Editing Ancient Roman architecture (section)

=== Temples ===
{{Main|Roman temple}}
{{further|List of Ancient Roman temples}}
[[File:Baalbek,_Temple_of_Bacchus_(6842814197).jpg|thumb|"Roman Baroque" [[Temple of Bacchus]] at [[Baalbek]], [[Lebanon]]]]
Roman temples were among the most important and richest buildings in Roman culture, though only a few survive in any sort of complete state. Their construction and maintenance was a major part of [[ancient Roman religion]], and all towns of any importance had at least one main temple, as well as smaller shrines. The main room ''([[cella]])'' housed the [[cult image]] of the [[List of Roman deities|deity]] to whom the temple was [[Votum|dedicated]], and often a small altar for incense or [[libation]]s. Behind the ''cella'' was a room or rooms used by temple attendants for storage of equipment and offerings.

Remains of many Roman temples survive, above all in Rome itself, but the relatively few near-complete examples were nearly all converted to Christian churches, usually a considerable time after the initial [[Constantine the Great and Christianity|triumph of Christianity under Constantine]]. The [[Decline of Greco-Roman polytheism|decline of Roman religion]] was relatively slow, and the temples themselves were not appropriated by the government until a decree of the Emperor [[Honorius (emperor)|Honorius]] in 415. Some of the oldest surviving temples include the [[Temple of Hercules Victor]] (mid 2nd century BC) and [[Temple of Portunus]] (120–80 BC), both standing within the [[Forum Boarium]]. Original marble columns of the [[Temple of Janus (Forum Holitorium)|Temple of Janus]] in Rome's [[Forum Holitorium]], dedicated by [[Gaius Duilius]] after his naval victory at the [[Battle of Mylae]] in 260 BC,<ref>[[Tacitus]]. ''[[Annals (Tacitus)|Annales]]''. II.49.</ref> still stand as a component of the exterior wall of the [[Italian Renaissance|Renaissance era]] church of [[San Nicola in Carcere]].
[[File:Temple_of_Hercules_(Rome).jpg|thumb|The [[Temple of Hercules Victor]], Rome, built in the mid-2nd century BC, most likely by [[Lucius Mummius Achaicus]], who won the [[Achaean War]].]]
The form of the Roman temple was mainly derived from the [[Etruscan architecture|Etruscan]] model, but using Greek styles. Roman temples emphasised the front of the building, which followed [[Greek temple]] models and typically consisted of wide steps leading to a [[portico]] with columns, a [[pronaos]], and usually a triangular [[pediment]] above,<ref>Lawrence, 294</ref> which was filled with statuary in the most grand examples; this was as often in [[terracotta]] as stone, and no examples have survived except as fragments. However, unlike the Greek models, which generally gave equal treatment to all sides of the temple, which could be viewed and approached from all directions, the sides and rear of Roman temples might be largely undecorated (as in the [[Pantheon, Rome]] and temple of [[Roman temple of Vic|Vic]]), inaccessible by steps (as in the ''[[Maison carrée]]'' and Vic), and even back on to other buildings. As in the ''Maison carrée'', columns at the side might be [[engaged column]]s, emerging from ("engaged with" in architectural terminology) the wall.<ref>Wheeler, p. 89</ref> The platform on which the temple sat was typically raised higher in Roman examples than Greek, with up ten or twelve or more steps rather than the three typical in Greek temples; the [[Temple of Claudius]] was raised twenty steps. These steps were normally only at the front, and typically not the whole width of that.<ref>Lawrence, 294</ref>

The Greek [[classical order]]s in all their details were closely followed in the façades of temples, as in other prestigious buildings. However, the idealized proportions between the different elements set out by the only significant Roman writer on architecture to survive, [[Vitruvius]], and subsequent [[Italian Renaissance]] writers, do not reflect actual Roman practice, which could be very variable, though always aiming at balance and harmony. Following a [[Hellenistic]] trend, the [[Corinthian order]] and its variant the [[Composite order]] were most common in surviving Roman temples, but for small temples like [[Roman temple of Alcántara|that at Alcántara]], a simple [[Tuscan order]] could be used.<ref>Summerson, pp. 8–13</ref>

There was considerable local variation in style, as Roman architects often tried to incorporate elements the population expected in its [[sacred architecture]]. This was especially the case in [[Egypt]] and the [[Near East]], where different traditions of large stone temples were already millennia old. The [[Romano-Celtic temple]] was a simple style for small temples found in the [[Western Empire]], and by far the most common type in [[Roman Britain]]. It often lacked any of the distinctive classical features, and may have had considerable continuity with pre-Roman temples of the [[Ancient Celtic religion|Celtic religion]].