Temple of Jupiter Detail

View looking north at the foundations of the Temple of Jupiter—between the two arches.  In front of the temple was a podium on which a statue was placed.  Note the two arches—one on each side of the podium.  Note the two staircases that led up to the main, broad, entrance staircase—still paved.  The visible remains of six columns fronted the temple and behind them was the main, closed, sanctuary.

The temple platform is 10 feet high, 120 feet long, and 55 feet wide. 

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This was the main temple of Pompeii and it is located at the north end of the Forum with Mount Vesuvius looming in the background.  Please remember that prior to the eruption of Vesuvius in A.D. 79, it was twice as high as it is today!

This temple was built around 80 B.C. when the Roman Colony of Pompeii was founded.  It was badly damaged in the devastating earthquake that hit Pompeii in A.D. 62.  It was built on the site of a previous Etruscan/Samnite Temple—that probably dated back to 150 B.C.

It became a Capitolium, like the one in Rome that had statues of Jupiter, Juno, and Minerva.