VENUS FISICA

The imposing sanctuary dedicated to Venus, a triporticus with an axial temple, sits on a spur located in the SW corner of Pompeii, in close proximity to the city walls.

The strategic location reflects the important role played by the cult of Venus for the Roman colony of Pompeii, whose official designation included the theonym Ven(eria). 

The existence of the cult of Venus at Pompeii has been known since the discovery of an inscription mentioning Venus Fisica Pompeiana in 1592, but the identification of the actual sanctuary site came only in 1898, when Antonio Sogliano launched the first systematic investigations of the area.