Porticos of Ancient Rome

• The Roman Portico was either a porch of columns in front of a Temple or consisted of a four sided colonnade of Columns surrounding one or several Temples or other Public Building.

Portico of Livia (Porticus Liviae 7 BCE )

• No visible remains exist today.
• Built by Augustus in honour of his wife, this was a Quadriporticus, a four sided portico surrounding a large public garden. It was located close to the Baths of Trajan.
• The walkways were covered by vines and on display was a collection of paintings, statues, fountains, frescos and a shrine.

Portico of Pompey

• This was a also Quadriporticus, which surrounded a garden, behind the Theatre of Pompey.

Portico of Octavia

• A Quadriporticus, the colonnaded walkway enclosed two Temples, the Temple of Jupiter Stator and Juno Regina.
• Today, the Church of Sant’Angeloin Pescheria stands in the ruins.

Portico of the Palace of Domitian

• A road left the Forum Romanum and led to the North exterior of the Left Wing of the Palace.
• It was fronted by a Portico, which ran along the north wall, then followed down the west wall.

Porticus Minucia Frumentaria

• This was the administration centre for the free grain distribution to the population of Rome.
• The Quadriporticus enclosed four Temples.

Porticus Aemilia

• The Docks  of Rome consisted of a gigantic rectangular building supported by 294 pillars in rows of seven.