Date : 18-16BC Means : ‘Square House’ in French

1. MAISON CARREE One of the best preserved temples to be found anywhere in the territory of the former Roman Empire. It was built about 16 BC by Augustus’s friend, general, and son-in-law, Agrippa, (also the original patron of the Pantheon in Rome) Originally dedicated to Roma and Augustus, then reassigned. The original inscription dedicating the temple to Gaius and Lucius was removed in medieval times. However, a local scholar reconstructed the inscription in 1758 from the order and number of the holes in the portico's facade, to which the bronze letters had been affixed. The text of the dedication read (in translation): "To Gaius Caesar, son of Augustus, Consul; to Lucius Caesar, son of Augustus, Consul designate; to the princes of youth." The temple was rededicated as a Christian church in the fourth century, saving it from the widespread destruction of temples that followed the adoption of Christianity as Rome's official state religion. It subsequently became a meeting hall for the city's consuls, a canon's house, a stable during the French Revolution and a storehouse for the city archives. It became a museum after 1823. Its French name derives from the archaic term carré long, literally meaning a "long square", or rectangle - a reference to the building's shape. Date: 18-16BC Means: ‘Square House’ in French Location: Nimes, South of France (one of the wealthiest cities of the Roman provence of Gaul ) Length: 31.8m Width: 15m Materials: Limestone Who was it built by? Marcus Agrippa (Augustus’ son-in-law) Inscription: Where? On the entablature Dedication? To Agrippa’s sons (Augustus’ grandsons) and heirs, Gaius and Lucius, (but both died before Augustus). Style/Influenced by: Hellenised Italic Style – Combination of Greek and Roman influences

2. Where is Nimes?

3. PEDIMENT Tympanum Cornice ENTABULATURE G.CAESARI.AVGVSTI.F.COS.L.CAESARI.AVGVSTI.F.COS.DESIGNATO PRINCIPIBVS.IVVENTVTIS Frieze Architrave Capitals COLONNADE

4. EXTERIOR FEATURES with Roman/Etruscan verses Greek features Strong frontal orientation is an ETRUSCAN feature (enter only from the front) Stone construction a GREEK feature Frieze elaborate acanthus design [GREEK decoration] Corinthian Capitals originate in 5th century Athens Engaged Columns tall slender, fluted Fluted Columns [GREEK] “hexastyle”Six column frontage – [GREEK] Staircase Broad, 15 steps [ROMAN] High podium 3.6m high (ROMAN) cella Deep entrance porch 2 more columns (ROMAN)

5. PLAN VIEW Pseudo-peripteral colonnade: appears sorrounded by columns (greek feature) free at portico end, engaged at cella end Deep porch H e x a s t y l e c o l o n n a d e Cella (small chamber) The Maison Carrée is a perfect example of Vitruvian architecture in its most classical mode. Raised on a 2.85 m high podium, the temple dominated the forum of the Roman city, forming a rectangle almost twice as long as it is wide, measuring 26.42 m by 13.54 m. The façade is dominated by a deep portico almost a third of the building's length. It is a pseudoperipteral hexastyle design with six Corinthian columns under the Pediment at either end, and twenty engaged columns embedded along the walls of the cella. The temple was originally inside a large 2000m2 sanctury

6. Exterior Rear

7. Exterior Decoration in rear The Entablature Cornice -top section of entablature. Frieze - with foliage and acanthus leaves Architrave – directly above columns Corinthian Capitals (acanthus leaves) Fluted (grooved) engaged columns

8. Ceiling of PORTICO Ceiling under porch has coffers for floral decoration