Religion in Ancient Rome
Like many ancient religions, Ancient Roman religion encompassed a multitude of deities-gods or goddesses in polytheistic religions-that included different characters and held interest with different levels of social life. The deity worshipped by someone depended on personal preference and needs of the moment. In Pompeii there were officially established deities as well as emerging cults-religions that is not typical of Ancient Rome. The Ancient Roman religion was not based on a set of central beliefs but rather that a mixture of rituals, taboo's, superstition, and traditions. Evidence of religious beliefs include temples and alters. Temples were built as a place for Priests to perform rituals and sacrifices to the gods and goddesses. An example of a remaining temple in Pompeii is the Temple of Jupiter (Greek god Zeus).
Temple of Jupiter
The Temple of Jupiter is placed at the north end of the forum and was first built in the second half of the second century BC, 150BC. After Pompeii had been conquered by Roman colonists, the temple adapted and became a Capitolium in which it is dedicated to the most highly worshipped established deities in Ancient Rome , Jupiter, Juno and Minerva. Thus is became the Temple of the Capitoline Triad.
Architecture
The front of the Temple (D) features a wide staircase, two large arches and towers above that have remained virtually intact. The steps were divided into two flights to allow for a central platform in which to set the altar. Following along to the deep vestibule, pronaos (B), directly proceeding the steps, enclosed in a portico and projecting side walls. The temple is built in prostyle, with six Corinthian columns in the front and 4 across the sides. The forth wall is blocked-for which there is no colonnade. The cella (C) is the central room of the temple in which the statue or statues of the deity are held. This cella, is divided into 3 sections, a large one in the centre, with two much narrower aisles on each side. The cella is divided by two rows of columns that are composed of two tiers, Ionic below, Corinthian above. With its renovation in 80BC the cella became much larger as to be suitable and accommodate for the other two deities. At the rear of the cella (E) is a tripartite podium (a podium set in three parts) with half columns and three quarter columns which would have held the statues of the Capitoline Triad-and for which, Jupiter's survives and is held in the Archaeological Museum in Naples. The western arch (F) is side to the pronaos. The eastern arch (parallel to F) would have been demolished for a better view of the greater arch (G) behind it-as it served as an entrance to the forum. |
Style
The original wall decorations would have been in first style: A style of wall paintings that developed out of Hellenistic trends. It features colourful patchwork walls of brightly painted faux marble-which was connected with stucco moulding that created a three-dimensional effect. Upon its first renewal, it would have been redecorated in the second style: Largely uses the medium of fresco, in which pigment is added to wet plaster and there was a desire to create designs that didn't appear like they were painted on walls. In its final restoration, the walls of the cella were painted using third style methods: Unlike the first two style styles it uses monochromatic planes of colour, such as black or dark red, adorned by minute, intricate details.
The original wall decorations would have been in first style: A style of wall paintings that developed out of Hellenistic trends. It features colourful patchwork walls of brightly painted faux marble-which was connected with stucco moulding that created a three-dimensional effect. Upon its first renewal, it would have been redecorated in the second style: Largely uses the medium of fresco, in which pigment is added to wet plaster and there was a desire to create designs that didn't appear like they were painted on walls. In its final restoration, the walls of the cella were painted using third style methods: Unlike the first two style styles it uses monochromatic planes of colour, such as black or dark red, adorned by minute, intricate details.
Significance & Conclusions
The eruption of Mt. Vesuvius preserved the Temple of Jupiter. Over the course of its development, it has succumbed to the will and the creative favours of the particular era. Evidence of the transitions are still evident in the remaining building left today. This gives us a historical timeline through the change in Roman architecture, particularly with Hellenistic influences which were popular in the early days of the Roman occupation. At the time of the eruption, the temple had not yet been fully restored . They had restored the building which had collapsed in a earthquake-it was a necessity to their functioning life, if it hadn't, why waste the resources. The preservation of the temple has allowed us insight into the role of religion in the life of an ancient Roman. I conclude that religion and frequent worship of the deities, in this case the Capitoline Triad, was well established in the Roman Empire, including Pompeii. The temple is situated in the forum and has gateways that lead in and out of the forum which tells us that worship was a fundamental aspect of regular life. In relation to the event of both the earthquake that destroyed the Temple and the eruption that ultimately led to its survival, religion was a way of dealing with the occurrences in nature-that pleasing the gods would prevent disasters, which were supposedly the will of the gods.
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