Praeneste

The Temple of Fortuna Primigenia stood within the vast sanctuary of the same name at Praeneste (modern Palestrina), 35 km east of Rome. Dedicated to Fortuna “the First-Born,” it attracted parents who sought divine protection for their first children. The sanctuary rose in six immense terraces connected by grand stairways—the largest religious complex of Roman Italy and visible across Latium and even from the sea. At the summit stood a small circular temple, now part of the Palazzo Barberini, which held the gilded statue of the goddess. Below were porticoes, a theatre, a long cryptoporticus with fountain niches, and the terrace of the hemicycles, where a sacred well was linked with the drawing of prophetic lots.

The lower terraces formed the approach from the Forum and were decorated with early artificial grotto-fountains and nymphaea. The sanctuary’s monumentalisation, inspired by Hellenistic architecture and enabled by Roman concrete, dates to the late 2nd century BC and reflects the ambitions of newly wealthy Italian elites; Sulla likely added further works around 80 BC. The cult combined two traditions—Fortuna Primigenia, depicted suckling Jupiter and Juno, and a local miracle of honey flowing from an olive tree—and its famous oracle remained active until banned by Christian emperors. The sanctuary later influenced Roman and Renaissance garden design and inspired major modern monuments such as the Victor Emmanuel II complex.

Address
Via Pepe 28, Palestrina, Italy

Established
2nd century BCE