sole in the 16th century. Inside the cella, some frescoes from the late 1400s have been recovered.
The rectangular Temple of Portunus represents an important testimony to ancient Roman architecture almost intact in its structure.
The construction does not comply with the canons of Greek art and is attributable, in its initial phase, to the 4th or 3rd century BC, although it was probably restored after 70 BC..
The temple was inserted into a scenic setting of which both the temple dedicated to Hercules and the nearby temple complexes of Mater Natura and San Nicola in Carcere were an integral part.
In the 9th century, the structures of the Temple of Portunus were converted into a Christian church, which nevertheless maintained the external layout intact. Initially dedicated to Santa Maria “Secundicerii”, then to Santa Maria Egiziaca, patron saint of prostitutes, the church was renovated several times over the centuries.
In 1916, the church was removed to restore the ancient appearance of the temple: during the works, a cycle of ancient early medieval frescoes emerged, immediately recognized as a unique testimony of its kind, now made more legible and fascinating by a recent restoration.
Information on the Temple of Hercules and Portunus at Foro Boario
p.zza Bocca della Verità
Rome (Rome)
sandra.terranova@beniculturali.it
https://archeoroma.beniculturali.it
Source: MIBACT
