Tempio della Pace (Temple of Peace), Rome

The Temple of Peace, also referred to as the Forum of Vespasian, was constructed in Rome in 71 AD under the reign of Emperor Vespasian. It was dedicated to Pax, the Roman goddess of peace. The temple faced the Velian Hill and stood on the southeast side of the Argiletum, with a view toward the renowned Colosseum.

Emperor Vespasian obtained the funds for this magnificent monument through the spoils acquired during the sacking of Jerusalem in the Jewish-Roman Wars. The interior of the temple and the surrounding buildings were adorned with treasures collected by the Roman army from Jerusalem. According to Pliny the Elder, the Temple of Peace also housed statues brought from Greece and Asia Minor by Nero for his Domus Aurea. These statues, crafted by renowned Greek sculptors such as Polykleitos, Phidias, Naukydes of Argos, Myron, and Leochares, found their place within the temple.

Although little remains of the Temple of Peace today, its structure and layout are well-documented thanks to the Forma Urbis, a detailed marble map of Rome and its buildings. This map, originally displayed inside the temple in the 3rd century, provides valuable insights into the temple's design.

The temple consisted of an apse that led into a spacious portico, while columns separated the temple from the central area, which was left unpaved and covered in grass. This was a departure from the typical paved surfaces found in most other fora. It is believed that this central area featured gardens, pools, statues, and other treasures acquired during the conquest of Jerusalem.