Temple of Asclepius, Pompei

The Temple of Asclepius is situated on the corner of Vio del Tempio di Iside and the Via Stabiana. It dates from around the 2nd century BC, and is believed to have been a place of worship for Asclepius, the Greek and Roman God of Medicine. There has been some dispute over which god was worshipped at the temple. It has also been referred to as the Temple of Jupiter, the king of the gods. The debate centres around the discovery of a statue within the temple. Initially thought to represent Jupiter, it is now believed to be a depiction of Asclepius.

The temple is narrow, with a portico located directly in front of the entrance. The courtyard behind it features a tufa altar, decorated with cushion scrolls and a mixture of Doric and Ionic decoration. A flight of steps beyond the altar leads up to a columned podium. At the back of the temple, a walled off area known as a cella contains a pedestal for the display of religious statues. It was here that the statue of Asclepius was first found. Asclepius is the God of healing and medicine in Ancient Greek mythology. His staff, often depicted with a snake entwined around it, is a modern symbol for medicine across the world.