The Temple of Jupiter ''( Croatian: Jupiterov hram)'' is a temple in

Split, Croatia Split (, ), historically known as Spalato (; ; see #Name, other names), is the List of cities and towns in Croatia, second-largest city of Croatia after the capital Zagreb, the largest city in Dalmatia and the largest city on the Croatian coast ...

dedicated to the Ancient Roman god

Jupiter Jupiter is the fifth planet from the Sun and the List of Solar System objects by size, largest in the Solar System. It is a gas giant with a Jupiter mass, mass more than 2.5 times that of all the other planets in the Solar System combined a ...

. It is located in the western part of

Diocletian's Palace Diocletian's Palace (, ; ) is an ancient Roman palace and fortress complex built at the end of the third century AD by the Roman Emperor Diocletian as his retirement residence. About half of the complex was for Diocletian's personal use, with th ...

near the

Peristyle In ancient Ancient Greek architecture, Greek and Ancient Roman architecture, Roman architecture, a peristyle (; ) is a continuous porch formed by a row of columns surrounding the perimeter of a building or a courtyard. ''Tetrastoön'' () is a rare ...

, the central square of the imperial complex. It was built between 295 and 305, during the construction of the Palace, and was probably turned into a Baptistery of St.

John the Baptist John the Baptist ( – ) was a Jewish preacher active in the area of the Jordan River in the early first century AD. He is also known as Saint John the Forerunner in Eastern Orthodoxy and Oriental Orthodoxy, John the Immerser in some Baptist ...

in the 6th century, at the same time when the crypt dedicated to St. Thomas was built. Before the entrance to the Temple is one of the twelve

sphinxes A sphinx ( ; , ; or sphinges ) is a mythical creature with the head of a human, the body of a lion, and the wings of an eagle. In Greek tradition, the sphinx is a treacherous and merciless being with the head of a woman, the haunches of a ...

brought from Egypt by Emperor

Diocletian Diocletian ( ; ; ; 242/245 – 311/312), nicknamed Jovius, was Roman emperor from 284 until his abdication in 305. He was born Diocles to a family of low status in the Roman province of Dalmatia (Roman province), Dalmatia. As with other Illyri ...

. Scottish architect

Robert Adam Robert Adam (3 July 17283 March 1792) was a British neoclassical architect, interior designer and furniture designer. He was the son of William Adam (architect), William Adam (1689–1748), Scotland's foremost architect of the time, and train ...

considered this temple to be one of Europe's most beautiful monuments.

Description

The Temple of Jupiter was constructed between 295 and 305 as part of Diocletian's Palace. It was dedicated to the supreme Roman god and Diocletian's "divine father",

. The temple is located in the western, religious part of the palace. Since the Emperor unexpectedly abdicated the throne in 305 and arrived at the palace from

Nicomedia Nicomedia (; , ''Nikomedeia''; modern İzmit) was an ancient Greece, ancient Greek city located in what is now Turkey. In 286, Nicomedia became the eastern and most senior capital city of the Roman Empire (chosen by the emperor Diocletian who rul ...

earlier, finishing work on the construction of the Palace was stopped so parts of the Temple remained unfinished. Reliefs depicting gods and various heroes, such as

Victoria Victoria most commonly refers to: * Queen Victoria (1819–1901), Queen of the United Kingdom and Empress of India * Victoria (state), a state of Australia * Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, a provincial capital * Victoria, Seychelles, the capi ...

Triton Triton commonly refers to: * Triton (mythology), a Greek god * Triton (moon), a satellite of Neptune Triton may also refer to: Biology * Triton cockatoo, a parrot * Triton (gastropod), a group of sea snails * ''Triton'', a synonym of ''Triturus' ...

Helios In ancient Greek religion and Greek mythology, mythology, Helios (; ; Homeric Greek: ) is the god who personification, personifies the Sun. His name is also Latinized as Helius, and he is often given the epithets Hyperion ("the one above") an ...

Hercules Hercules (, ) is the Roman equivalent of the Greek divine hero Heracles, son of Jupiter and the mortal Alcmena. In classical mythology, Hercules is famous for his strength and for his numerous far-ranging adventures. The Romans adapted the Gr ...

and

Apollo Apollo is one of the Twelve Olympians, Olympian deities in Ancient Greek religion, ancient Greek and Ancient Roman religion, Roman religion and Greek mythology, Greek and Roman mythology. Apollo has been recognized as a god of archery, mu ...

, are placed in front of the Temple, above the entrance. Doorways are richly decorated, especially the impressive Temple's barrel coffered vault. Sarcophagi, containing the remains of two Archbishops of Split, Ivan of Ravenna (died c. 1059) and Lovre (died c. 1099), are placed inside the Temple. In addition, there is a large bronze statue of St. John the Baptist made by

Ivan Meštrović Ivan Meštrović (; 15 August 1883 – 16 January 1962) was a Croatian and Yugoslav sculptor, architect, and writer. He was the most prominent modern Croatian sculptor and a leading artistic personality in contemporary Zagreb. He studied at Pa ...

. A Renaissance sarcophagus of Jakov Selembrije from the 16th century is placed in front of the baptistery. In the 11th century, a

Romanesque style Romanesque architecture is an architectural style of medieval Europe that was predominant in the 11th and 12th centuries. The style eventually developed into the Gothic style with the shape of the arches providing a simple distinction: the Ro ...

bell tower was built above the vault. It is similar to one in the Church of Our Lady of the Tower above Iron Gate of Diocletian's palace, which was demolished around 1840 in accordance with the then classicist aspirations which argued for purification of ancient monuments and buildings. During late Antiquity and the Middle Ages, the Temple was converted into a baptistery dedicated to St. John the Baptist, while the crypt was dedicated to St. Thomas. In the 13th century, the baptismal font made of parts of the altar partition from the 11th century which was originally located in the cathedral was placed within the baptismal font. The oldest representation of Croatian king

Peter Krešimir IV Peter Krešimir IV () was List of dukes and kings of Croatia#Kings of Croatia (925–1102), King Kingdom of Croatia (925–1102), of Croatia and Dalmatia from 1059 until his death in 1074. He was the last ruler of the Krešimirović branch of the ...

or Demetrius Zvonimir with their subjects is engraved on one of the marble

rood screen The rood screen (also choir screen, chancel screen, or jubé) is a common feature in late medieval church architecture. It is typically an ornate partition between the chancel and nave, of more or less open tracery constructed of wood, stone, o ...

s. The second rood screen is decorated with pentagram with flowers and birds inside a star that is surrounded by a wreath which represents the

Holy Trinity The Trinity (, from 'threefold') is the Christian doctrine concerning the nature of God, which defines one God existing in three, , consubstantial divine persons: God the Father, God the Son (Jesus Christ) and God the Holy Spirit, three ...

and the two natures of

Jesus Christ Jesus (AD 30 or 33), also referred to as Jesus Christ, Jesus of Nazareth, and many Names and titles of Jesus in the New Testament, other names and titles, was a 1st-century Jewish preacher and religious leader. He is the Jesus in Chris ...

- the divine and the human. A third rood screen is decorated with motifs of

Croatian interlace The Croatian interlace or Croatian wattle, known as the or in Croatian, is a type of interlace, most characteristic for its three-ribbon pattern. It is one of the most often used patterns of Croatian pre-Romanesque art and architecture. Ove ...

in various forms. The Temple's barrel coffered vault influenced Dalmatian early Renaissance art which is best seen in the example of

Andrea Alessi Andrea Alessi (, , – 1504/05) was a Venetian architect and sculptor of Albanian descent, considered one of the most distinguished artists of Venetian Dalmatia and Croatia. Life Andrea Alessi was born around 1425 in the city of Durazzo in V ...

's baptistery and Chapel of blessed John in

Trogir Trogir () is a historic town and harbour on the Adriatic coast in Split-Dalmatia County, Croatia, with a population of 10,107 (2021) and a total municipal population of 12,393 (2021). The historic part of the city is situated on a small island ...

. In 1907, a few houses on the west and south side of the Temple were demolished, so the Temple was freed of fittings, except those in the northwest corner that are still leaning against it.

References

Gallery

{{DEFAULTSORT:Temple Of Jupiter, Split Temples of Jupiter Houses completed in the 4th century Ancient Roman buildings and structures in Croatia Buildings and structures in Split, Croatia Royal residences in Croatia Diocletian 4th-century establishments in the Roman Empire 2nd-century religious buildings and structures Establishments in Dalmatia (Roman province)

Description

See also

References

Gallery