From 20 June 2022 in Hall 2 of the National History Museum, you can virtually enter the Temple of Fortuna in Ulpia Escus. The design of the temple is filled with all the details uncovered during research and characteristic of the temple’s era of existence in the camp of the V Macedonian Legion, the Ulpia Escus colony.
The Temple of Fortuna in Ulpia Escus comes to life in the halls of the National History Museum
From 20 June 2022 in Hall 2 of the National History Museum, you can virtually enter the Temple of Fortuna in Ulpia Escus.
The design of the temple is filled with all the details revealed during the excavations and characteristic of the period of the temple’s existence in the camp of the V Macedonian Legion, the Ulpia Escus colony. The architectural reconstruction is the work of architect Julius Furkov, who worked for many years together with Theophilus Ivanov in the ancient city. The virtual reality was funded by the 2019 budget of the National History Museum.The temple is located in the southeast corner of the Forum Complex of the city.
The Temple of Fortuna (templum Fortunae) has been thoroughly excavated and explored. To the south it borders the decumanus maximus. Its plan is rectangular: 50.20 m long (north-south) and 28 m wide (east-west). It consists of a south portico (colonnade) with a two-line building inscription in Latin, 26 m long; an inner rectangular courtyard with a colonnade; the temple of Fortuna; rooms to the north of the temple.
The whole complex was built in the Corinthian style. The Latin inscription contains the names and titles of the Roman Emperor Commodus (180-192) to whom the temple is dedicated. According to the contents of the inscription, the temple was erected with the funds of the “association of craftsmen” (collegium fabrorum) in 190. The colonnade of the inner courtyard was decorated with friezes – architraves filled with relief bull heads and garlands of laurel. The temple of Fortuna consisted of an antechamber and a cult room. The south façade had four Corinthian columns. The triangular pediment depicted two Victorias holding a laurel wreath. Inside the wreath was a relief image, probably the head of Medusa, to ward off evil. The temple complex was destroyed by the Goths or by an earthquake in 376-378.
Price for a 5-minute walk in the Temple of Fortuna: BGN 6.
Literature. Ivanov. T. Ivanov. Roman, late Roman and early Byzantine city. Volume II: Civil Basilica and Temple of Fortuna. Excavations and Research, 34. Sofia.
