Temple of Antoninus and Faustina

The Temple of Antoninus and Faustina was constructed during the Imperial period in 141 CE immediately after the death of Emperor Antoninus’ wife, Faustina, in 140 CE. Interestingly, the Senate had approved for her apotheosis and temple in her honor as to appease the emperor, even though she was allegedly “not worthy of divine honours” (Watkins, 29). Regardless of her ‘worthiness’, the facade of this temple had a dedicatory inscription that read “Divae Favstinae Ex S.C.” (For Deified Faustina, by decree of the Senate); however, when the emperor died around 20 years later, he was deified, and his name was added to Faustina’s inscription:  “Divo Antonino Et” (For Deified Antoninus and…). 

Architecturally speaking, this temple consisted of cipollino marble, Imperial Corinthian columns and a frieze with griffins, acanthus scrolls, and candelabras above such columns. There was also a sacrificial altar in the front of the middle of the flight of stairs. 

This temple is one of the most well preserved temples in the Roman Forum due to the fact that in the 7th century, it was converted into a church, which has been famously regarded as the church of San Lorenzo in Miranda since the 11th century. 

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Sources: 

  1. Hülsen, Christian. The Roman Forum. 1906., pp. 220-222. 
  2. “Temple of Antoninus and Faustina.” Parco Archeologico Del Colosseo, colosseo.it/en/marvels/temple-of-antoninus-and-faustina/. 
  3. Claridge, Amanda. 2010. Rome: An Oxford Archaeological Guide. 2nd ed., revised and expanded. Oxford: Oxford University Press., pp. 111-113. 
Temple of Antoninus and Faustina