• Home
• Europe
• Italy
• Pompeii

Temple of Asclepius

Address: Insula 7, 25

The Temple of Asclepius (also known as the Temple of Jupiter Meilichia) stands at the intersection of Via del Tempio di Isis and Via Stabiana. The temple was built in the third or second century BC. At first, archaeologists believed that the temple was dedicated to the cult of Jupiter Meilichiy according to the Oskan inscription found at the Stabia Gates.

The entrance to the temple of Asclepius comes from Via Stabiana and leads to the portico (A), consisting of two simple columns located in the lower part of the courtyard. In the center of the courtyard there is an altar made of tufa and decorated with a simple frieze with alternating triglyphs and metopes, an example of mixing Doric and Ionic architectural styles.

A wide flight of stairs (C) occupying the entire width of the section leads to a podium (D) with four Corinthian columns, with an additional one column in both directions.

Behind the columns lies the cella or the temple of Asclepius itself, which has support on the back wall as a background for a religious sculpture, the patron saint of this temple. Here were found statues that were originally identified with Jupiter and Juno. However, later it was considered that it was a statue of Asclepius and the goddess Hygia (hence the word "hygiene" by the way). In ancient times, sacrifices were made in the courtyard on the altar, and only the priest and the priestess entered the temple itself. The statue of God was seen from the courtyard, but it wasn't approached.