User:Gracemiskovsky/Temple of Apollo Sosianus

Augustan Reconstruction

Apollan Statue recovered at the ruins of Circus Flaminus and later identified as a central pedimental sculpture.

Between 37 and 32 BC, a large reconstruction of the pediment of the Temple of Apollo Sosianus occurred under Augustus, which was indicative of his larger plans to re-structure the architectural format of Circus Flaminius, an oval shaped section in the southern portion of Campus Maritus. The end result of this Augustan re-formatting was a tight architectural relationship between Apollo Sosianus, the Temple of Bellona, and the Theatre of Marcellus. This decision was intentional and indicative of the Greek god Apollo’s influence on Roman life; Apollo was the center of life at Circus Flaminus, as the space was used for theatrical performances at the Theatre of Marcellus, horse racing around the oval shaped perimeter of the Circus, and political speeches within the oval field.

Pedimental Reconstruction: Apollan Statue

One of the most famous sculptures recovered from the surrounding areas around Apollo Sosianus was a five-foot tall sculpture of an Apollo archer. While the original position of this sculpture has been the object of scholarly debate, as some authors believed that this work was originally placed in a niche within the temple cell,  this theory was disproved with the discovery of “a very accentuated stucco which hid a quadrangular hole, by those that are normally used to fix the pedimental statues with a hook to the back wall.” Based on the location of this hole, scholars discovered that the Apollo statue would have been hung on the pediment with a profile view, and his left arm most likely held a shield while he held a sword in his right hand. This determination also solidified scholars distinction between this work as a warrior of Apollo versus that of Apollo himself, as the god Apollo is typically is depicted with his arms raised, adorned with a bow and arrow. Also indicative of this distinction is the lack of “characterizing element” of Apollo, such as a braid behind the nape, a characteristic reserved for depictions of heroes and gods.