Tempio di Apollo Palatino (Temple of Palatine Apollo), Rome

The Temple of Apollo Palatinus, also known as Palatine Apollo, was a significant temple situated on the Palatine Hill in ancient Rome. Originally dedicated by Augustus, the first emperor of Rome, to his patron deity Apollo, it stood adjacent to the Temple of Cybele. This temple was the second one in Rome specifically dedicated to Apollo, following the Temple of Apollo Sosianus.

Previously, the remains of the Temple of Apollo Palatinus were mistakenly believed to belong to the Temple of Jupiter Victor until excavations in 1956 clarified their true identity. The construction of the temple was initiated by Octavian, later known as Augustus, in fulfillment of a vow made after his victories. The temple was built on the spot where a lightning bolt had struck the interior of Augustus' property on the Palatine Hill. Its dedication took place on October 9, 28 BC. Notably, Augustus' private residence was directly connected to the sanctuary of the temple.

The temple's precinct, known as the area Apollinis, featured an artificial terrace measuring 70 by 30 meters, supported by opus quadratum sub-structures. Within this precinct, an altar with the sculptural group known as "Myron's Herd" was situated on an elaborate base. The northern part of the terrace elevated the temple on a high podium constructed with tufa and travertine blocks in load-bearing sections and cement elsewhere. The temple itself was built with Carrara marble blocks, featuring a pronaos (entrance porch) and a facade adorned with full columns on the front, with a continuation of the same column order in half-columns against the exterior walls of the cella (inner chamber).

During the excavation, various polychromatic terracotta slabs with relief depictions of mythological subjects, known as the "lastre Campana" type, were recovered. Adjacent to the temple, the Bibliotheca Apollinis Palatini (Library of Apollo Palatinus) comprised two apsidal halls adorned with a row of columns along the walls. Ancient sources indicate that the temple possessed ivory doors and housed numerous sculptures. The pediment of the temple included two bas-reliefs depicting the hunting of the Galatians from Delphi and Chian artwork from the 6th century BC, featuring sculptures of the Niobids by Bupalus and Athenis.

Surrounding the temple was a portico known as the portico of the Danaids, featuring columns made of yellow giallo antico marble. The spaces between the column shafts were adorned with black marble statues of the fifty Danaids, and the portico also contained a sculpture of Danaos holding an unsheathed sword, as well as equestrian statues depicting the sons of Egypt.