Temple of Apollo

One of the most famous attractions of the excavations of Pompeii is the Temple of Apollo, one of the most frequented and ancient places of worship. It was unearthed at the beginning of the 19th century along with the Forum.

The history of the Temple of Apollo

The Temple dates back to the 8th and 7th centuries B.C. Some finds discovered during the excavations have suggested that initially it was an outdoor space with altars and only in the following century there is the first building with a canopy decorated with terracotta.

At the time, Apollo was the most venerated deity and the Temple was the most frequented place of worship. The latter underwent a downsizing and lost importance with the beginning of the cult of Jupiter.

A sundial was later added and became home to the Ludi Apollinari, the games in honor of Apollo.

When Vesuvius erupted in 79 AD, the temple was being rebuilt after the earthquake of 62 AD..

How to reach the Temple of Apollo?

The Temple of Apollo is located about 350 meters from the entrance of the Excavations, is the first attraction on the left side before arriving at the Forum of Pompeii. The entrance that is used to access the temple overlooks Via Marina.

Inside the Temple there are 48 tuff columns that support an architrave decorated with mythological figures and floral arrangements.

The pedestals that are inside housed the statues of various gods such as Venus, Artemis, Corino and Hermes but the most important is the bronze statue of Apollo the Archer.

The real temple is found continuing and climbing the stairs until you reach the podium where there is the cell (which represented the dwelling place of the God) and 28 other Corinthian columns.

What to visit near the Temple of Apollo?

In ancient Pompeii there was not a single temple, but there were several, dedicated to various deities. Near the Sanctuary of Apollo there are also the Temple of Venus, the Temple of Jupiter, the Temple of Augusta Fortune and the Temple of Vespasian.