Fodor's Expert Review Temple of Jupiter
Roman Emperor Diocletian ordered the construction of this temple to worship the god Jupiter. It was eventually converted into a baptistery by Christians, who were greatly persecuted during the emperor's reign. The entrance is guarded by a black-granite sphinx that stands in front of the cathedral. The sphinx, brought to the palace from Egypt by Diocletian, was partially destroyed by Christians as revenge for the persecution they suffered during his rule. Inside, beneath the coffered barrel vault and ornamented cornice, the 11th-century baptismal font is adorned with a stone relief showing a medieval Croatian king on his throne. Directly behind it stands the bronze statue of St. John the Baptist, a work from Meštrović.