The Temple of Castor and Pollux in Rome's Roman Forum was dedicated in 484 BC in gratitude for victory at the Battle of Lake Regillus. Before the battle, the Roman dictator Aulus Postumius Albus Regillensis vowed to build a temple to the Dioscuri if the Republic were victorious. One of Postumius’ sons was later elected duumvir in order to dedicate the temple on 15 July 484 BC.
During the Republican period, the temple served as a meeting place for the Roman Senate, and from the middle of the 2nd century BC, the front of the podium served as a speaker's platform. During the imperial period, the temple housed the office for weights and measures, and was a depository for the State treasury. Chambers located between the foundation piers were used to conduct this business; one of these chambers was likely used by a dentist based on finds from the drains.
Every year on July 15, a large cavalry parade was held to commemorate the initial victory at Lake Regillus. This featured as many as 5,000 young men carrying shields and spears, with two young men riding white horses to represent Castor and Pollux leading the procession.
The temple was completely reconstructed and enlarged in 117 BC by Lucius Caecilius Metellus Dalmaticus and restored again in 73 BC by Gaius Verres. However, a fire destroyed the building in 14 BC, and it was rebuilt by Tiberius. The remains visible today are from this temple, which was dedicated in 6 AD.
Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons
Written by Nicolo Ciampini
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