Temple of Apollo, Pompei

The Temple of Apollo stands next to the Forum in the historic heart of Pompeii. It is thought to have been the most important religious building in the city for much of its history, especially during Greek and Samnite rule. The cult of Apollo, centred on the worship of Apollo, son of Zeus and god of light, knowledge, and the sun, drew many followers in Campania from the 6th century BC onwards.

The temple gained its present form in the 2nd century BC and was a central part of Pompeian life — so much so that a table of weights is set into a niche on its outer perimeter wall facing the Forum. This stone table served as the town’s guide to official measurements, used by traders in the market. Damaged extensively by the earthquake of 62 AD, the temple was never fully rebuilt. Its elevated podium still allows visitors a clear view northwest toward Mount Vesuvius.

The Temple of Apollo was built in the form of a peripteral temple — a raised platform surrounded on all sides by columns. This creates an arcade running around the outside of the temple. This area was redecorated under Roman rule, but the changes have almost completely disappeared over time. In the centre of the temple, you can see a white marble altar and a set-back inner sanctuary, which contains statues of Apollo and Diana.