Capitolium

A Capitolium (Latin) was an ancient Roman temple dedicated to the Capitoline Triad of gods Jupiter, Juno and Minerva. A capitolium was built on a prominent area in many cities in Italy and the Roman provinces, particularly during the Augustan and Julio-Claudian periods. Most had a triple cella, one for each god.

Capitolium in Ostia Antica

Capitolium of Brixia

Capitoline Temple at Volubilis

The first capitolium was on the Capitoline Hill in Rome and was considered the centre of the city, where it meant the Temple of Jupiter Optimus Maximus and afterwards the Latin word was used for the whole hill.^[1]

The earliest known example outside of Italy was at Emporion (now Empúries, Spain).^[2]

Examples of capitolia are:

• Capitolium Vetus (Rome)
• Temple of Jupiter (Pompeii)
• Capitolium of Minturnae
• Capitolium of Ostia Antica
• Capitolium of Brixia (Brescia)
• Capitolium of Constantinople
• Capitoline Temple at Volubilis
• Capitolium of Cosa