Temple of Hercules Victor

The Temple of Hercules Victor is a small Roman temple located in the area of the Forum Boarium, along the Tiber river. This curious structure immediately catches the eye and is known as a tholos, a round Greek temple encircled by a colonnade.

The temple was constructed around the year 120 BC, making it the oldest still-standing marble building in Rome, and the second oldest building in the city. It’s also the only surviving structure in Rome made out of the prestigious Greek marble. The temple was dedicated to Hercules, described by the epithet of Victor (“Winner”), but it’s also known as the Temple of Hercules Olivarius, the protector of oil.