Tempio del Divo Giulio (Temple of Deified Julius), Rome

The Temple of Deified Julius, also called the Temple of Caesar, is a significant monument in the Roman Forum, built to honor Julius Caesar. Situated near the Regia and Temple of Vesta, it once stood as the focal point of the Forum, symbolizing the power of the emerging Roman Empire.

Although Julius Caesar was never officially an emperor—that title went to his adopted son Augustus—his actions led to the Republic’s collapse. His appointment as dictator for life alarmed the Roman aristocracy and ultimately led to his assassination. The ensuing political turmoil resulted in the rise of the Empire. The temple was part of this transition, reinforcing the new regime’s authority. Many who had supported Caesar’s murder later backed the temple’s construction, likely to align themselves with the public’s admiration for him.

Caesar became the first Roman to be deified after death and the first to be buried in the Forum. His cremation in 44 BC was spontaneous, happening in the Forum rather than the planned Field of Mars. Given that Roman laws prohibited burials within city limits for hygienic reasons, this was an exceptional honor. A temporary shrine soon emerged at the cremation site, drawing widespread public devotion. Recognizing the significance of Caesar’s deification, the Senate officially decreed the temple in 42 BC, and Augustus dedicated it on August 18, 29 BC.

The temple became a central political and religious landmark. Its high podium doubled as a speaker’s platform, decorated with ship prows taken as war trophies. It hosted imperial speeches, funerary eulogies, and political declarations, further cementing Augustus’s connection to his divine predecessor. A festival in Augustus’s honor was held here every four years, reinforcing his status.

Architecturally, the temple mirrored the Temple of Venus Genetrix, emphasizing the Julian family’s divine lineage. Scholars debate whether its columns followed Corinthian, Ionic, or Composite styles. A key symbol of Caesar’s deification was Caesar’s Comet, which appeared for seven days after his death. Augustus seized on this celestial event, using it to promote Caesar’s divine status and incorporating a star motif into the temple’s decoration.

By the 15th century, much of the temple’s materials had been repurposed for other buildings, leaving only cement foundations. Today, it remains a historically significant site, with visitors still leaving offerings at Caesar’s altar, especially on March 15, the anniversary of his assassination.