Split - Temple of Jupiter

Split, the largest city of Dalmatia, was (just like neighbouring Trogir) as the Greek colony in the 4th century BC. Roman emperor Diocletian had a palace built as a retirement residence near Salona, the capital of the Roman province of Dalmatia at that time.

After the Romans abandoned the site, the Palace remained empty for several centuries, but when Salona was sacked by Avars and Slavs in the 7th century, the walled Palace of Diocletian was settled by refugees from Salona.

Since the the palace has been occupied, with residents making their homes and businesses within the palace basement and directly in its walls. Today the remains of the palace form about half the old town and city center of Split.

In 1979 the historic center of Split was included into the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites.

The small, rectangular "Temple of Jupiter" was built within the 3rd century, when Diocletian's Palace was erected. It was later converted into a baptistery, dedicated to St. John the Baptist.

It was locked, but I could peep into the temple. I could not see the famed ceiling, but I could see the cruciform baptismal font. I learned meanwhile, that the crowned person on the throne is the Croatian King Demetrius Zvonimir ("Dmitar Zvonimir") an ally of Pope Urban II and Norman Robert Guiscard (aka "Robert the Cunning").