pictured above: an artists impression of the Temple of Venus and Roma, the Temple of Venus and Roma as it is today
The Temple of Venus and Roma was the largest temple in ancient Rome, and was dedicated to Venus Felix (Lucky Venus, the goddess of love and beauty) and Roma Aeterna (Eternal Rome, the female personification of the Roman state). It was designed by the emperor Hadrian in 121 BCE, and was completed in 135 BCE.
pictured above: an artists impression of the detailing on the interior of the temple
The templum featured two cells with apses - one occupied by a statue of Venus, the other by Roma, both sitting on thrones. These cells were situated back to back and in perfect symmetry with one another, and the goddess's names were as well. Venus was the goddess of amor (love), and amor backwards is Roma; thus, Hadrian cleverly created a union between the two goddesses by placing them back to back like that. The temple was surrounded by a portico with 150 columns and is believed to have been the largest temple in Ancient Rome, measuring 145 metres in length and 100 metres in width.
To the ancient Roman's, their gods and goddesses were extremely important. A temple on this scale would have displayed their devotion, and regularly visiting it would have been common place. People would have prayed to both the goddesses about their corresponding areas of power, and sacrifices may have been made to appease them - but there were rules for this. The sex of the animal had to correspond with the deity, and the colour of the animal had to be white for a deity of the upper world, and black for a deity of the under world. So, for both Venus and Roma, a white female animal would have to be sacrificed. Within the cell of Venus, there was also an ara (altar) where matrimonium (wedding) ceremonies would take place, meaning that the temple played a significant role in the lives of the ancient Romans.
To the ancient Roman's, their gods and goddesses were extremely important. A temple on this scale would have displayed their devotion, and regularly visiting it would have been common place. People would have prayed to both the goddesses about their corresponding areas of power, and sacrifices may have been made to appease them - but there were rules for this. The sex of the animal had to correspond with the deity, and the colour of the animal had to be white for a deity of the upper world, and black for a deity of the under world. So, for both Venus and Roma, a white female animal would have to be sacrificed. Within the cell of Venus, there was also an ara (altar) where matrimonium (wedding) ceremonies would take place, meaning that the temple played a significant role in the lives of the ancient Romans.
Author's comment:
I believe that this temple is an amazing feat of architecture and shows just how impressive the Roman's devotion to their deities really was. As well as that, I find the symmetry between the two goddesses very interesting and I particularly love the use of a palindrome to further display that symmetry.