<p>The circular temple of Vesta, located between the *“Arcus Augusti” and the *Atrium Vestae, which Roman tradition assigned either to Romulus or to Numa (Ov., <i>Fast</i>. 6.280-81: <i>forma rotunda ... par facies templi</i>; Dion. Hal., <i>Ant. Rom</i>. 2.66.1; Festus 320: <i>rutundam aedem Vestae</i>; Plut., <i>Num</i>. 11.1). The temple burned down frequently, at least once during the Augustan period (14 B.C.: Dio Cass. 54.24.2). During the Imperial period the temple was a typical domed <i>tholos</i> (cf. <i>BMCRE</i> 5.169-70, nos. 96-101). Most scholars agree that, while the existing superstructure is Severan, the podium is Augustan (Scott; cf. <i>LTUR</i> V, fig. 72).</p>