Largo di Torre Argentina
The Largo di Torre Argentina ( shortened: Largo Argentina ) is a square in Rome in the district of Pigna. The course was built from 1909, when it began in the wake of urban reorganization of the old town, to create a place here. The previously reported here residential buildings as well as the San Nicola dei Cesarini church were cleared. Only the Torre del Papito remained of the medieval buildings. 1926-1928 finally started with the systematic excavation of the temple from the time of the Roman Republic.
Excavations
The so-called Area Sacra ( Sacred District ) is lower than the rest of the street level and is well appreciated by all pages, but not directly accessible to the public.
The archaeological site contains the remains of four temples and secular buildings adjacent. Since the temple is not obvious individual deities can be assigned, they are generally referred from north to south with the letters A to D.
The temples were surrounded BC from the 1st century of large public buildings. In the north the Hecatostylum joined (Hall of hundred columns) and the Baths of Agrippa. In the west the portico and the theater of Pompey. In the south, the Circus Flaminius and the Theater of Balbus and the east portico of the Minucia Frumentaria were.
A Temple
A temple is the second oldest temple, which was built in the 3rd century BC. It was rebuilt several times and probably last renewed by Pompey. He was here as Peripteros with 26 circumferential, stucco -clad tufa columns run (6 front columns x 9 columns on the long sides ). Half of the column is at least partially still preserved. Originally the temple was probably built by Gaius Lutatius Catulus after his victory over the Carthaginians in the First Punic War in 241 BC The temple was the nymph Juturna consecrated. It was built over in the Middle Ages by the church of San Nicola dei Cesarini, are still the crypt and the remains of two apses of the.
Temple B
The recent temple is Temple B, a round building with columns which were walled up later. Six columns are still standing. Before the rotunda was a pillared porch. It represents the first example of the connection of a rectangular vestibule with a rotunda, as it was later realized monumental also refurbished. He was probably dedicated to Fortuna Huiusce Diei, the goddess of fortune of the day. It was donated by Quintus Catulus Lutatius after his victory over the Cimbri at Vercelli 101 BC.
Temple C
The Temple C, a Peripteros sine postico, ie a ring temple hall without pillars at the back, is the smallest and oldest temples of the area. The building type, architectural ornaments of terracotta and some inscriptions found a dating of the temple in the early republican period, at the end of the 4th or the beginning of the 3rd century BC It is the Feronia, a pre-Roman earth goddess, have been consecrated.
Temple D
Temple D is the largest of the four Temples and dates from the beginning of the 2nd century BC It is, however, still largely under the leading south past Via Florida. He may by an entry in the calendar of Praeneste with great certainty as the Lares Permarini, the guardian spirits of seafarers are assigned dedicated. The temple was inaugurated in 179 BC by Marcus Aemilius Lepidus.
Other buildings
Between the Temples A and B are the remains of a building excavated, in which the management of the aqueducts was probably housed (6).
Immediately west of the temple was Pompey Magnus build a portico, which followed at the theater named after him. Was integrated in it a suitable for Senate meetings Curia ( Curia Pompeia ). In this Curia Gaius Julius Caesar was assassinated in 44 BC. On the western edge of the excavation area, behind the two middle temples B and C are parts of this structure visible (3).
On the north side are still the pillars of Hecatostylum visible (2).
The excavation area is known for the numerous cats that inhabit it. In order to meet the large population hold of, is since 1994 a nursing station at the edge of the area in which volunteers take care of feeding, sterilization and vaccination of street cats.
The modern space
Largo Argentina is one of the main transport hubs of the historic center. Numerous buses of urban traffic stop here. The place from 1998 to 2013 was also the end point of the new tram line 8, which connects the Old Town with the districts of Trastevere and Monteverde. 2013, this tram line was extended to Piazza Venezia. On the west side of the square stands the venerable Teatro Argentina, at the northeast corner is the church Santissime Stimmate di San Francesco. West to the Tiber the Corso Vittorio Emanuele II runs
The square is named after the Torre Argentina ( " the Strasbourg Tower " ), the 1503 built tower of the Papal Master of Ceremonies Johannes Burckard of Strasbourg (Latin: Argentoratum ). The tower is part of the palazzetto del Burcardo in the near Via del Sudario and no longer visible from the outside. In the " Palästchen " today the Società Italiana degli collecting society authori ed Editori is housed. The Torre del Papito often confused with the Torre Argentina has nothing to do with John Burckard.