Temple of the Dioscuri

The Temple of Castor and Pollux, or Temple of the Dioscuri, located in Naples, now in San Gaetano Square beneath the Basilica of San Paolo Maggiore, is an ancient Roman temple. According to Greek mythology, Castor and Pollux were sons of Zeus and were revered as gods of poetry, music, and dance, as well as protectors of sailors. Built in the 5th century BC, it was rebuilt during the imperial period under Tiberius and later incorporated into the church of San Paolo in the 8th-9th centuries. The dedication inscription on the facade indicates that the temple was dedicated by Tiberius Julius Tarso in honor of the Dioscuri and the Polis. In 1686-1688, earthquakes damaged the facade, but some Corinthian columns remained standing. In the 16th century, the church was remodeled, and in 1972 the torsos of the statues of Castor and Pollux were moved to the archaeological museum. The decoration of the pediment, depicting the Dioscuri and the personification of the Polis, has been reconstructed from a drawing from 1540 by Francisco de Hollanda. The two surviving columns on the facade of the basilica are of the Corinthian order.