History What it was
When a Roman general won an important war, he could be honored with a triumph: a grand parade through the city with soldiers, prisoners and captured treasure. Triumphal arches were built to remember these victories and other important events. They were often free-standing monuments rather than gates in a wall.
By the 4th century AD, more than 30 arches had been built in Rome.
History Reading an arch
Arches were covered in carved pictures and inscriptions that told a story. Inside the Arch of Titus, carved panels show Roman soldiers carrying treasures taken from the Temple in Jerusalem in AD 70, including a large menorah. The Arch of Constantine reuses carvings taken from older monuments, mixed with new ones.
Coins show that many arches once carried bronze statues on top, such as a chariot pulled by four horses. These statues have not survived.
History Places you can still see
Three triumphal arches survive in and near the Roman Forum: the Arch of Titus, the Arch of Septimius Severus (AD 203) and the Arch of Constantine beside the Colosseum. The idea was copied much later, for example in the Arc de Triomphe in Paris.
Art In this artwork
The golden chariot group on top is the artist's interpretation, based on the bronze statues that once stood on arches.
Look closer
- Find the chariot and horses on top.
- Look for carved pictures on the sides.
Think about it
- What does a city choose to remember with monuments, and who decides?
- How might people who were defeated feel about these arches?
- What monuments in your area celebrate events or people?
Key words
- Triumph
- A victory parade for a Roman general.
- Inscription
- Words carved into stone.
- Quadriga
- A chariot pulled by four horses.
Sources
The history on this page is a short summary based on these sources:
- Encyclopaedia Britannica, "Arch of Titus", "Arch of Constantine" and "Arch of Septimius Severus"
- Smarthistory, "Arch of Constantine"
- Smarthistory, "The Roman Forum (Forum Romanum)"
