Temple of Amor and Roma

This temple is located in between the Basilica of Maxentius, the Colosseum and the Via Sacra at the eastern entrace to the Forum Romanum.

The Temple of Amor and Roma was a personal project of emperor Hadrian, initiated in 121 AD, and finished in 135. The temple had a double dedication to Roma and Venus, deity of Love, Amor, which is Roma spelled backwards.

It is built on an artificial platform, made by adding substructures on the sides of the Velia Hill and utilising what remained of the monumetal atrium of the Domus Aurea. The temple was of the corinthian order, measuring 100x145m, with 10 columns on the front and 19 on the sides. Hadrian’s predilection for greek culture led him to construct a temple non very roman, it completely lacked the podium and had a colonnade all around the temple. Parallel with the longer sides of the temple were two porticos. The double dedication is reflected inside, where there are two cellae, back to back, the one facing the colosseum for Venus and the one facing the Forum Romanum for Roma. The original cellae had flat, wooden roofs, the current vaulted cellas dates from 307 AD, when Maxentius reconstructed parts of the temple, which had been damaged by fire.

Not much remains, except the platform and parts of the vaulted cellas. The cella of Venus is visible from the Colosseum, the cella of Roma is now a part of the church Santa Francesca Romana. Remains of the columns from the two porticos have been reerected.

The site cannot be entered, so the remains of the temple are best seen from the Colosseum.