Roman temple of Alcántara: Difference between revisions

View of the Roman temple of Alcántara.

The Roman temple of Alcántara is located at one side of the Puente de Alcántara Cáceres Extremadura (Spain). Along with the Roman temple of Vic, it is the only two Roman temples preserved nearly complete in Spain.

History

All the roman set: bridge, triumphal arch and temple, was made ​​by the same architect, Gaius Julius Lacer, who dedicated the latter to the deified emperors, concluding the work in the year 103 AD. The origin of the author appears to be local, but stylistically the set is closely related to the contemporary conducted in the Italica province. This suggests that studied in either the current Italy or was born there and later moved to the Lusitania province. The reason for its construction responds to an offering that should be made to Trajan and the gods of Rome. After the conquest of Cáceres in 1169 by Ferdinand II of Leon, was converted into a chapel of St. Julian, which has been the reason for the exceptional preservation of the building. The result of this conversion was the addition of a belfry and a skull with tibias, missing today the first and carried to back the second. The temple would then become a milestone to mark the pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela. Its architect was buried in the temple, whose tomb is still preserved inside.

Architecture

Small votive temple in antis, rectangular, and a single camera or cell, made ​​of granite, whose entrance is flanked by two Tuscan columns, which is accessed by an exterior staircase, covered with a gabled roof made ​​of slabs of stone, with a pediment with trim at the edges and smooth tympanum without decoration. Seems to have been divided at inside in naos and pronaos. Its bill is reminiscent of the Treasury of Athens at Delphi. Bridge and temple are built with granite stones of the same measures. Presented in its lintel an inscriptions (now are not original, but subsequent copies) where displayed the dedication by the manufacturer Gaius Julius Lacer to the Emperor Trajan, as well as elements that have established a definite date of construction. Inscription reads:

IMP.NERVAE.TRAIANO.CAESARI.AVG.GERM.DAC.SACRVM

Templum in rupe Tagi superis et Caesare plenum ars ubi materia vincitur ipsa sua. Quis quali dederit voto fortasse requiret cura viatorum quos nova fama iuvat. Ingentem vasta pontem qui mole peregit sacra litaturo fecit honore Lacer. Qui pontem fecit Lacer et nova templa dicavit, illic se solvunt, hic sibi vota litant. Pontem perpetui mansurum in saecula mundi fecit divina nobilis arte Lacer. Idem Romuleis templum cum Caesare divis constituit felix utraque causa sacri.

C.Iulius Lacer H(oc)S(acellum)F(ecit) et dedicavit amico Curio Lacone Igaeditano

Hunc titulum procellis abrasum Philippus IV renovari, marmori denuo incidi Elisabeth II decrevit.

The English translation is:

To Emperor Nerva, Trajan, Caesar Augustus, Germanicus, Dacic, is enshrined

this temple, the live rock of the Tagus, occupied by the Divine and the Caesar, where the greatness of art itself is overcome by the greatness of the work. Perhaps the curiosity of the travelers, whom the celebrity of the new it like, inquire whom and under what vote, offered this temple. Who built the great bridge of huge factory was Lacer, to offer with great solemnity the sacrifices. Who made the bridge, Lacer, also dedicated the new temples: in that are met his votes, in this devote his offerings. The illustrious Lacer, with divine art, made the bridge to would last forever in the perpetuity of the world. He happily carried out the temple and the bridge devoted to the Roman gods along with Caesar, one and other work. Gaius Julius Lacer did this chapel and dedicated it to his friend Curio Larcon Igaeditano (adjective in the Portuguese town of Idanha a Velha). This sign, weathered for the storm, sent him to renew Philip IV and sent him back to record in marble Isabel II.