Equiria
1998.12.01
The buildings along the Equiria related to the military are: the Officinae Balistarium, the Officinae Scorpiorium, the Templum Castrum, the Naumachia Domitiani, three Circulus with two Ludus, the Officinae Armorum with its attached Officinae machinarum militarium, the Templa Jovis Martis Veneris, and an Aedicula Isidis, all of which translate into a ballista factory, a scorpion factory, a temple dedicated to Castor (the guide to mariners), a stadium for the show of mock sea-fights, exercise fields, a factory for arms and military machines, and a triple temple dedicated to Jupiter, Mars, and Venus and chapel dedicated to Isis. These buildings, moreover, are interspersed with "statues of illustrious men" as well as the sepulchers of many distinguished military figures from Roman history. This concentration of military functions essentially constitutes a design for ancient Rome's main military headquarters.
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Templa Jovis Martis Veneris
1998.12.01
Jovis : Jupiter or Jove, a son of Saturn, brother and husband of Juno, the chief god among the Romans
Mars : Mars, who, as father of Romulus, was the primogenitor of the Roman people, the god of war, of husbandry, of shepards, and seers. For him was named the month of Martius, March, the beginning of the Roman year
templum : a place dedicated to some particular deity, a fane, temple, shrine
Veneris : the goddess of Love, the goddess Venus
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The Templa Jovis, Martis et Veneris is an uncommon temple type in its being three temples connected by a common back wall. This is the only example of such a temple grouping within Piranesi's Ichnographia, and, furthermore, this typology does not occur often (if at all) within ancient Rome's archeological remains. This temple group does not play a significant role within the broad scheme of the Ichnographia, but it does hold a special position with regard to the Circulus and Officinae Armorum complex,of which it is the frontal centerpiece.
Perhaps Piranesi is here saying that all things are equal in terms of love and war.
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Templa Jovis Martis Veneris
The Templa Jovis, Martis et Veneris are three straightforward Roman temples attached by a common back wall. The larger temple to Jupiter is in the center, with the smaller temples to Mars and Venus to either side.
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