Address: Regio VII, Insula 1.4
Area: 227 square meters
Temple of Fortuna August
stands at the corner of the intersection of Via del Foro and Via
della Fortuna. The temple got its name from the inscription found
during its excavations. It reads:
"Mark Tullius, the son of
Marcus, the duumvir with the judiciary for the third time, the
five-year duumvir, foreshadows the military tribune of the people’s
choice, erected this temple of Fortuna Augusta on his own land and
at his own expense."
Such inscriptions were usually placed on
the entablature of the portico of public buildings. The portico,
however, was destroyed by an earthquake of 62 years and has not yet
been replaced. In general, the Romans are not much then rushed to
the repair. For 17 years, they didn’t get their hands that way and
raised the inscription to their place. The cella or the interior was
also damaged.
Cella (C) of the Temple of Fortuna August is
surrounded by four thin Corinthian columns along the facade and with
3 columns on the side. The temple itself stands on a raised podium.
The altar (A) is located on a protruding platform in front of the
podium and double staircase on both sides. The temple in many ways
resembles the neighboring Temple of Jupiter.
Inside the cella (temple building) part of the central aedikula is
still preserved. In the unit (D) stood the image of Fortune as
guardian of the fate of Augustus and patroness of the royal family.
The walls of the cella were originally lined with marble and there
were four side niches in them (two in the north and two in the
south). In each niche were statues, two of which were found. It
would seem that both of these statues were associated with the
priesthood of the temple itself, and not with members of the
imperial family.
Marcus Tullius retained ownership of a
narrow strip of land directly to the south of the temple on Via del
Foro. Archaeologists found a basalt plate with the inscription: "M.
Tulli M. f. Area privata", which translates as:
"Private
property owned by Marcus Tullius, son of Marcus."