After turning the corner of the Marble Street, a very decorative structure, on the left of the street, catches the eye. It is the temple of the Emperor Hadrian. It measures 7.20 x 5.5 meters. The 

triangular frontal pediment, sustained by four columns of Corinthian style, embraces in its center a round arch, which has as its keystone the bust of “ Towered Cybele ” or the “ Mater Turita ”. 

 

(The oracles at Rome having said that Rome would vanquish Carthage only if the sacred stone of Cybele at Pessinus in Asia Minor would be transported to Rome, the Romans brought the stone to Rome and instituted the worship of the Mother Goddess. Thenceforth, Cybele became the emblem of the Roman empire, and she is actually still the emblem of Italy ) .

 

On the inner wall of the  sanctuary there is a low-relief of Medusa, forwarding off the evil-eye. On both sides of the Medusa there is a frieze with the reliefs of a procession of gods and goddesses and other figures connected with the myth of the foundation of the city.

 

In the interior of the temple stood an idol of Artemis.There are still four pedestals in front of the temple on which statues were placed. This sanctuary was built in the second century A.D. but was on the point of collapse because of successive earth-quakes. When repairs were undertaken, the procession of the divinities was added to the edifice.