The Temple of Divus Antoninus and Divus Faustina (Templum Divi Antonini et Divae Faustinae) was built by the emperor Antoninus Pius in A.D. 141 on the north side of the Via Sacra shortly after the death of his wife, the empress Faustina. When Antoninus Pius died in A.D. 161 (on 7th March), the temple was re-dedicated to Antoninus and Faustina at the instigation of his successor, Marcus Aurelius.
The inscription on the architrave records the first dedication: “Divae Faustinae Ex S.C.” (To the divine Faustina by decree of the senate). The other inscription, added afterwards on the frieze, records the second: “Divi Antonino et” (To the divine Antoninus and).
In the middle ages the temple was converted into the Roman Catholic Church of San Lorenzo in Miranda. Today a flight of steps leads up to the ten standing Corinthian columns of the original temple which are now part of the church.
© Carole Raddato
© Carole Raddato
© Carole Raddato
© Carole Raddato
Check the Digital Roman Forum website to see some computer generated reconstructions of this temple.
Did you notice the marks on the columns from the attempt to bring them down?
At least the attempt was unsuccessful so they kept it as part of the temple…