Relief: Frieze from the Temple of Antoninus Pius

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This replica is a reproduction of the original of which was a segment of the frieze on the Temple of Antoninus and Faustina. It was constructed by Emperor Antoninus Pius shortly after the passing of his beloved wife, Faustina (the Elder), in 141 CE. After the death of Antoninus Pius in 161 CE, the dedication was changed to both Antoninus and Faustina. The temple is situated on the Via Sacra between the Temple of Romulus and the Basilica Aemilia, facing the Regia. The structure stands on a raised platform of large peperino blocks. The temple itself is hexastyle, prostyle with two additional columns on either side of the porch. The columns are made of cipollino marble, monolithic, measuring 17 meters in height, with capitals of the Corinthian order. The entablature is decorated with a frieze depicting griffins, candelabra and acanthus scrolls, originally extending all around the cella. The dedicatory inscription was created in two phases. The first inscription is the second line: "Divae Faustinae Ex S.C." (To the divine Faustina by decree of the senate), made when the temple was built. The top line was added later, after the death of Antoninus Pius, by removing a portion of the frieze and adding the words: "Divi Antonino et" (To the divine Antoninus and), thus completing the inscription.