There are many Roman ruins throughout the former Roman world spread across the Meditteranean and beyond. The city of Rome was (naturally) the heartland of the Roman world and Rome's pagan religions were a vital part of the old Roman worldview. The Temple of Venus and Roma today is thought to have been the largest temple in Ancient Rome.

The Temple of Venus and Roma was an impressive sight in its heyday and was one of the most eye-catching buildings of the Eternal City. The Romans were famous for their impressive engineering skills. Visit the aqueduct bridge the Pont du Gard in France and see just how impressive Roman engineering was.

Temple Of Venus and Roma

The Temple of Venus and Roma is located on the Velian Hill between the Colosseum and the Forum Romanum. It was dedicated to the goddesses Venus Felix ("Venus the Bringer of Good Fortune") and Roma Aeterna ("Eternal Rome").

  • Name: In Latin Templum Veneris et Romae
  • Located: Next To The Colosseum
  • Temple Size: 110 Meters (360 feet) x 53 Meters (174 feet) and 31 Meters (102 feet) High

It is set on a platform and had two main chambers - one for each diety. In these chambers sat a cult statue of a goddess sitting on a throne.

  • Venus: Goddess of Love
  • Roma: Goddess of Rome

Hadrian added symmetry with these two goddesses with the word "love". In Latin "love" was "amor" - the same as "Roma" (Rome) spelled backward. In Venus' chamber was another altar where newlywed couples used to make sacrifices.

Related: Visit The Pantheon In Rome To See One Of Its Most Well-Preserved Ancient Ruins

The "Good Emperor" and Amateur Architect Hadrian

The temple was built by the great Roman emperor Hadrian (who is famously remembered for having built Hadrians' Wall in northern England that one can still see today). Construction started in 121 AD and was officially opened by Hadrian in 135 (finished in 141 under the next emperor Antoninus Pius). It was later damaged by a fire but was soon after restored.

  • Built On: The Temple Is Built On The Remains Of Nero's Domus Transitoria and Domus Aurea
  • Emperor Hadrian: Emperor And Amateur Architect

Apollodorus of Damascus was a Nabataean architect who gained immense popularity during his lifetime. He is one of the few architects whose name survives today and is credited with introducing some Eastern innovations to Roman Imperial style (like making the dome a standard).

But he made the mistake of being critical of Emperor Hadrian's foray into architectural design. He said of the temple that the statues inside the temple would hurt their heads if they tried to stand up from their thrones.

Cassius Dio reported that his ridicule of the emperor led him to be banished and then executed (although not all historians are convinced the latter actually happened). Just goes to show, one should not criticize even the "good" Roman Emperors!

Related: History Of The Athenian Acropolis And Why It's Still One Of The World's Greatest Treasures

Decline And Destruction

The Temple of Venus and Roma was closed with the persecution of the pagans in the Roman Empire after it became Christian. Later on, it was stripped of its materials. Notably, the gilt-bronze tiles were stripped from the temple and used on St. Peter's.

  • Church: The Ruined Temple Was Refashioned As a Church

It is thought that it was destroyed by an earthquake in the 9th century. Out of the ruins of the temple a new church (originally called Santa Maria Nova) was fashioned. The church was rebuilt in 1612 and the old temple's cella was used as the belltower. The church was also renamed Santa Francesca Romana.

Over the centuries most of the extensive amount of marble that was once part of the temple has since been reused for other Medieval projects.

Visiting The Temple of Venus and Roman Today

In recent times the temple has been reopened to the public (after restoration works that lasted an impressive 26 years). One can now access the temple with tickets to the Colosseum, the Forum, and Palatine Hill.

Colosseum, Palatine Hill and Roman Forum Guided Tour: There are many tours of this heart of the old Roman world. This tour takes one through the Colosseum, Palatine Hill, and the Roman Forum.

By booking this tour, one will be able to skip the line into the Colosseum and explore the famous amphitheater's first and second tiers with an official Colosseum guide. One will hear stories of this marvel of engineering and tales about the infamous gladiator fights that went on there.

Next, one will visit the Palatine Hills and see the ruins of the Roman Forum. One will learn about the older settlements on the Palatine that dates back to the 9th century BC.

  • Duration: 2.5 Hours
  • Includes: Official Tour Guide

Next: Supposedly, The Tomb Of St. Peter Is In A Necropolis Underneath the Vatican (And You Can Visit)