Basilica of Neptune

{{Short description|Roman basilica in honour of Neptune}}

{{Expand Italian|Basilica di Nettuno|date=December 2015}}

{{infobox ancient site

|name=Basilica of Neptune

|image=Remains of the Basilica of Neptune immediately to the south of the Pantheon, built by Agrippa in 25 AD and destroyed by fire in 80 AD, reconstructed by Hadrian, Rome (32479838535).jpg

|caption=Remains of its decoration, including marine elements.

|coordinates={{WikidataCoord|display=it}}

|map_dot_label=Basilica of Neptune

|map_label_position=bottom

|map_type=Italy Rome Antiquity

|map_overlay=Roma Plan.jpg

|map_caption=Shown within Augustan Rome

|map_size=270

|image_size=270

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|mapframe=yes

|mapframe-caption=Click on the map for a fullscreen view

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The Basilica of Neptune (Latin: basilica Neptuni) was a basilica built in Rome by Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa in honour of Neptune and in celebration of his naval victories at Mylae, Naulochus and Actium.

History

Near the site of the Pantheon, its remains were restored under Hadrian for an unknown use. The Temple of Hadrian was once misidentified with the basilica.For example, in Eugénie Strong, Roman Sculpture from Augustus to Constantine, 1909, ripubblicato da Ayer Publishing, 1969, {{ISBN|0405022301}}, p. 243.

File:Pigna Basilica di Nettuno a via della Palombella 1000298.JPG

It was part of building works on the Campus Martius between 33 and 25 BC, possibly financed by the proceeds of Octavian's campaign in Illyria between 35 and 33 BC. The project also included the Pantheon, the Saepta Iulia and the Baths of Agrippa.

Architecture and decorations

The structure of the Basilica of Neptune is much more similar to the central halls of the imperial baths than to the classic Roman civil basilicas, resembling the 4th century Basilica of Maxentius. The construction, in brick, and the style date back to the Hadrianic period, but the basilica reaches the early Augustan period.

References

{{Reflist}}

Bibliography

  • Lawrence Richardson Jr., s.v. "Basilica Neptuni", in A New Topographical Dictionary of Ancient Rome, Baltimore, JHU, 1992. {{ISBN|0801843006}}, p. 54.