Between
the years 1926 and 1929 the Old Quarter
in Rome was being demolished to make way
for some new buildings. In the mix of
old buildings were found (among many other
things) the ruins of four churches/temples
of the republican era: it is belived that
these are the Temple of the Fortune of
the Present Day, the Temple of Feronia,
the Temple of the Lares Permarini, and
what many speculate is the Temple of Juturna.
Soon the Area Sacra di Largo Argentina
became one of the most important archaeological
complexes of the city of Rome. Centered
on a large paved square these four temples
served as a place where Romans could come
and worship their gods.
Serving as one of the rare examples of
architecture from the Republican era,
the various temples were completed at
different times. The temple complexes
were excavated during a time where archaeology
was in its infancy, so there are many
questions that need to be answered about
what the temples are and who made them.
It is known that the Area survived city
fires, was surrounded on three sides by
a colonnade, and that several rulers and
powerful people made changes of one sort
or another to the complex.
Over
the years many buildings were constructed
around, beside, and over the Area, protecting
them in a way. Rome has many layers, and
in any given area a house can be many
centuries older than its neighbours. Such
is the case with the area, which even
today grudgingly keeps many of its secrets.
In fact many still argue even the names
and identities of the very temples themselves,
and as new techniques come to be developed
new evidence is brought forward as to
exactly why the small buildings were constructed.
Largo
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