Roman Temple of Evora

The Temple at Évora is a unique example of roman religious architecture, and was wrongly described as being built to honor the goddess Diana. It rather was constructed to honor the figure of the emperor. This structure dates from the late 1st century to the early 2nd century A.D., and it was part of a larger complex that included a forum, a public square with a basilica on the opposite side, and it was surrounded by a colonnade. The temple as seen today dates back to the second half of the 19th century, when, under the direction of the cenographer Cinnati, all non-roman elements were removed. The example at Évora has been recognized as having similarities to the Maison Carrée in Nimes (France), given its scale and overall architecture.