DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.44944#0099
AUGUSTUS, DIVUS, TEMPLUM 63
(CIL iii. p. 900, No. lvii.), and it is not mentioned in the Regionary
Catalogue. We are told of one painting in the temple, that of Hyacinthus
by Nicias of Athens, which was placed there by Tiberius (Plin. NH xxxv.
I3l)·
Everywhere in Latin literature this temple is called templum Augusti
or divi Augusti, except in Martial (iv. 53. 2) and Suetonius (Tib. 74),
where it is templum novum, a name which was evidently given to the
building at once, for it occurs in the Acta Arvalia from 36 a.d. on (CIL
vi. 32346, 10 ; 2041, 5 ; 2042^, 28 ; 2051, 14), as well as the variant
templum divi Augusti novum (2028^, 12; 20440:, 5; 32345 ; also vi. 8704).
Once we find templum divi Augusti et divae Augustae (vi. 4222). In
69 a.d. an aedes Caesarum was struck by lightning (Suet. Galba I : tacta
de caelo Caesarum aede capita omnibus simul statuis deciderunt, Augusti
etiam sceptrum e manibus excussum est), and may perhaps be identified
with this temple of Augustus (HJ 80). In connection with the temple
Tiberius seems to have erected a library, Bibliotheca Templi Novi or
Templi Augusti (q.v.). Over this temple Caligula built his famous
bridge to connect the Palatine and Capitoline hills (Suet. Cal. 22 : super
templum divi Augusti ponte transmisso Palatium Capitoliumque con-
iunxit), and its location is thereby indicated as somewhere on the north-
west side of the Palatine, below the domus Tiberiana.
Of the construction of the original temple before the restoration by
Antoninus, we know nothing from ancient sources other than coins. It
has generally been supposed that a bronze coin of Caligula (37-40 a.d.,
Cohen, Cal. 9-11 ; HC fig. 99) represents it, and was struck to commemo-
rate its completion or dedication. This coin represents an Ionic hexastyle
structure, decorated with sculptures on the roof, within the pediment,
and in front, and with garlands. Recently, however, this identification
has been attacked by Richmond (op. cit. 198-203) who maintains that the
temple of Caligula’s coin is that of Apollo Palatinus (q.v.), while the
temple of Augustus is represented on bronze coins of Tiberius of 34-36 a.d.
(Cohen, Tib. 68-70). These show a hexastyle structure of the Corinthian
order, with sculpture above the pediment, statues of Hercules and
Mercury on pedestals beside the steps, a statue of Augustus in the cella,
and around the back of the building a high curved wall—the murus post
templum Augusti of the diplomata (see above).
Still more recently it has been maintained that the temple of Concord
is represented on the coins of Tiberius, while that of Augustus is shown
on those of Caligula (BM Imp. i. pp. cxxxviii, cxlvi; Tib. 116, 132-134 ;
Cab 41-43, 5θΐ, 69)·
The structure generally known as the temple of Augustus and the
bibliotheca templi divi Augusti has recently been completely uncovered
by the removal of the church of S. Maria Liberatrice (Ill. 9). It is a
large rectangular construction of brick-faced concrete, with very lofty
and massive walls, and belongs to the period of Domitian. That it forms
(CIL iii. p. 900, No. lvii.), and it is not mentioned in the Regionary
Catalogue. We are told of one painting in the temple, that of Hyacinthus
by Nicias of Athens, which was placed there by Tiberius (Plin. NH xxxv.
I3l)·
Everywhere in Latin literature this temple is called templum Augusti
or divi Augusti, except in Martial (iv. 53. 2) and Suetonius (Tib. 74),
where it is templum novum, a name which was evidently given to the
building at once, for it occurs in the Acta Arvalia from 36 a.d. on (CIL
vi. 32346, 10 ; 2041, 5 ; 2042^, 28 ; 2051, 14), as well as the variant
templum divi Augusti novum (2028^, 12; 20440:, 5; 32345 ; also vi. 8704).
Once we find templum divi Augusti et divae Augustae (vi. 4222). In
69 a.d. an aedes Caesarum was struck by lightning (Suet. Galba I : tacta
de caelo Caesarum aede capita omnibus simul statuis deciderunt, Augusti
etiam sceptrum e manibus excussum est), and may perhaps be identified
with this temple of Augustus (HJ 80). In connection with the temple
Tiberius seems to have erected a library, Bibliotheca Templi Novi or
Templi Augusti (q.v.). Over this temple Caligula built his famous
bridge to connect the Palatine and Capitoline hills (Suet. Cal. 22 : super
templum divi Augusti ponte transmisso Palatium Capitoliumque con-
iunxit), and its location is thereby indicated as somewhere on the north-
west side of the Palatine, below the domus Tiberiana.
Of the construction of the original temple before the restoration by
Antoninus, we know nothing from ancient sources other than coins. It
has generally been supposed that a bronze coin of Caligula (37-40 a.d.,
Cohen, Cal. 9-11 ; HC fig. 99) represents it, and was struck to commemo-
rate its completion or dedication. This coin represents an Ionic hexastyle
structure, decorated with sculptures on the roof, within the pediment,
and in front, and with garlands. Recently, however, this identification
has been attacked by Richmond (op. cit. 198-203) who maintains that the
temple of Caligula’s coin is that of Apollo Palatinus (q.v.), while the
temple of Augustus is represented on bronze coins of Tiberius of 34-36 a.d.
(Cohen, Tib. 68-70). These show a hexastyle structure of the Corinthian
order, with sculpture above the pediment, statues of Hercules and
Mercury on pedestals beside the steps, a statue of Augustus in the cella,
and around the back of the building a high curved wall—the murus post
templum Augusti of the diplomata (see above).
Still more recently it has been maintained that the temple of Concord
is represented on the coins of Tiberius, while that of Augustus is shown
on those of Caligula (BM Imp. i. pp. cxxxviii, cxlvi; Tib. 116, 132-134 ;
Cab 41-43, 5θΐ, 69)·
The structure generally known as the temple of Augustus and the
bibliotheca templi divi Augusti has recently been completely uncovered
by the removal of the church of S. Maria Liberatrice (Ill. 9). It is a
large rectangular construction of brick-faced concrete, with very lofty
and massive walls, and belongs to the period of Domitian. That it forms