Description of the Temple (Reg VIII, Ins 7, 30) The temple, which occupies the southern part of the Triangular Forum, was built in the sixth century BC, when Pompeii was under the influence of the powerful Greek state of Cumae. It was consecrated to Hercules, mythical founder of the city and later included the cult of Minerva. .. .. There were 32 columns in all, with 7 columns on the shorter facades. Almost the whole building was contructed of tufa, only the columns, of which there remain a few fragments, being made of limestone from nearby Sarno. The base is well preserved, measuring approximately 21 x 28 metres, with a narrow stairway to the south. In front of the main eastern entrance to the temple, there are the remains of a shrine dedicated to Hercules, with two altars on the right. Further on is a sacred well ringed with 8 Doric columns, sponsored by the Samnite N. Trebius. Behind the temple is a semi-circular bench. .. It was reconstructed several times during the Samnite period, but was almost abandoned during the Roman age. The temple bore more than a passing resemblance to the temples built around the same time at Paestum: it had sturdy wide-fluted columns with wide, very flat capitals with the columns completely surrounding the cella. ..

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