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

The Temple of Divus Iulius, also known as the Temple of Caesar or the Temple of the Deified Julius Caesar, is an ancient structure located in the Roman Forum. Its construction was initiated in 42 BC by the triumvirs Octavian, Antony, and Lepidus, following the posthumous deification of Julius Caesar by the Senate. However, it was ultimately completed by Octavian alone. On August 18, 29 BC, Octavian, who later became Emperor Augustus, dedicated the prostyle temple to his adoptive father Caesar. This dedication formed part of the triple triumph celebrating Octavian's victory over Antony and Cleopatra.

Situated on the eastern side of the main square of the Roman Forum, the Temple of Divus Iulius occupies the site where Caesar was cremated. The precise plan of the temple is not available in the Imperial Forma Urbis, an ancient map of Rome. However, surviving fragments on slabs V-11, VII-11, VI-6, and other sources offer insights into the layout of the surrounding area, including the Regia, the Temple of Castor and Pollux, the Fons and Lacus Iuturnae, the Basilica Iulia, and the Basilica Aemilia.

The specific column order employed in the construction of the temple remains uncertain. Depictions on ancient coins suggest that the columns may have been Ionic or composite. However, archaeologists have discovered fragments of Corinthian pilaster capitals at the site. Some scholars propose that the temple featured an Ionic pronaos (porch) combined with Corinthian pilasters on the cella walls, particularly at the corners. Conversely, others argue that the entire temple followed a Corinthian style, considering the coin evidence to be inaccurate representations of Corinthian columns.

It is important to note that the classification between Corinthian and composite columns is a distinction made in the Renaissance period and not in ancient Rome. In Roman architecture, Corinthian and composite orders were considered part of the same architectural order. The use of the composite style was prevalent in civil buildings and the exteriors of triumphal arches, while temples more commonly featured Corinthian columns. Numerous temples and religious buildings from the Augustan Age followed the Corinthian style, such as the Temple of Mars Ultor and the Maison Carrée in Nîmes, among others.