ABSTRACT
Evidence in support of this restoration has been sought in an undated dupondius of the Divus Augustus Pater series showing a hexastyle, round temple with an empty niche in the centre on a podium of three steps; a ram and a bull surmount two high statue bases on pillars at either side. The part of Vesta could then denote a portion of the surrounding ground possessed by Augustus, here called domus, a term which elsewhere denotes the actual dwelling of the emperor. The most obvious objection to this view is the impossibility of building even a ‘tempietto’ in five weeks or so; full size temples normally took anywhere from a few years to decades for construction. The Vestals portrayed on both bases may well have walked in procession from the Forum temple up to Augustus’ house in order to attend the dedication of the signum there.
