VII.4.1 Pompeii. Temple of Fortuna Augusta.

Excavated 1823, 1826 and 1859. Restored 1908.

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VII.4.1 Pompeii. August 2021. Podium, looking east to cella, or sacred area. Photo courtesy of Robert Hanson.

VII.4.1 Pompeii. August 2021. Decorative stonework.

Foto Annette Haug, ERC Grant 681269 DÉCOR.

VII.4.1 Pompeii. Pre-1937-39. Decorative stonework.

Photo courtesy of American Academy in Rome, Photographic Archive. Warsher collection no. 1198.

VII.4.1 Pompeii. September 2005. Podium, looking east to cella, or sacred area.

According to Warscher in 1930 -

an inscription on the architrave could be read by any visitor knowing Latin, as it was lying with other marble pieces on the floor of the cella.

See Warscher, T., 1930. Pompeii: in three hours. Rome: Industria Tipografica Imperia, (p.55).

In February 1824, it was reported that various fragments of statues and four inscriptions upon different pieces of marble were also found.

See Fiorelli G., 1862. Pompeianarum antiquitatum historia, Vol. 2: 1819 - 1860, Naples, p. 96.

See Pagano, M. and Prisciandaro, R., 2006. Studio sulle provenienze degli oggetti rinvenuti negli scavi borbonici del regno di Napoli. Naples: Nicola Longobardi. (p.128).

VII.4.1 Pompeii. April 2023. Two white marble bases, found February 1824 in the cella.

On display in “Campania Romana” gallery in Naples Archaeological Museum, inv.3768 on left, and inv. 3769 on right.

Photo courtesy of Giuseppe Ciaramella.

On left: Tempio della Fortuna Augusta, cella (23 febbraio 1824)

Agathemerus Vetti

Suavis Caesiae Primae

Pothus Numitori

Anteros Lacutulani

minist(ri) prim(i) Fortun(ae) Aug(ustae) iuss(u)

M(arci) Stai Rufi Cn(aei) Melissaei d(uum)v(irorum) i(ure) d(icundo)

P(ublio) Silio L(ucio) Volusio Saturn(ino) co(n)s(ulibus)      [CIL X, 824]

On right: Tempio della Fortuna Augusta, cella (23 Febbraio 1824)

Tauro Statilio,
Ti(berio) Platilio Aelian(o) co(n)s(ulibus),
L(ucius) Statius Faustus pro
signo, quod e lege Fortunae
Augustae ministorum ponere
debebat, referente Q(uinto) Pompeio Amethysto
quaestore, basis duas marmorias decrever[u]ṇt
pro signo poniret.      [CIL X, 825]

VII.4.1 Pompeii. April 2023. Descriptive card, inv. 3768. Photo courtesy of Giuseppe Ciaramella.

VII.4.1 Pompeii. April 2023. Descriptive card, inv. 3769. Photo courtesy of Giuseppe Ciaramella.

VII.4.1 Pompeii, on left. April 2023. Inscription from Temple, and from Basilica (VIII.1.1) on right. Photo courtesy of Giuseppe Ciaramella.

On display in “Campania Romana” gallery in Naples Archaeological Museum, inv. 3810 on left, and inv. 3770 (from Basilica) on right.

On left: Tempio della Fortuna Augusta (23 febbraio 1824)

[Augu]ṣto Caesari
[Divi f(ilio)], p̣arenti patriae.     [CIL X, 823]

On right: VIII, 1, 1, Basilica (15 agosto 1813)

Martialis C(ai) Oli Primi

M(anius) Salarius Crocus

Primigenius C(ai) Oli Primi

min(istri) Fortunae Aug(ustae)

iussu

Q(uinti) Postumi Modesti C(ai) Vibi Secundi

d(uum)v(irorum) i(ure) d(icundo)

C(ai) Memmi Iuniani Q(uinti) Brutti Balbi aedil(ium)

[L(ucio) D]uvio P(ublio) Clodio co(n)s(ulibus)      [CIL X, 826]

VII.4.1 Pompeii. March 2019. Looking east into cella through entrance doorway.

Foto Anne Kleineberg, ERC Grant 681269 DÉCOR.

VII.4.1 Pompeii. August 2021. Looking east in cella/sanctuary.

Foto Annette Haug, ERC Grant 681269 DÉCOR.

VII.4.1 Pompeii. April 2023.

White marble statue of man wearing a toga known as Cicero but may depict Marcus Tullius who financed the construction of the temple.

On display in “Campania Romana” gallery in Naples Archaeological Museum, inventory number 6231.

Photo courtesy of Giuseppe Ciaramella.

VII.4.1 Pompeii. April 2023. Descriptive card. Photo courtesy of Giuseppe Ciaramella.

VII.4.1 Pompeii. April 2023.

White marble statue of woman wearing a veil over her head. The face mask is modern.

On display in “Campania Romana” gallery in Naples Archaeological Museum, inventory number 6047.

Photo courtesy of Giuseppe Ciaramella.

VII.4.1 Pompeii. April 2023. Descriptive card. Photo courtesy of Giuseppe Ciaramella.

VII.4.1 Pompeii. March 2019. Looking east in cella/sanctuary.

Foto Anne Kleineberg, ERC Grant 681269 DÉCOR.

VII.4.1 Pompeii. March 2019. Looking east towards aedicula, with marble inscription on the front

Foto Anne Kleineberg, ERC Grant 681269 DÉCOR.

VII.4.1 Pompeii. March 2019. Temple aedicula, looking east.

Foto Anne Kleineberg, ERC Grant 681269 DÉCOR.

VII.4.1 Pompeii. Pre-1937-39. Looking towards east side of cella.

Photo courtesy of American Academy in Rome, Photographic Archive. Warsher collection no. 1168.

VII.4.1 Pompeii. Pre-1937-39. North-east corner of Temple cella.

Photo courtesy of American Academy in Rome, Photographic Archive. Warsher collection no. 1170.

VII.4.1 Pompeii. Pre-1937-39. Detail from north-east corner.

Photo courtesy of American Academy in Rome, Photographic Archive. Warsher collection no. 1169.

VII.4.1 Pompeii. Pre-1937-39. Detail of capital.

Photo courtesy of American Academy in Rome, Photographic Archive. Warsher collection no. 801.

VII.4.1 Pompeii. March 2019.

Structural items, frames, cornices, etc., from Temple, in cella. Looking south-east.

Foto Anne Kleineberg, ERC Grant 681269 DÉCOR.

VII.4.1 Pompeii. August 2021.

Structural items, frames, cornices, etc., from Temple, in south-east corner of cella.

Foto Annette Haug, ERC Grant 681269 DÉCOR.

VII.4.1 Pompeii. August 2021.

Structural items, frames, cornices, etc., from Temple, in cella.

Foto Annette Haug, ERC Grant 681269 DÉCOR.

VII.4.1 Pompeii. August 2021. Aedicula with inscription.

Foto Annette Haug, ERC Grant 681269 DÉCOR.

VII.4.1 Pompeii. March 2019. Detail of inscription at top of aedicula.

Foto Anne Kleineberg, ERC Grant 681269 DÉCOR.

VII.4.1 Pompeii. Dedicatory inscription on the architrave in the temple.

According to Epigraphik-Datenbank Clauss/Slaby (See www.manfredclauss.de) this reads

M(arcus) Tullius  M(arci)  f(ilius)  d(uum)v(ir)  i(ure)  d(icundo) ter(tium)  quinq(uennalis)  augur  tr(ibunus)  mil(itum)

a  pop(ulo)  aedem  Fortunae  August(ae) solo  et  peq(unia!)  sua       [CIL X 820] 

This was the Temple’s dedicatory inscription and according to Cooley translated as -

Marcus Tullius, son of Marcus. Duumvir with judicial power three times, quinquennial, augur, military tribune by popular demand, (built) the Temple of Augustan Fortune on his own land and at his own expense.

See Cooley, A. and M.G.L., 2004. Pompeii: A Sourcebook. London: Routledge. (p.93)

Now in Naples Archaeological Museum, inventory number MN 3853.

VII.4.1 Pompeii. Pre-1937-39. Dedicatory inscription in the temple.

Photo courtesy of American Academy in Rome, Photographic Archive. Warsher collection no. 799.

VII.4.1 Pompeii. March 2019. Detail of base of aedicula.

Foto Anne Kleineberg, ERC Grant 681269 DÉCOR.

VII.4.1 Pompeii. March 2019. Detail of base, looking east.

Foto Anne Kleineberg, ERC Grant 681269 DÉCOR.

VII.4.1 Pompeii. March 2019. Detail of aedicula, north side

Foto Anne Kleineberg, ERC Grant 681269 DÉCOR.

VII.4.1 Pompeii. March 2019. Detail of aedicula, from south side

Foto Anne Kleineberg, ERC Grant 681269 DÉCOR.

VII.4.1 Pompeii. March 2019. Masonry columns and pilasters from aedicula, south side.

Foto Anne Kleineberg, ERC Grant 681269 DÉCOR.

VII.4.1 Pompeii. March 2019. Base of aedicula, south side

Foto Anne Kleineberg, ERC Grant 681269 DÉCOR.

VII.4.1 Pompeii. March 2019. Detail of marble from base of aedicula, south side.

Foto Anne Kleineberg, ERC Grant 681269 DÉCOR.

VII.4.1 Pompeii. March 2019. West, interior wall of cella/sanctuary, on south side of entrance doorway.

Foto Anne Kleineberg, ERC Grant 681269 DÉCOR.

VII.4.1 Pompeii. March 2019. Detail from west, interior wall of cella/sanctuary, on south side of entrance doorway.

Foto Anne Kleineberg, ERC Grant 681269 DÉCOR.

VII.4.1 Pompeii. March 2019. Looking towards south wall of cella/sanctuary, with niches.

Foto Anne Kleineberg, ERC Grant 681269 DÉCOR.

VII.4.1 Pompeii. March 2019. Niche on east end of south wall of cella/sanctuary.

Foto Anne Kleineberg, ERC Grant 681269 DÉCOR.

VII.4.1 Pompeii. March 2019. Detail of marble from niche on east end of south wall of cella/sanctuary.

Foto Anne Kleineberg, ERC Grant 681269 DÉCOR.

VII.4.1 Pompeii. December 2005. Looking north into the cella/sanctuary, from VII.4.2.

Originally the walls of the cella were lined with marble, these contained four recesses for statues on the sides.

VII.4.1 Pompeii. 2017. Western section of the north wall of the cella, internal face, with recesses.

The opus incertum is made mainly from Sarno limestone in the lower and middle parts, and mostly in volcanic slag (cruma) in the upper part.

The last rows of yellow tufa correspond to a restoration of the nineteenth century.

Photo © Mission archéologique du Temple de Fortune.

See Arnaud Coutelas, Thomas Creissen et William Van Andringa, Un Chantier Pour Les Dieux : La Construction Du Temple De Fortune Auguste a Pompéi. C.E.F.R. 534. École Française de Rome.

VII.4.1 Pompeii. March 2019. North wall of cella/sanctuary with niches.

Foto Anne Kleineberg, ERC Grant 681269 DÉCOR.

VII.4.1 Pompeii. March 2019. Looking north-east on upper podium/portico, towards north wall of cella.

Foto Anne Kleineberg, ERC Grant 681269 DÉCOR.

VII.4.1 Pompeii. March 2019. Looking north-east towards north wall of cella, from upper podium/portico.

Foto Anne Kleineberg, ERC Grant 681269 DÉCOR.

VII.4.1 Pompeii. March 2019. Structural item on north side of entrance doorway on upper podium/portico.

Foto Anne Kleineberg, ERC Grant 681269 DÉCOR.

VII.4.1 Pompeii. March 2019.

Rear side, (looking west) of item near north side of entrance doorway, on upper podium/portico.

Foto Anne Kleineberg, ERC Grant 681269 DÉCOR.

VII.4.1 Pompeii. March 2019. Entrance doorway to cella/sanctuary, looking east from podium/portico.

Foto Anne Kleineberg, ERC Grant 681269 DÉCOR.

VII.4.1 Pompeii. March 2019. Items from Temple near north side of entrance doorway, looking east.

Foto Anne Kleineberg, ERC Grant 681269 DÉCOR.

VII.4.1 Pompeii. July 2017. Item from Temple near north side of entrance doorway, looking east.

Foto Anne Kleineberg, ERC Grant 681269 DÉCOR.

VII.4.1 Pompeii. March 2019. Detail of item from Temple.

Foto Anne Kleineberg, ERC Grant 681269 DÉCOR.

VII.4.1 Pompeii. March 2019. Item from Temple, looking east.

Foto Anne Kleineberg, ERC Grant 681269 DÉCOR.

VII.4.1 Pompeii. March 2019. Item from Temple, looking north.

Foto Anne Kleineberg, ERC Grant 681269 DÉCOR.

VII.4.1 Pompeii. September 2005. Sacred area or cella.

At the rear against the east wall was a recess which would have been for a statue of Fortuna.

This is said by some to be now in Naples Archaeological Museum, inventory number 6362.

The recess was bordered by two pilasters.

VII.4.1 Pompeii. Sacred area or cella. Statue of Fortuna.

Now in Naples Archaeological Museum. Inventory number 6362.

According to Kockel there is confusion with the statue found here in the temple and this statue which is “Aus dem Bau der Eumachia” [VII.9.1] whose details and repairs match the description of the excavators of the statue found there on 2nd August 1818.

See Kockel V., 2005. Altes und Neues vom Forum und vom Gebäude der Eumachia in Pompeji, p. 64-69, fig. 17-19.

VII.4.1 Pompeii. Statue drawn by Reinach based on Clarac.

See Reinach S., 1920. Répertoire de peintures grecques et romaines Tome I. Paris : Leroux, 222,1.

VII.4.1 Pompeii. 1854. Sacred area or cella. Painting by G. Abbate of male and female statues found in the temple.

See Niccolini F, 1854. Le case ed i monumenti di Pompei: Volume Primo. Napoli, Tempio della Fortuna, Tav. II.

According to Bechi in RMB: In the interior of the cell two life sized statues were found, one was of a woman and the other of a man. The one of a woman (six palms tall and 5 onces) was dressed in a cassock tunic, whose flap, which descended to her feet, was golden, and a toga all edged with a band painted in red purple one and a half once wide. The toga was covered by the right hand, which she lifts up towards the chin with the arm including the breast, and with the left hand the toga was raised on the straight side, gathering it in many folds. She had damage to the right hand, and to the extremity of the feet. The face was missing, not because it was broken, but because it was sawn off at an angle by the ancients, perhaps to replace the effigy of the person, to which it was raised, with the portrait of some other powerful woman, whom they looked to come in favour of through this economic flattery; but Vesuvius truncated this design of the Pompeiians.

The style of this statue is more the Greek than Roman; its draperies are gracefully varied, and new folded guises: it deserves in some degree, if not a masterpiece, at least of a beautiful work of sculpture.

Of the same make is the male statue (high 7 palms and 2 ounces) also found here, companion to this situation and honour, but not of events; because his face has not been removed, in which some recognise the features of Cicero. Perhaps the name of this great man, even after the misadventures, lasted dearly and venerably in the memory of the Pompeians. The statue is missing its hands.

This consular man is dressed in the praetexta toga, and what increases value and singularity to this statue, is the seeing his toga all painted violet purple, which distinguished the praetexta robes of the Roman magistrates, was not only in the hem, but that the whole toga was dyed this precious colour, at least in Cicero's time, in which luxury had far removed from ancient simplicity. It should be noted that the porporino colour, of which this praetexta toga is dyed, is the least expensive, that is, of the purples. This statue was also painted in the face, still retaining the colour of the pupils, and the hair.

Perhaps two of the four niches adorning the inner flanks of the Cella were intended for these statues, having been found near them.

See Real Museo Borbonico I, 1824, Relazione Degli Scavi Di Pompei, p. 17-19.

VII.4.1 Pompeii. October 1992. Looking east to Sacred Area or Cella

Photo by Louis Méric courtesy of Jean-Jacques Méric.

VII.4.1 Pompeii. December 2007. Podium and sacred area from roof of VII.5.19 modern restaurant.

VII.4.1 Pompeii. W.368. Temple of Fortuna Augusta, from roof of VII.5.

See Gell, W, 1832.  Pompeiana: Vol 1.  London: Jennings and Chaplin. (p. 82, pl. XXII)

Photo by Tatiana Warscher. Photo © Deutsches Archäologisches Institut, Abteilung Rom, Arkiv.

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