Audio Guide Rome – The Temple of Hercules
“The temple of Hercules The Conqueror”, better known as the Temple of Vesta, was built in the 2nd century BC in the square that we know as Piazza “Bocca della Verità”.
The temple stands for the economic power of the Roman merchants, who, in the 2nd century BC, were able to built up the Temple thanks to the work of Ancient Greece artists. The Temple is almost completely built with Greek marble.
The temple decorations and architecture is deeply inspired to 4th century BC Greek art, with a mixture of more modern style from later Greek art.
The temple has a round feature with a diameter of almost 15 meters. Such shape is considered quite a rarity for Roman art.
The temple originally consisted of 20 Corinthian columns made of marble.
One of the columns was lost during the years, while nine of the columns were later re-built using Carrara marble.
The upper part of the temple went lost and the roof was built in modern age.
