Temple of Isis (Pompeii)

The Temple of Isis in Pompeii is a Roman-era sanctuary in the archaeological site of Pompeii, Campania, dating to the 2nd-1st century BCE and dedicated to the Egyptian goddess Isis.

The monument includes a columned pronaos, a small courtyard, and an inner cult chamber with well-preserved stucco and painted decoration. A nymphaeum and water features once adjoined the temple, and parts of the original cult statuary and altars have been recovered. The structure is compact compared with major civic temples, but it is notable for the detail of its ritual areas and decorative program.

Initial construction dates to the Hellenistic-Roman period; the temple was enlarged and refurbished in the late Republican to early Imperial era. It received repairs and additions after the earthquake of AD 62 and remained in use until the AD 79 eruption of Vesuvius, which preserved many of its features under ash.

The temple sits within the walled city of Pompeii, close to the forum area and other major public buildings, on the Bay of Naples coast in Campania.

• Preserved decoration: The surviving wall paintings and stucco decoration in the cella and nymphaeum are among the best-preserved examples of Roman-period cult decoration in Pompeii.
• Visiting tip: The site is reached via the main Pompeii archaeological routes and is best seen early in the day before peak visitor numbers.