- Arch of Titus
The Arch of Titus is a
Pentelic marbletriumphal arch with a single arched opening, located on theVia Sacra just to the south-east of the Forum inRome . It was constructed by the emperorDomitian shortly after the death of his older brotherTitus (born AD41 , emperor79 -81 ), commemorating the capture and sack of Jerusalem in70 , which effectively terminated the Jewish War begun in66 (although the Romans did not achieve complete victory until the fall ofMasada in73 ).The Arch of Titus has provided the general model for many of the
triumphal arch es erected since the 16th century.Description
The Arch of Titus is arranged in five bays with an ABA rhythm, the side bays perpendicular to the central axial arch. The corners are articulated with a massive order of
engaged column s that stand on a high ashlar basement. The capitals are Corinthian, but with prominentvolute s of theIonic order projecting laterally above the acanthus foliage—the earliest example of thecomposite order . Above the main cornice rises a high weighty attic on which is a central tablet bearing the dedicatory inscription. The entablatures break forward over the columns and the wide central arch, and the profile of the column shafts transforms to square. Flanking the central arch, the side bays now each contain a shallow niche-like a blind aedicular window, a discreet early 19th century restoration.The
soffit of the axial archway is deeplycoffer ed with a relief of theapotheosis of Titus at the center. The sculptural program also includes two panel reliefs lining the passageway. Both commemorate the joint triumph celebrated by Titus and his fatherVespasian in the summer of71 . One of the panels depicts the spoils taken from the Temple, while the other depicts Titus as "triumphator" attended by various "genii" andlictor s. The sculpture of the outer faces of the two great piers was lost when the Arch of Titus was incorporated in medieval defensive walls. The attic of the arch was originally crowned by more statuary, perhaps of aquadriga pulled by elephants.Based on the style of sculptural details,
Domitian 's favored architect Rabirius, sometimes credited with theColosseum , may have executed the arch. Without contemporary documentation, however, attributions of Roman buildings on basis of style are considered shaky."The arch was constructed of Pentelic marble, and is 13.50 metres wide, 15.40 high, and 4.75 deep. The archway is 8.30 metres high and 5.36 wide. Above it is a simple entablature, and an attic 4.40 metres in height, on which is the inscription, which is preserved only on the east side. On each side is an engaged and fluted Corinthian column, standing on a square pedestal. The capitals of these columns are the earliest examples of the Composite style. On the inner jambs of the arch are the two famous reliefs (PBS III.276‑279; V.178; Strong, cit.), that on the south..."
The main inscription used to be ornamented by letters made of
silver or pehapsgold or some othermetal .Inscription
The inscription in
Roman square capitals reads:SENATVS
POPVLVSQVE·ROMANVS
DIVO·TITO·DIVI·VESPASIANI·F(ILIO)
VESPASIANO·AVGVSTOWhich means "The Senate and People of Rome (dedicate this) to the divine Titus Vespasianus Augustus, son of the divine Vespasian."
The opposite side of the Arch of Titus received new inscriptions after it was restored during the pontificate of
Pope Pius VII byGiuseppe Valadier in 1821. The restoration was intentionally made intravertine to differentiate between the original and the restored portions.The inscription reads:
INSIGNE · RELIGIONIS · ATQVE · ARTIS · MONVMENTVM
VETVSTATE · FATISCENS
PIVS · SEPTIMVS · PONTIFEX · MAX(IMVS)
NOVIS · OPERIBVS · PRISCVM · EXEMPLAR · IMITANTIBVS
FVLCIRI · SERVARIQVE · IVSSIT
ANNO · SACRI · PRINCIPATVS · EIVS · XXIIII(This) monument, remarkable in terms of both religion and art,
had weakened from age:
Pius the Seventh, Supreme Pontiff,
by new works on the model of the ancient exemplar
ordered it reinforced and preserved.
• In the year of his sacred rulership the 24th •History
The
Frangipani family turned it into a fortified tower in theMiddle Ages "A Let's Go City Guide: Rome", page 76, Vedran Lekić, 2004, ISBN 1-4050-3329-0.]In a later era, Pope
Paul IV made it the place of a yearly oath of submission, forced by thePope on theJews of the newRoman Ghetto "A Let's Go City Guide: Rome", page 104, Vedran Lekić] .It was one of the first buildings sustaining a modern restoration, starting with
Raffaello Stern in 1817 and continued byValadier underPius VII in 1821, with new capitals and withtravertine masonry, distinguishable from the original. The restoration was a model for the country side ofPorta Pia "The Buildings of Europe : Rome", page 33,Christopher Woodward , 1995, ISBN 0-7190-4032-9.] .Historical significance
The Arch of Titus provides the only contemporary depiction of sacred articles from the
Temple in Jerusalem . The menorah andtrumpet s are clearly depicted, as well as what might be theTable of Showbread .Due to the depiction of the destruction of Jerusalem and the desecration of the Temple, many Jews refuse to walk underneath the arch to this very day. A notable exception occurred in 1948 at the founding of
Israel , when a large contingent from the Roman Jewish community walked through the arch in the opposite direction from the original Ancient Roman triumphal march. [ [http://www.jewishsf.com/content/2-0-/module/displaystory/story_id/17347/edition_id/343/format/html/displaystory.html j. - Credit Maccabees for planting Rome's Jewish roots and the Romans for memorializing the menorah ] ]The depiction of the menorah (seven-branched lampstand) from the
Temple in Jerusalem on the arch, was used for thecoat of arms of Israel .A Copy of the Arch of Titus was built to memorialize the
Continental Army of theUnited States of America in the early 20th Century. It is located atValley Forge National Historical Park inPennsylvania .ee also
*Great Jewish Revolt
*Judaea Capta coinage
*Siege of Jerusalem
*Temple in Jerusalem References
External links
* [http://romanbookshelf.com/prints/Arch%20of%20Titus/Arch%20Titus.html Roman Bookshelf - View of the Arch of Titus from the XIX Century]
* [http://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Gazetteer/Places/Europe/Italy/Lazio/Roma/Rome/.Texts/PLATOP*/Arcus_Titi.html Samuel Ball Platner, "A Topographical Dictionary of Ancient Rome":] Arch of Titus
* [http://www.inrometoday.it/phototour/romanforum/titusarch/index.htm Arch of Titus] History and photos
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