Temple of Castor and Pollux
The vicus Tuscus, the Etruscan road, separates the Basilica Julia from the Temple of the Castors. Two twin brothers, the Roman counterparts of the Greek Dioscuri. Actually the name Castors is the pluralization of one of the Hellenic brothers, who were called Castor and Pollux. Castor was a horseman, Pollux a boxer. In Rome the Knights were a well-established social class, and this leaded progressively to raise Castor to god and to overshadow the boxer twin. The twin brothers helped the Romans in a very uncertain battle. We are at the dawn of the Republic, in 499 BC. Tarquin the Proud had been expelled from the city and began to intrigue with all the Latin cities close to Rome fearing its expansion, convincing them to join forces against it. The clash took place at Lake Regillo. The Romans were about to loose, when suddenly two young men appeared and put the enemy to flight. After the clash, however, no trace of the twins could be found. They miraculously appeared in Rome, near the Fountain of Juturna which still stands behind the temple, watering their horses and announcing the victory.
Only three columns of the Tiberian era survived until this day. The building was once home to the office of weights and measures. When the Forum in the Middle Ages became a marshy area, a terrible dragon took refuge under the entrance steps to the temple. It was Pope Sylvester who imprisoned it with a thin cotton thread and many prayers. In memory of this exploit the church of S. Maria Liberatrice was built.