In the northwest corner of the Roman Forum, among the ruins of grand basilicas and triumphal arches, sits a more modest yet undeniably significant temple. The Temple of Caesar, built on the site of Julius Caesar‘s cremation, offers a fascinating window into a transformative period in ancient Roman history.
The Life and Death of Julius Caesar
To understand the importance of the Temple of Caesar, we must first examine the man himself. Born into patrician family that traced its lineage to the founding of Rome, Julius Caesar (100 BC – 44 BC) rose to become one of the most powerful figures in the ancient world.
As a military general, Caesar dramatically expanded the Roman Republic‘s territories through his conquests in Gaul (modern-day France and Belgium). His accounts of these campaigns in his "Gallic Wars" remain a vital primary source for this period.
Caesar‘s growing influence and popularity with the people put him at odds with the conservative faction in the Senate, led by his erstwhile ally Pompey. After crossing the Rubicon river with his army in 49 BC – an act of insurrection – Caesar emerged victorious in a civil war against Pompey and his supporters.
As dictator of the Roman Republic, Caesar enacted a number of noteworthy reforms:
- Expanded citizenship rights
- Implemented the Julian calendar
- Planned new building projects and colonies
- Increased the size of the Senate
However, Caesar‘s increasingly autocratic rule and his acceptance of divine honors alarmed many Republican senators. Fears that he would make himself king led to his infamous assassination on the Ides of March (March 15) in 44 BC.
Deification and the Cult of Caesar
Caesar‘s death plunged the Roman Republic into a new round of civil wars. His assassins were defeated by his loyal generals Mark Antony and Marcus Lepidus, and his adopted son and heir Gaius Octavius (later Augustus).
In 42 BC, the Senate officially deified Julius Caesar as "the Divine Julius" (Divus Iulius). This unprecedented move was a savvy political gambit by Octavian to solidify his own power and legitimacy as Caesar‘s heir. As the adopted son of a god, Octavian‘s authority could not be questioned.
A cult quickly sprang up around the deified Caesar, complete with temples and public sacrifices in his honor. Suetonius describes how "for days on end a comet rose about an hour before sunset, and people believed it was the soul of Caesar received into heaven" (Julius Caesar, 88).
The comet, which became a symbol closely associated with the cult of Caesar, was depicted on coins and monuments. It represented not only Caesar‘s divinity but also the promise of a bright new future for Rome under Augustus.
Building the Temple
Construction on the Temple of Caesar began shortly after the Senate‘s decree of deification. The temple was built on the spot where Caesar‘s body was cremated after his funeral in the Forum.
According to the historian Dio Cassius, after eulogies by Mark Antony and others, the gathered crowd "took up the body and carried it into the Capitol, where they placed it on a pyre and put a torch to it" (Roman History, 44.50). The site of Caesar‘s cremation became sacred ground.
The temple was finally dedicated by Augustus in 29 BC after his decisive victory over Mark Antony and Cleopatra at the Battle of Actium. This timing was no coincidence – by dedicating the temple, Augustus was able to further associate himself with the divine Caesar and celebrate the dawn of a new era.
The design of the temple was full of symbolism. It was a relatively small structure, measuring only about 26 by 30 meters, but its location and features gave it an outsized presence.
The temple was built in the Tuscan style, with a deep pronaos (porch) and a single cella (inner chamber). Six columns across the front created a pycnostyle arrangement, meaning they were spaced closely together. This created a sense of verticality and drew the eye upward.
On the front of the podium was a rostra, or speaker‘s platform, decorated with the beaks of ships captured at Actium. This rostra would have been used for public speeches and ceremonies associated with the cult of Caesar.
Inside the temple, a statue of Caesar likely stood in the cella, along with other votive offerings and symbols of his divinity. The poet Ovid describes how "the angry lightning bolts lie at the feet of Divus Julius" (Metamorphoses, 15.841-842), possibly referring to a statue in the temple.
The Temple in Context
The Temple of Caesar was just one part of Augustus‘ ambitious building program in the Roman Forum. He also constructed the nearby Temple of Castor and Pollux and the Arch of Augustus, and he renovated the Basilica Julia and the Curia (Senate House).
These projects were designed to showcase Augustus‘ power and piety, and to demonstrate that Rome was entering a new golden age under his rule. By placing the Temple of Caesar at the heart of this building program, Augustus ensured that his adoptive father would always be remembered and venerated.
The temple remained an important site throughout the imperial period. The historian Tacitus notes that Tiberius dedicated a statue of Augustus in the Temple of Caesar during his reign (Annals, 4.45). Later emperors would continue to pay homage to Caesar and use him as a symbol of their own legitimacy.
The Temple Today
Like many ancient Roman structures, the Temple of Caesar was eventually cannibalized for its stone and decorative elements. By the Renaissance, only the concrete core of the podium and parts of the foundation remained.
Despite this, the site of the temple has continued to be venerated over the centuries. The poet Lord Byron wrote about the "nameless column with the buried base" in his "Childe Harold‘s Pilgrimage," recognizing its significance even in ruin.
Today, visitors to the Roman Forum can still see the remains of the temple‘s altar and rostra. The altar is believed to mark the exact spot where Caesar‘s body was cremated, and fresh flowers are still left there daily in tribute.
In recent years, archaeologists have made exciting discoveries related to the Temple of Caesar. In 2017, a team from the Spanish National Research Council announced that they had found traces of pollen from the funeral pyre, confirming ancient accounts of Caesar‘s cremation at the site.
Conclusion
The Temple of Caesar is a testament to the power of one man to shape history even after his death. Through his military conquests, political reforms, and larger-than-life personality, Julius Caesar left an indelible mark on Rome and on Western civilization as a whole.
The temple built in his honor, and the cult that surrounded him, reflect the profound changes that Roman society was undergoing in the late Republic and early Empire. As the old Republican system crumbled, Caesar‘s deification set a precedent for the imperial cult and the idea of the emperor as a living god.
At the same time, the Temple of Caesar also speaks to the enduring fascination that Caesar has exerted over the centuries. From Shakespeare‘s play to modern films and novels, Caesar remains a towering figure of the ancient world, a symbol of both the glory and the dangers of unchecked ambition and power.
By preserving the Temple of Caesar and other ancient sites, we keep alive a vital connection to our shared past. These tangible reminders of history have much to teach us about the complexities of human nature, the rise and fall of great civilizations, and the enduring legacy of those who shape the world around them.
