Santi Cosma e Damiano, Rome

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Santi Cosma e Damiano
Basilica of Saints Cosmas and Damian
Basilica dei Santi Cosma e Damiano
View of the Temple of Romulus, from the Palatine Hill.
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41°53′31″N 12°29′15″E / 41.8920625°N 12.4874308°E / 41.8920625; 12.4874308
Country	Italy
Language(s)	Italian
Denomination	Catholic
Previous denomination	Originally dedicated to the deified Valerius Romulus
Tradition	Roman Rite
Website	cosmadamiano.com
History
Status	basilica, titular church
Founded	AD 527 (as a church)
Founder(s)	Pope Felix IV
Dedication	Cosmas and Damian
Architecture
Functional status	Active
Style	Early Christian
Groundbreaking	AD 309
Completed	1632
Administration
Subdivision	upright
Diocese	Rome

The basilica of Santi Cosma e Damiano is a titular church in Rome, Italy. The lower portion of the building is accessible through the Roman Forum and incorporates original Roman buildings, but the entrance to the upper level is outside the Forum.

The circular building located at the entrance of the Forum, which now houses a small archeological exhibition, was possibly built in the early 4th century as a Roman temple which may have been dedicated to Valerius Romulus, deified son of the emperor Maxentius; it is often referred to as the Temple of Romulus. The main building was perhaps the library of an imperial forum. It became a church in 527 and contains important but much restored early Christian art, especially in its mosaics.

Today it is one of the ancient churches called tituli, of which cardinals are patrons as cardinal-deacons. Since 28 November 2020 the title has been held by Cardinal Mario Grech. The basilica, devoted to the two Arabian Christian brothers, doctors, martyrs and saints Cosmas and Damian, is located in the Forum of Vespasian, also known as the Forum of Peace.