Description of the Temple (Reg VIII, Ins 1, 5) The cella, facing the sea, was in the centre of a vast open space, extended during the Julio-Claudian period (first half of the first century AD) by earthworks. .. In 1863 a unique gold oil lamp was discovered near the temple, possibly an offering to Venus by Nero and his wife Poppaea when they visited the area in AD64. .. The building was considerably damaged during the earthquake of AD62 and was still under re-construction when Vesuvius struck in AD79. Sadly, little remains of the complex today. The Temple of Venus lies immediately to the right on entering the city by way of the Marina Gate. The goddess Venus was the patron goddess of Lucius Cornelius Sulla as well as of the city of Pompeii. ..

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