Roman Temple (1st century AD)
The Arco di Druso to the right marked the end of the Roman forum.
The facade of the temple, which faced the forum,
was obliterated in the 12th century (see below).
Giuseppe Sordini discovered this temple under Sant' Ansano in 1900. It was finally excavated in 1955-7, when the chapels in the left wall of the church were demolished to reveal the remains of its right wall.
This temple stood on a podium some 3 meters high and originally faced the forum. Steps
in the forum led up to a colonnade along the front and sides of an open vestibule,
with the rectangular main room of the temple behind. The colonade served as the facade of the first church of Sant’ Ansano, which was built on the site of the temple,probably in the 9th century. The church was rebuilt with the opposite orientation in the 12th century, at which point it was extended south (i.e. back along what is now Via dell' Arco di Druso), obliterating the original facade.
- The
podium along the right side of the temple is now clearly visible, with
a stretch of the original Roman paving in front of it.
Part of one
column from the right side of the colonade has been inserted in its
original position and the position of others has been marked out in
concrete.
- [Fountain in niche]
- [Trabeation. Palmate frieze that inspired a detail of the Annunciation by Filippo Lippi in the apse of the Duomo]
Return to Walk I.