Temple of Vespasian, Pompei

The Temple of Vespasian is a small ancient Roman temple in Pompeii, located on the east side of the Forum, between the Eumachia Building and the Sanctuary of the Public Lares. It has irregular plan, almost flattened, due to the limited space available. The shrine was dedicated to the Imperial Cult, widely practiced in Rome. The time of its construction is uncertain.

Some archaeologists reckon it was built after the death of emperor Augustus (hence the alternate Latin name of it – Aedes Genii Augusti), and on the land owned by him. They believe the building was significantly damaged in the 62 AD earthquake and had to be modified, including the façade. Supporting this theory are the contrasting brickwork and difference in height with the neighboring Eumachia Building, as well as its placement – slightly forward – interrupting the colonnade of the Forum.

Others date the temple back to the era of Vespasian, who was alive during the construction, which was still unfinished before the eruption took place. Attesting to that is the bas-relief at the altar, depicting a bull sacrifice ceremony. If the emperor had died, the sacrifice of an ox would have been featured. Some researchers, however, believe that the temple was originally dedicated to Augustus, and then successively to each of the following emperors including, ultimately, Vespasian.

Leading to the entrance (chalcidicum) are two lateral stairs. The entrance porch is decorated on the sides with four columns; the brickwork niche was to hold a bronze statue of an emperor. Passing through the porch, you enter the courtyard, whose perimeter walls are made of tuff, while the brickwork is used exclusively for the columns. It looks as though the floor, which must have been in marble, was still absent at the time of the eruption, given the ditch in the tuff for collecting rainwater.

At the center of the court is a white marble altar decorated with a wreath of oak leaves, resting on a shield and two laurel shrubs; also depicted here as some sacrificial items, like a lituo and an incense box, under festoons of fruit and flowers.