Pompeii - Triangular Forum and Doric Temple

Ruins of Doric temple in the Triangular Forum

The triangular forum contains the ruins of Doric temple, which was dedicated to Hercules sometime in the sixth century BCE. I must admit that I was really surprised at how small the temple was, but I keep forgetting that temples, unlike churches today, were not jam packed with worshipers twice a day and three times on Sunday. The remaining stone columns and blocks sitting on a raised platform shows that it was very similar in design to the old Greek colony temples in Paestum and Sicily though much much smaller in scale. 

It consisted of a raised stepped platform, on which would have been the cella. Surrounding the cella on all four sides fluted columns with wide flat capitals would have sprung directly from the platform. There would have been and architrave above this and most likely sculpture on each of the pediments. I'm not sure if this was found and sent to a museum, or if it was removed after the earthquake of AD 62. 

 

A benefit of arriving so early was being able to catch the interplay of the mist and sunlight. When we came upon the temple the light was filtering through the trees as the morning mist was just beginning to dissipate creating a couple of my favorite photographs from Pompeii. Pretty darn ethereal....spooky even.

Semi-circular bench Triangular Forum

Sort of behind the temple at the southernmost end of the triangular forum is a semi circular stone bench that overlooked the edge of the lava spur cliff that the forum and temple are perched upon.It was dedicated by the same two blokes that donated the white marble sundial on the ionic column in the forum.

I was expecting some great religious significance to this bench. the winged lion supports were pretty impressive. The proximity to the temple would also lead one to believe this. However it was apparently built there because the view was nice.

Doric temple in the triangular forum