Portico Dii Consentes

Rome, IT

Portico Dii Consentes
Portico Dii Consentes
Location
Rome, IT
Category
heritage historic sites
Coordinates
41.89255833, 12.48376944
Best time
Morning or early afternoon
Weather tip
Check forecast before visiting; bring water in summer.

Overview

The Portico Dii Consentes, situated within the ancient Roman Forum at the base of the Capitoline Hill, represents a significant archaeological remnant of Rome's polytheistic past. This structure, dedicated to the Dii Consentes—the twelve principal Olympian deities—served as a crucial religious site. Comprising a series of twelve columns and corresponding cells, it housed cult statues of these gods, six male and six female, reflecting the official Roman state pantheon. Its strategic location near the Clivus Capitolinus, the ancient road leading to the Capitoline temples, underscores its importance in the city's religious and civic life. Visitors exploring the Roman Forum will encounter this reconstructed portico, offering a tangible connection to the late Roman Empire's religious landscape. It stands as one of the last pagan shrines to have been actively used, providing profound historical context for those seeking places to visit with deep roots in Roman history. Understanding this site enhances any exploration of Rome's ancient core, revealing layers of religious transformation and architectural preservation.

General information

The Portico Dii Consentes, situated within the ancient Roman Forum at the base of the Capitoline Hill, represents a significant archaeological remnant of Rome's polytheistic past. This structure, dedicated to the Dii Consentes—the twelve principal Olympian deities—served as a crucial religious site. Comprising a series of twelve columns and corresponding cells, it housed cult statues of these gods, six male and six female, reflecting the official Roman state pantheon. Its strategic location near the Clivus Capitolinus, the ancient road leading to the Capitoline temples, underscores its importance in the city's religious and civic life. Visitors exploring the Roman Forum will encounter this reconstructed portico, offering a tangible connection to the late Roman Empire's religious landscape. It stands as one of the last pagan shrines to have been actively used, providing profound historical context for those seeking places to visit with deep roots in Roman history. Understanding this site enhances any exploration of Rome's ancient core, revealing layers of religious transformation and architectural preservation.

Did you know

  • The Portico Dii Consentes was dedicated to the Dii Consentes, a council of twelve principal Roman deities, six gods and six goddesses.
  • It is considered the last official pagan shrine to be maintained in the Roman Forum, remaining active even after many other pagan temples were closed.
  • The structure visible today is largely a 19th-century reconstruction, based on archaeological findings and historical descriptions.
  • The Dii Consentes were Jupiter, Juno, Minerva, Vesta, Ceres, Diana, Venus, Mars, Mercury, Neptune, Vulcan, and Apollo.

History

The Portico Dii Consentes was initially constructed in the 3rd century BCE, though the visible remains date primarily to a restoration in 367 CE by the urban prefect Vettius Agorius Praetextatus. This restoration occurred during a period when Christianity was ascendant, making its dedication to the traditional Roman pantheon a notable act of defiance against the prevailing religious shift. The shrine honored the Dii Consentes, the twelve Olympian deities who formed the core of the Roman state religion. Following Emperor Theodosius I's edicts against paganism in the late 4th century, the portico, like other pagan sites, was eventually abandoned. Its columns and structure fell into ruin over centuries. In the 19th century, extensive archaeological work, particularly under the direction of Giuseppe Valadier in 1834, led to the partial reconstruction of the portico, using original fragments and new materials to restore its twelve columns and entablature.

Cultural significance

The Portico Dii Consentes holds significant cultural importance as a testament to the enduring presence of traditional Roman paganism during the late Roman Empire. Dedicated to the Dii Consentes—Jupiter, Juno, Minerva, Vesta, Ceres, Diana, Venus, Mars, Mercury, Neptune, Vulcan, and Apollo—it represented the official state religion and the cosmic order believed to underpin Roman society. Its restoration in 367 CE, at a time when Christianity was gaining dominance, highlights the cultural and political tension of the era and the efforts by some to preserve ancient traditions. As one of the last pagan shrines to be actively maintained, it symbolizes the twilight of polytheism in Rome and the eventual triumph of monotheistic Christianity. The portico thus serves as a powerful reminder of Rome's religious evolution and the complex interplay between old beliefs and new doctrines.

Geography and landscape

The Portico Dii Consentes is strategically located at the western end of the Roman Forum, nestled at the foot of the Capitoline Hill. This position places it in close proximity to other monumental structures, including the Temple of Vespasian and Titus and the Tabularium, the ancient Roman state archive. Its placement along the Clivus Capitolinus, the ancient road that ascended to the Capitoline temples, signifies its integral role in the religious processions and civic life of ancient Rome. The structure faces the open expanse of the Forum, allowing it to be a visible and accessible point within the urban landscape. The surrounding terrain is characterized by the ancient paving of the Forum and the rising slopes of the Capitoline, providing a dramatic backdrop to this historical site.

More facts

  • Sourced from Wikidata (Q7231810)

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