Featured The elusive remains of the Temple of Augustus

Ancient Aussie · Mar 18, 2018

Okidoki said: ↑

thank you for sharing

Nicomedia mint. Laureate and draped bust right / COM-BIT across field, octastyle temple of Rome and Augustus at Nicomedia, frieze inscribed ROM S P AVG
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Thanks, fantastic temple coin Oki.

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Ancient Aussie · Mar 18, 2018

Marsyas Mike said: ↑

Wonderful post, Ancient Aussie - this is the most, best information on the Temple of Augustus that I've seen. Thanks for posting this.

I was curious about this temple originally because I have one of those Antoninus Pius temple restoration coins, a very, very scruffy denarius:
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Thanks, your coins might be worn but you can still make out the temple, nice.

Ancient Aussie · Mar 18, 2018

ancient coin hunter said: ↑

Really like your post @Ancient Aussie !

Here's an Antoninus Pius provincial with some architecture on the head of Tyche:

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Thanks, that's one of the best Tyche turrets I have seen.

Ancient Aussie · Mar 18, 2018

Rodney Boyette said: ↑

How am I supposed to be able to determine the real coins from the counterfeit coins??? I am urb2165@bellsouth.net
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Welcome to Coin talk Rodney, I suggest you have a read of other's experience with fakes on this site here.......http://www.forumancientcoins.com/board/index.php?topic=18946.0

Ancient Aussie · Mar 19, 2018

Nerva said: ↑

Here are some illustrations from the ‘Atlas of Ancient Rome’. It’s in the section marked ‘C’ on the map. View attachment 753880 View attachment 753881
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Nice detailed maps, what year was it published? as I noticed it has a question mark after Temple of Augustus (C)

Nerva · Mar 19, 2018

Ancient Aussie said: ↑

Nice detailed maps, what year was it published? as I noticed it has a question mark after Temple of Augustus (C)
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It's a massive, brilliant two volume extravaganza published in Italian in 2012 and English in 2017. Wonderfully detailed with lots of supporting material, including coin evidence.

Deacon Ray · Mar 19, 2018

Nerva said: ↑

Here are some illustrations from the ‘Atlas of Ancient Rome’...
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That's a beautiful book, Nerva!

Ancient Aussie · Mar 20, 2018

Deacon Ray said: ↑

Great essay and photographs, @Ancient Aussie !
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Thanks, I'm glad you enjoyed it.

galba68 · Mar 20, 2018

Ancient Aussie said: ↑

The structure generally known as the temple of Augustus has recently been completely uncovered by the removal of the church of S. Maria Liberatric.(see a brief history and pics below) It is a large rectangular construction of brick-faced concrete, with very lofty and massive walls, and belongs to the period of Domitian. It forms a single structural unit shown very clearly by the unbroken lines of bonding courses of tiles which run right through it.
In 1902 the church located on this site, Chiesa di S.Maria Liberatrice, was demolished. It was built in the 13th century and transformed in baroque forms several centuries later (its name was given to another church built in the beginning of the 20th century in Testaccio district). Destruction brought to the light what rests of the more ancient Christian church, S.Maria Antiqua, erected in the 6th century inside of one of the halls of the imperial palace on Palatine Hill, built by Domitian.
View attachment 753807 View attachment 753808 Opened to the public 2016, and inside view of the ancient church S.Maria Antiqua and above street view. Note the large structure to the right the Temple of Augustus.
Temple of Augustus built by Tiberius, or by Tiberius and Livia. According to Suetonius, Tiberius did not finish the temple, and it was completed by Caligula. Tacitus, however, says that Tiberius finished the temple, but for some reason did not dedicate it. In this temple were statues of Augustus and Livia, set up by Claudius, and probably of other emperors who were deified. It was destroyed by fire at some time before 79 A.D. but restored, probably by Domitian, who seems to have constructed in connection with it a shrine of his patron goddess, Minerva. A considerable restoration was carried out by Antoninus Pius, whose coins show an octastyle building with Corinthian capitals, and two statues, presumably of Augustus and Livia, in the cella. Of the construction of the original temple before the restoration by Antoninus, we know nothing from ancient sources other than coins.
The restitution of the temple by Antoninus Pius is securely attested by silver and bronze issues of his reign showing an octostyle temple of the Corinthian order with the legend AED / TEMPLVM DIVI AVG REST.There can be no question that this is a contemporary portrayal of the temple of Divus Augustus.
The pediment displayed a relief featuring Augustus and was topped by a quadriga. Two figures stood on the eaves of the roof, that on the left representing Romulus and the one on the right depicting Aeneas leading his family out of Troy, alluding to Rome's origin-myth. The steps of the temple were flanked by two statues of Victory.
My coinage of Antoninus Pius representing the temple. View attachment 753811 View attachment 753812

Antoninus Pius Sestertius honoring the temple of Augustus and Livia, a very large heavy coin 28.6 gm. I look at this coin as very rustic and has a very original feel to it. RIC 1004.
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AE Dupondius 27mm, 10.58g, Rome mint struck AD 159, Radiate head right / TEMPLVM DIV AVG REST. Octastyle temple within which are the seated figures of Divus Augustas and Livia. RIC III 1017.
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AR Denarius, 17mm, 2.86g, RIC 143

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The ruins of the temple of Augustus as they are today.
The Temple of Divus Augustus was a major temple originally built to commemorate the deified first Roman emperor, Augustus. It was built between the Palatine and Capitoline Hills, behind the Basilica Julia, on the site of the house that Augustus had inhabited before he entered public life in the mid-1st century BC. It is known from Roman coinage that the temple was originally built to an Ionic octastyle design. However, its size, physical proportions and exact site are unknown.
Map of area. Just in case your not familliar with where the temple was situated in the forum, if you look to the bottom right near the scale I have it circled.

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SHOW YOUR ANTONINUS PIUS COINS. THIS GUY PRODUCED SOME OF THE MOST APEALLING COINS OF THE EMPIRE.
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thanks for the post

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