The largest and most splendid of Rome's temples, the Temple of Venus and Roma, was the only one to have ten columns across its principal façade. Designed by Hadrian, builder of the famous Hadrian’s Wall, who began construction in AD 121, it probably was dedicated in AD 135 and may have been completed by Antoninus Pius. The Temple burned in AD 307 but was restored by the emperor Maxentius just a few years after. A severe earthquake at the beginning of the 9th century unfortunately destroyed the temple once again. Around 850 Pope Leo IV ordered the building of a new church, Santa Maria Nova, on the ruins of the temple. After a major rebuilding in 1612, this church was renamed Santa Francesca Romana, incorporating Roma's cella as the belltower. After more than 20 years amid heavy criticism of Italy's management of its artistic heritage after the collapse of a house in Pompeii, the church opened to the public on Thursday, November 11. Though closed to the public until now, the temple has been used since John Paul II's papacy as a platform for Good Friday ceremonies when the pope leads pilgrims in meditations on the Stations of the Cross. A ceremony marked the re-opening of the Temple of Venus and Rome in the Roman Forum near the Colosseum.
Submitted by by Tom (Torquatus) Silver
No comments:
Post a Comment