A temple on the western slope of the Celio was dedicated to the Emperor Claudio who was deified after his death in 54 AD. Although the ruins of the temple do not actually exist, they were documented by the Forma Urbis, the great marble plan from the Severian age.
The temple, prostyle and hex style with the front facing north, was built on a monumental rectangular base measuring 180m x 200m; and served as a base. There are still the ruins of the massive wall structures, particularly those on the eastern side along the modern via Claudia. A monumental nymphaeum was placed on this side of the artificial plateau as a scenic background for Nerone’s Domus Aurea. Nerone also destroyed the temple of Claudio and it was later rebuilt by Vespasiano.
The nymphaeum had a high brick wall with a series of semi-circular and rectangular niches at the sides of a large central room. In front, there was probably a colonnaded portico with arches corresponding to the niches. At the back, a series of vaulted buildings separated the external wall from the embankment. All the walls had probably been decorated with marble.
In the Parco del Celio, at the north side of the base, some ruins remained of a brick wall where there were a line of rooms. It is probable that in front of these ruins there was a flight of steps, some of which can still be seen.
A few traces remain of the base on the lower southern slope of the hill, while on the western side noteworthy structures, a number of double-storied rooms with travertine facades, can still be found on the property of the Church and Convent of SS. Giovanni and Paolo.
|
 | | | I Municipio
Rione XIX - Celio
Regio II - Caelemontium |  |
|
