Featured Article Summary #75

The Temple of Apollo Palatinus was a temple to the god Apollo in Rome, built by Augustus between 36 and 32 BCE. It was the first temple to Apollo within the city's ceremonial boundaries and the second of four temples constructed by Augustus. The temple was closely associated with Augustus's victories at the battles of Naulochus and Actium, and played a significant role in his propaganda and political ideology. It was used for the worship of Apollo and Diana, and also housed the prophetic Sibylline Books. The temple was praised by Augustan poets for its artistic decoration and statuary. It was damaged by the Great Fire of Rome and ultimately destroyed by another fire in 363 CE. Excavation and restoration work has been ongoing since the 1860s. The Temple of Apollo in Rome was first promised to the god in 433 BCE. It was situated outside the city limits and considered a 'foreign' deity. Augustus, who claimed to be the son of Apollo, made it a priority to restore and construct temples in Rome, including the Temple of Apollo Palatinus. The Temple of Apollo Palatinus was built by Octavian, later known as Augustus, to celebrate his victory at the Battle of Naulochus. The temple was dedicated to Apollo and his sister Diana, and was located in the sacred Palatine district of Rome. Adjacent to the temple were two libraries known as the Library of Palatine Apollo, which were important repositories of literature and art. After Augustus died, the temple was occasionally used for senate meetings by his successors. The wife of Claudius, Agrippina the Younger, had a secret door installed in the room used for the meetings so that she could listen to them. The temple was damaged and restored after a fire in 64 CE, but was eventually destroyed in another fire in 363. Some believe that Christians may have caused the fire, while others think it was an act of divine intervention. The temple may have been dismantled after the fire, and in the twelfth century, there were rumors that Pope Gregory I destroyed the library of the temple, but this is not considered reliable. The Temple of Apollo Palatinus was located on the Palatine Hill in Rome and was the second temple dedicated to Apollo in the city. It was positioned near other important monuments, such as the Temple of Cybele and the Temple of Victory, possibly to strengthen the connection between Apollo and military victories. The temple was also believed to be near a domus that was initially thought to be Augustus's personal residence, but later excavations disproved this theory. The temple's sanctuary included other structures, such as the Roma Quadrata and the Tetrastylum.