Reconstruction Methodology – Temple and Imperial Palace

A. In terms of the appearance of individual buildings, the chosen solution was to create a structure based as far as possible on a known parallel.

Temple and Statue of Trajan

The rectangular temple of Fortuna Virilis in the Forum Boarium at Rome provided the principal inspiration for the temple. The frontal columns are grey, representing Mons Claudianus granite that was used on Trajanic buildings in the capital. The portico of the temenos was assumed to have been built from white Carrara marble with Corinthian column capitals. Lanciani (1868) mentions the existence of a statue of the emperor Trajan c. 5m high in front of the temple: a statue of the emperor in military dress currently on display in the Museo Ostiense (Ostia Antica) was chosen as the model for this. Learn more.

Virtual Portus Reconstruction - Temple and statue of Trajan at the eastern side of the Port of Trajan seen from the water Virtual Portus Reconstruction - Close-up view of the statue of Trajan, temenos and temple Virtual Portus Reconstruction - View across the Temenos from the roof, with the port visible beyond
Temple and statue of Trajan at the eastern side of the Port of Trajan seen from the water. Close-up view of the statue of Trajan, temenos and temple View across the Temenos from the roof, with the port visible beyond

"Imperial Palace"

Virtual Portus Reconstruction - Façade of the 'Imperial Palace' as seen from the hexagonal basin of the Port of Trajan.
Façade of the "Imperial Palace" as seen from the hexagonal basin of the Port of Trajan. 		The layout and function of this building or complex of buildings is notoriously difficult to understand. The two rectangular buildings are an interpretation what was learned from the geophysics. The arcades facing the basin of the Porto di Claudio still survive as the Terrazza di Traiano, while the columns are based upon a report of the discovery of many columns in this area by Lanciani (1868).