Plate 66. The Temple of Jupiter Stator

Near the original principal forum at Rome, and near the ruins of the Basilica Julia, stand three columns, with a portion of the entablature, from the peristyle of a Corinthian Peripteral Temple of 8 and 13 columns. These three columns are from one of the long sides and stand on a common foundation of 6.28 meters in height. For a long time they were considered as the remains of the Temple of Jupiter Stator, or Castor and Pollux. The later explorations, however, have established these ruins to be of the Temple of Minerva, which was erected of Pentelic marble by Domitian about the end of the first century A. D.

The scant remains indicate the majesty and beauty with which the entire structure was clothed. The architecture is of great originality, not overloaded, and of noble proportions and exquisite execution.

The leafwork of the capital has more spirit than that on the Pantheon. The volutes are larger, of splendid form and more decorative, those in the center being entwined. Out of the stem from which they spring also grows a fine ornament which spreads itself on the surface of the abacus.

The entablature as a whole is of strong proportions and still not heavy, while the details and ornamentation, of admirable character and relation, are arranged with a fine balance and the dominating members stand in excellent harmony with one another. In order that the wide corona should not appear too massive, it is decorated with an upright row of leaves which actually remind one of the Roman name of this member, corona. The dentil member is here divided into dentils. The minor mouldings are considerably subordinated, and enriched with rare taste. The flower band decoration of the middle fascia of the architrave seems out of place. The soffit of the architrave is found on Plate 87.