Temple of Domitian Substructure

View of the northeastern corner of the substructure of the Temple of Domitian.  The level area that stretches across the upper third of the picture is the platform on which the temple was built. The surface of the platform was on the same level as the Agora, on the left, and thus the Temple was very visible to all in the Agora/Forum.

In the center of the image, to the right of the two white columns, note the staircase that leads up from the lower level to the platform.  Note the arches, on the right and left of the staircase that support the platform.

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This Temple was built by the Roman Emperor Domitian (r. 81–96) in A.D. 89–90.   After his assassination, and the condemnation of his memory (damnatio memoriae), the Temple was rededicated to his father, Vespasian, and brother, Titus—these are the "Revered Ones," the Sebastoi in Greek.

The huge platform on which it was built measured 165 x 328 ft. (1.24 acres) and the temple on top of it 78 x 112 ft.  The Temple contained a 16 ft. statue of the Emperor.  The statue, originally thought to be Domitian, now is thought to be that of Titus (r. A.D. 79–81).  The head and arm are on display in the Ephesus Museum.

The temple was almost completely destroyed during the Christian Era.