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

Rome - December 28, 2011 - Forum Boarium

Temple of Portunus

Back in the 3rd and 2nd centuries BCE the forum Boarium was one of the main food markets of Rome. Strangely it was also the site of the first gladiatorial contest in 264 B.C.E. A fight that was arranged a s a funerary gift for some rich tosser. How did they come up with that? I think it went something like this:

Deceased senators son: "Gosh, Dad's dead, what shall we do in his honor? How about we get a bunch of oiled up muscle men in loincloths to fight to the death in a public square?"

Deceased senators son II: "Well he was a senator...don't you think that's a little tame?"

I suppose it beats a couple of white lilies and a sandwich buffet...anyway arriving at the forum we are greeted with two best preserved republican building in Rome.

Built in 7 BCE the temple of Portunus, god of keys, doors and livestock also associated with ports, interesting. This was Portunus' main temple in Rome and is pretty darn fab. Classically Ionic with a perfectly proportioned pediment, the sides have engaged columns. One of the very visible differences between Roman and Greek architecture was that in Greece columns always had a purpose, in Rome they could be used as raised decorations as here. The Maison Carree in Nimes is very similar (though bigger) and in a similar state of preservation. Quite possibly because they were both converted into churches in the middle ages.

The Temple of Hercules Victor is right behind the temple of Portunus is the round temple of Hercules Victor.
20 Corinthian columns surround this delightful building built sometime between 200 and 100 B.C.E. Once upon a time it surmounted by an architrave and probably a low pitched conical roof. There are carved depictions of the temple of Vesta that show what this must have looked like once.

Just south of this petite rotunda is another fountain with a freaking Triton in it. Really? In the 18th centery some plonker, inspired by Bernini,tossed off this sculpture in their garden shed and then plonked it down here next to the river for lack of something better like a McDonald's or a Starbucks.

Temple of Hercules Victor (the back end of the Temple of Portunus is in the background)