(2/5) Originally, an Archaic-period temple sat on the site. Made of tufa, it was destroyed c. 480 BCE during the #Persian invasion of Greece. Despite being destroyed, the Athenians placed a captured Persian trireme on its ruins following the allied Greek victory in 479.
(3/5) The surviving temple was constructed between 444 - 440 BCE, and serves as one of the major monuments of the Athenian golden age.
Later described by Strabo as a "noteworthy settlement", it remained a significant cult centre into the #Roman imperial period.
(4/5) This Doric temple is constructed in the peripteros form, with a typical hexastyle (six column) portico. Of the original 38 columns, only 16 remain standing today.
Similar in size to the Temple of Hephaestus in #Athens, it contained a colossal bronze sculpture of Poseidon.
(5/5) Abandoned in Late Antiquity, it fell into ruin and remained undisturbed until 1797, when the Society of Dilettanti performed limited excavations. Sporadic digs continued into the 19th century, with the most significant occurring in 1906 when the "Sounion Kouros" was found.
(1/8) Located in Chichester, #England, Fishbourne Roman Palace (@romanpalace) is an incredible example of Roman residential architecture and is thus far the largest building known from #RomanBritain.
(2/8) Fishbourne Palace has very early origins compared to the many sites of Roman Britain. Occupation of the site appears to have started in 43 CE, the year of the Roman invasion. Initially, Fishbourne acted as a supply depot for the Roman army.
(3/8) By the 60's CE, the site had developed into a stone-walled villa, which featured a colonnaded courtyard garden and bathhouse. Based on excavations, it appears Italian craftsmen were employed to decorate Fishbourne with wall paintings and stucco mouldings.
(1/6) The stunning Temple of Augustus is situated in the city of Pula in #Croatia, and stands as one of the best preserved Greco-Roman temples outside of Italy.
(2/6) Built between 27 BCE - 14 CE, it was dedicated to the Emperor Augustus during his lifetime. Part of a collection of three temples, the Temple of Augustus sat to the left of two now destroyed temples, one of which was dedicated to the goddess Diana.
(3/6) The dedicatory inscription, originally in bronze lettering, read:
ROMAE · ET · AVGVSTO · CAESARI · DIVI · F · PATRI · PATRIAE
"In honour of Rome and Augustus Caesar, son of the deified [Julius], father of his country."
(1/6) Known to the Romans as the Theatrum Marcelli, this stunning ancient open-air theatre sits in the heart of Rome and once had a capacity of up to 20,000 spectators!
(2/6) Construction began in the closing years of the Roman Republic. Julius Caesar ordered space to be cleared for it, but was murdered before its completion. By 17 BCE, construction was advanced enough that it could host the secular games, and by 13 BCE it was finished.
(3/6) The theatre was dedicated to Marcus Claudius Marcellus, the nephew and presumptive heir of the emperor Augustus. Marcellus died in 23 BCE aged 19, leaving the emperor devastated and almost shattering the illusion of a restored republic.
(1/8) Located in #Rome, Italy, the Pantheon is arguably the best surviving example of Imperial #Roman architecture. Richly decorated with Corinthian columns and a variety of coloured marble, it is truly a remarkable site.
(2/8) Originally constructed during the reign of the emperor Augustus under the patronage of Marcus Agrippa, the current temple is actually a reconstruction undertaken by Trajan and Hadrian following an earthquake. Finished in 126CE, the original inscription was retained:
(3/8) "M·AGRIPPA·L·F·COS·TERTIVM·FECIT"
"M[arcus] Agrippa L[ucii] f[ilius] co[n]s[ul] tertium fecit"
"Marcus Agrippa, son of Lucius, made [this building] when consul for the third time."
(1/7) Situated in the French city of #Nîmes, the Maison Carrée ("Square House") is an amazing example of #Roman imperial architecture and among the best preserved temples from antiquity.
(2/7) Constructed during the late 1st century BCE, the temple was completed c. 2 CE. Its original function is unknown, however between 4 - 7 CE it was dedicated to Gaius Caesar and Lucius Caesar, the grandsons of the Roman Emperor Augustus who had both died young.
(3/7) Architecturally, it serves as a textbook example of Roman temple building described by the architect Vitruvius. Built in the Tuscan style, it features a single cult room (cella) and a deep porch. Raised c. 3m above ground on a podium, it dominated the ancient city's forum.
(1/8) One of the twelve Olympians and the herald of the gods, Hermes also played the role of protector of human heralds, travellers, thieves and merchants.
(2/8) In Greek mythology, Hermes was the son of Zeus and Maia. In reality, he appears to have emerged in Mycenaean Greece in the Late Bronze Age. His name first appears in Linear B syllabic script as "hermāhās", and he may have been adopted from Mesopotamia.
(3/8) Beyond his role as messenger, Hermes was also able to freely move between the realms of mortals and the divine. As such, he also played the role of psychopomp, or "soul guide", directing the souls of the dead into Hades.