The Temple of Hercules Custos (Latin: Aedes Herculis Custodis) was a Roman temple dedicated to 'Hercules the Guardian'. Its location is unknown and no remains have been found, although a Temple to Hercules linked to Lucius Cornelius Sulla (the Herculem Sullanum) was noted as standing in the region of the Esquiline Hill during the late 4th century.[1]
Its history is unclear. Ovid writes that it was to the west of the Circus Flaminius - it was probably built around the same time (221 BC). It was re-built by Sulla after consulting the Sibylline Oracles.[2][3] This consultation of the oracles and the epithet 'Custos' seems to imply it was built and/or rebuilt in response to a major crisis, though it is unknown what its nature was.
In 218 BC, the senate decreed a supplicatio in the Aedes Herculi.[4] Though there were several temples of Hercules, this probably refers to that of Hercules Custos. The decemvirs ordered a statue to be set up in the temple of Hercules Custos in 189 BC.[5]
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- L. Richardson, jr, A New Topographical Dictionary of Ancient Rome, Baltimore - London 1992, pp. 186. ISBN 0801843006