- UNESCO
- Free 1st Sunday
Photo: Sailko, CC BY 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Archaeological site
Great Altar of Hercules
Altar in the Forum Boarium in Rome
- Within the UNESCO World Heritage Site “Historic Centre of Rome, the Properties of the Holy See in that City Enjoying Extraterritorial Rights and San Paolo Fuori le Mura”
At a glance
- Type
- Archaeological site
- Coordinates
- 41°53′20″ N, 12°28′52″ E
History and description
The Great Altar of Unconquered Hercules (Latin: Herculis Invicti Ara Maxima) stood in the Forum Boarium near the Tiber River in ancient Rome. It was the earliest cult location of Hercules in Rome, possibly originally dating as early as the 6th century bc. Its foundations possibly lie beneath the present church of Santa Maria in Cosmedin in Rome, Italy.
Legend
Roman tradition held that Hercules completed his 10th labor in Italy, driving the cattle through Rome around the location of the latter cattle market (Forum Boarium). It made the location of the altar the place where Hercules slew Cacus and ascribed its creation to Evander of Pallene. Virgil's Aeneid includes a passage where Evander ascribes the origin even earlier, attributing it to Potitius and the Pinarii.
History
The altar was the earliest cult location for Hercules in Rome, predating the circular Temple of Hercules Victor and possibly originally dating as early as the 6th century BCE. The altar was destroyed during the Great Fire of Rome in the year 64 but was rebuilt and stood at least until the fourth century. The rites at the Ara Maxima were unique within the cult of Hercules in that they were performed in the Greek fashion (ritu Graeco) with uncovered heads. Surviving sources also state on the authority of Varro that women were excluded from the ceremonies at the altar and from partaking in the sacrificial meat.
Text from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0. Full article: «Great Altar of Hercules».
Photos
Getting there
Roma OstienseTrain, nearest
1.9 km as the crow flies
Great Altar of Hercules
Aeroporto di Roma-Ciampino13.6 km
Distances are as the crow flies, not walking or driving.
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Nearby
See on the mapMore archaeological sites in Lazio
- Free 1st Sunday
- Free 1st Sunday
- UNESCO
Frequently asked questions
Where is Great Altar of Hercules?
Great Altar of Hercules is in Rome, in the province of Roma (Lazio), Italy. GPS coordinates: 41.88890, 12.48110.
What else is there to see near Great Altar of Hercules?
Nearby you’ll find: Forum Boarium (0 m away), Temple of Hercules Victor (0 m away), Temple of Portunus (0 m away).
Sources and licences
Text. Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Data. Wikidata (CC0); opening hours and contacts OpenStreetMap (ODbL).
Photos. Wikimedia Commons, author and licence on every image.
Credits for the 2 photos
- Santa maria in cosmedin, interno, cripta, blocchi di tufo dell'ara massima di ercole (II secolo a.c.) — Sailko, CC BY 3.0
- Planrome2b — Cassius Ahenobarbus, CC BY-SA 3.0
Updated 28 October 2026. All sources and licences