We are standing at the south side of the forecourt in front of the Temple of Apollo. The temple precinct is located on the southwest corner of the Palatine hill. The terrace on which you are standing is actually an articially constructed extension of the Palatine plateau. This temple is the second large sanctuary dedicated to Apollo in Rome. The first was the temple of Apollo Sosianus in the Campus Martius.

If you direct your gaze to the south and look over the edge of the ridge, you can see below us the Circus Maximus – and just to your left the roof of the imperial pulvinar. Across the Circus, you see the slope of the Aventine hill – and if you look carefully, you will see the Temple of Diana, twin sister of Apollo.

Looking to our right now, you see the Tiber and the cattle market. On the far right, you see the southern slopes of the Capitol.

If you will please turn to the north and face the temple, you see the series of steps leading up to the entrance. A large marble statue of Apollo stands before the structure. The temple’s podium is laid in blocks of tufa and travertine, as well as opus caementicium. The temple itself is constructed with blocks of fine Luna marble, giving a bright white luster to the façade. The six columns across the anticum to the temple are in the Ionic style.

If you look upward above the entrance, you can see a gilded statue of Helios driving the chariot of the sun on the acroter at the top of the pediment. This motif is used throughout the temple and its chambers. I wonder how many examples you will find if you look carefully!

There are other statues on the acroteria at each end of the pediment. Inside the tympanum of the pediment, you can see sculptures executed in Parian marble by Bupalos and Athenis of Chios, favorite artists of the Emperor Augustus.