Lot Essay
The Temple of the Winds is reputed to be the oldest meteorological observatory in the world. Constructed around 100 B.C., the building is a small octagonal tower and at the centre of the roof is a wind vane, the figure of Triton, whose 'sceptre' always points to the wind octant. The eight sides of this temple were built to face one of these directions and on each side was sculptured a human figure in relief, representing the character of a particular wind.