View of the altar and frontal stair of the Temple of Apollo, off the west side of the civic forum, Pompeii. The altar uses marble (probably from Greece) sparingly on the sides; the base is made of less expensive travertine. The surface of the altar, used for burnt sacrifice, is of a tougher lava stone. An inscription on the long face of the altar refers to M. Porcius, a benefactor of Pompeii ca. 80 BCE (he also paid for the covered theater (theatrum tectum) and the amphitheater. A Corinthian…
