Arc of Titus

The arc of Vespasien and Titus (Arcus Vespasiani and Titi) is a Roman Triumphal arch set up with Rome by the emperor Domitien in 81 a. J. - C. to commemorate the victory of his/her brother Titus over the Jewish revolts started in 66 a. J. - C. and completed by the catch of Jerusalem in 70 a. J. - C. the arc was devoted after the death of Titus.

Site

It spans the Clivus Palatinus , and it surely slightly was moved and turned when the Temple of Venus and Rome was built.

History of the arc

With the the Middle Ages, the arc belonged to a fortress, a room was built in the upper part of the arched passage. The damage with the structure was so large that it crumbled in 1822 and was rebuilt by the architect Giuseppe Valadier, who reconstituted most of the upper part and the external half of both Pilier S in Travertin. The plank and the inscription were thus preserved only side towards the Colisée.

Illustrated scenes

Inside the arch, the essence of the account of this victorious countryside was registered. On a side, the carriers of the spoils are reproduced which will pass under a surmounted arc of a double quadriga, that which Vespasien and Titus had made build in the Circus Maximus .

Under the arch, Bas-reliefs show the soldiers carrying the plundered objects of the Temple: Candlestick with seven branches, counts of the breads of proposal and crowned trumpets. Titus is represented being held in a Quadrige, it passes under a Triumphal arch capped bay-trees. In the center of the ceiling of the arched passage, Titus is represented as carried to the sky by a eagle. Another plank contains a procession of various civil and military personalities, and animals being led to the sacrifice. We can identify a personification of the god of the river of Jordan in a laid down figure, carried by three men.

Structure

One can notice the fact that this monument is only made up of only one arch whereas in general the number is of three.

The vault was built with Marbre, and was broad 13,50 meters, high 15,40 meters, and deep of 4,75 meters. The arched passage was with 8,30 meters in height and 5,36 meters broad. The Entablement was simple, and the upper part 4,40 meters height was tall, on which the inscription was engraved, which is preserved only east coast. On each side there is a Corinthian column, being held on a square Piédestal.

The dedication

The inscription being reproduced on its face East is engraved in capital ( quadratæ ), of the median points separating the words. In fact, in the beginning, the cavities received bronze letters, disappeared nowadays.

Transcription

SENATVS
POPVLVSQVE•ROMANVS
DIVO•TITO•DIVI•VESPASIANI•F
VESPASIANO•AVGVSTO

Translation

“The Senate and high Roman people this monument in the divine Titus Vespasien, Auguste, wire of divine Vespasien”.

Interpretation

This inscription indicates that the arc was not built the alive one of the emperor Titus: indeed, the title of “divine” ( divus ) was granted only after the death of the emperor.

The quality of the layout of the letters in made a model for the Latin alphabet epigraphic, as well as the inscription of the Colonne Trajane.

See too

Internal bonds

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