Download The Temple of Portunus Near Santa Maria in Cosmedin

The Temple of Portunus
Near Santa Maria in Cosmedin
By Paul Griffin
Architecture
• The Structure of the
temple is small and
simple
• There are four Ionic
columns in the front
with a small flight of
stairs leading up to
the cella, right past
the portico, or porch
• The back has four
columns that are not
free-standing.
• They are “engaged”
or embedded.
• There are six of these
columns on each side
as well.
• All made of tavertine
and stucco
Portunus
• Oddly enough, there are
no pictures of Portunus
• This may be because he
is closely associated with
Janus in both appearance
and ideals (who is shown
on the right)
• Janus’ Temple was also
rebuilt on Portumnalia,
Portunus’ Festival by
Tiberius
• Both were two headed
and had a key as their
symbol
Location, Location, Location
• The temple was located near
the main port of Rome, Ostia
• Ostia was near the river mouth
on the coast
• That means this port was
nearly surrounded by water
• This port was important to
Romans because of the
historical importance of it
• It aided in the protection from
Greek and Syracuse invasion
• Chief Naval port during Punic
Wars
Disadvantage of Location
• The Forum Boarium
had large access to
water, but influxes of
water could easily
cause a lot of
destruction since
there were no real
defenses from large
storms
• This was one reason
to have such a temple
Tempest
• This is a famous painting
of a tempest at the port of
Ostia
• With such a detailed
picture, it could mean that
the tempest was a
significant part of the port
life
• Portunus, the god of the
port, would have been the
one to protect the port
from oceanic dangers
such as these
Portumnalia Festival
• This festival was held
on August 16th
• On the right is a key
(top) and a lock
(bottom) that Romans
used
• During the festival,
keys such as these
would be thrown into
a fire in a solemn
manner
Commerce: “All Roads Lead to
Rome”
•
•
•
•
Since Rome depended so much
on grain and slaves for domestic
survivial, there were a large
amount of imports (and therefore
dependence on ships and the
port)
On the right is a smashed tile
picture of a Roman herding cattle,
one of the main things that were
traded in the Forum Boarium,
where the temple resided
Rome also made imports from
places all around the world
The wealthy in Rome would find
all types of things from silks to
spices to metals and even wild
animals
End
• Portunus had a significance as the god of not only ports,
but keys, doors, and livestock
• All of these things played a large part in the Roman port
and commerce
• Keys and doors were used on shacks to house grain,
and livestock was the main deal
• Sailors also trusted in Portunus to give them a safe
journey at sea
• The Temple of Portunus provided a lot of psychological
comfort and “protection” to the people of Rome and
especially the people of the ports and the seafarers