Temple of Mars Ultor Archaeological Site
Ancient temple in Forum of Augustus, Rome
Within Augustus's Forum, the Temple of Mars Ultor features restored column bases and sculpted reliefs; tourists study imperial propaganda, carved friezes and the forum's axial layout near Trajan's Column.
Temple of Mars Ultor at a Glance#
Address: Forum of Augustus, Fori Imperiali area, Rome, Italy
Website: http://www.parcocolosseo.it
Hours: Roman Forum/Colosseum area: typical 8:30am-7:00pm seasonal hours (confirm on official site)
Admission: Included with the Colosseum/Roman Forum combined ticket (€16 standard; reductions available)
About Temple of Mars Ultor#
The Temple of Mars Ultor is the principal temple of the Forum of Augustus in Rome, completed and dedicated in 2 BC. It was built as part of Augustus’s imperial forum and served a ceremonial role in Roman public religion.
Visitors see the temple podium, foundations and remaining architectural fragments as part of the archaeological area of the Imperial Fora; the surviving podium and steps mark the temple’s original footprint. The temple originally stood within an enclosed forum that displayed imperial sculpture and reliefs.
Augustus vowed the temple of Mars Ultor in 42 BC and completed it as a public and ceremonial monument in 2 BC to mark imperial authority and commemorate military victories. The site later suffered decay and partial burial before modern excavations revealed the temple’s podium and layout.
The temple occupies a site within the Forum of Augustus in central Rome, between the Roman Forum and the Capitoline Hill, adjacent to the modern Via dei Fori Imperiali.
- Founding and dedication: Vowed by Augustus before the Battle of Philippi and formally dedicated in 2 BC, it formed the focal point of the Forum of Augustus complex in Rome.
How to Get to Temple of Mars Ultor#
Located within Rome’s archaeological axis of the Roman Forum and Fori Imperiali. Enter via Colosseo/Foro sites (nearest metro Colosseo, Line B). Combined archaeological tickets include access to the area.
Tips for Visiting Temple of Mars Ultor#
- See the Forum of Augustus early in the day to appreciate the Temple of Mars Ultor's axial relationship to imperial monuments with fewer crowds and softer light.
- Read inscriptions and look for the temple's remaining reliefs that reference the spoils of war - the temple was part shrine, part war-memorial.
- Combine a visit with the Palatine Hill to understand Augustus' use of landscape and architecture.
Best Time to Visit Temple of Mars Ultor#
Best in spring and autumn; summer can be hot and crowded, winter quieter but cooler.
Weather & Climate near Temple of Mars Ultor#
Temple of Mars Ultor's climate is classified as Hot-Summer Mediterranean - Hot-Summer Mediterranean climate with warm summers (peaking in August) and cold winters (coldest in January). Temperatures range from 4°C to 30°C. Moderate rainfall (705 mm/year).
| Month | Comfort | Temp | Feels | Rain | Sky | Humidity | Wind | UV | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Acceptable | 4° - 12° | 7° | 73 mm | partly cloudy | 81% | 1.9 m/s | 0.2 low | 9.4h |
| February | Good | 4° - 13° | 8° | 67 mm | partly cloudy | 79% | 2.1 m/s | 0.4 low | 10.5h |
| March | Very Good | 6° - 16° | 11° | 58 mm | partly cloudy | 76% | 2.4 m/s | 0.7 moderate | 11.8h |
| April | Very Good | 8° - 18° | 13° | 57 mm | partly cloudy | 72% | 2.5 m/s | 1.2 high | 13.2h |
| May | Excellent | 12° - 23° | 18° | 41 mm | some cloud | 68% | 2.1 m/s | 1.7 very high | 14.4h |
| June | Ideal | 16° - 27° | 22° | 30 mm | mostly sunny | 62% | 2.2 m/s | 2.1 extreme | 15.0h |
| July | Ideal | 19° - 30° | 25° | 15 mm | clear | 55% | 2.3 m/s | 2.2 extreme | 14.7h |
| August | Ideal | 19° - 30° | 25° | 33 mm | clear | 55% | 2.2 m/s | 1.8 very high | 13.7h |
| September | Excellent | 16° - 27° | 21° | 64 mm | mostly sunny | 64% | 2.0 m/s | 1.2 high | 12.3h |
| October | Very Good | 12° - 22° | 17° | 88 mm | some cloud | 73% | 1.8 m/s | 0.7 moderate | 11.0h |
| November | Good | 8° - 16° | 12° | 96 mm | partly cloudy | 80% | 1.9 m/s | 0.3 low | 9.7h |
| December | Acceptable | 5° - 13° | 8° | 83 mm | partly cloudy | 81% | 2.1 m/s | 0.2 low | 9.1h |
