The foundation of the altar was discovered at the foot of the wide temple steps. This was the location of the umbilicus, the centre of a town's grid design. The two main axial
roads of any Roman town, the decumanus and cardo, intersected here.
This temple in the forum was the religious and political centre of the town. Finds uncovered on the forecourt of the temple provided evidence of an inscription in large gold-plated
lettering: "ROMAE ET AVGVSTO". This temple was a vehicle for state propaganda and the imperial cult; its function was to give passers-by an every day reminder of the stately
power of Rome and the imperial dynasty. Accordingly, the architecture was lavish and stylistically true to models in the Mediterranean region. |
