Coordinates: 41°53′27″N 12°29′19″E / 41.890717°N 12.488585°E / 41.890717; 12.488585 The Arch of Titus is a 1st-century honorific arch[1] located on the Via Sacra, Rome, just to the south-east of the Roman Forum. It was constructed in c. 82 AD by the Roman Emperor Domitian shortly after the death of his older brother Titus to commemorate Titus' victories, including the Siege of Jerusalem in 70 AD.
The Arch of Titus has provided the general model for many of the triumphal arches erected since the 16th century—perhaps most famously it is the inspiration for the 1806 Arc de Triomphe in Paris, France, completed in 1836.
[edit] Description
Colour relief of the South panel: "The Spoils of War", showing the triumphal procession
The arch is situated on a prominent rise, the Velian Hill, which is a low saddle between the Palatine and Esquiline Hills, just south-east of the Roman Forum. The arch itself is 13.50 metres wide, 15.40 high, and 4.75 deep while the inner archway is 8.30 metres high and 5.36 wide. It is constructed using pentelic marble, arranged in five bays to an ABA rhythm; the side bays are perpendicular to the central axial arch with a single barrel vault. The corners are articulated with a huge order of engaged columns that stand on a high ashlar basement. The capitals are Corinthian, but with prominent volutes of the Ionic order projecting laterally above the acanthus foliage—the earliest example of the composite order, combining both designs. Above the main cornice rises a high, weighty 4.40m high 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. The minor frieze on the entablature depicts a line of both military and civil officials, along with sacrificial animals. Flanking the central arch, the side bays now each contain a shallow niche-like blind aedicular window, a discreet early 19th century restoration. There are both fluted and unfluted columns, the latter being a result of 19th century restoration.[2] The spandrels on the upper left and right of the arch contain personifications of victory as winged women. Between the spandrels is the keystone, on which there stands a female on the East side and a male on the West side.[2]
Detail of the central soffit
coffers
The soffit of the axial archway is deeply coffered with a relief of the apotheosis of Titus at the center. The sculptural program also includes two panel reliefs lining the passageway within the arch. Both commemorate the joint triumph celebrated by Titus and his father Vespasian in the summer of 71.
The south panel depicts the spoils taken from the Temple in Jerusalem. The Golden Candelabra or Menorah is the main focus and is carved in deep relief. Other sacred objects being carried in the triumphal procession are the Gold Trumpets and the Table of Shew bread.[2] These spoils were originally gilded with gold, with the background in blue.[2]
The north panel depicts Titus as triumphator attended by various genii and lictors, who carry fasces. A helmeted Amazonian, Valour, leads the quadriga or four horsed chariot, which carries Titus. Winged Victory crowns him with a laurel wreath.[2] The juxtaposition is significant in that it is one of the first examples of divinities and humans being present in one scene together. This contrasts with the panels of the Ara Pacis, where humans and divinities are separated.[2]
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 a gilded chariot.[2] The main inscription used to be ornamented by letters made of perhaps silver, gold or some other metal.
[edit] Inscription
The Arch in 1744, before restoration. Painting by
Canaletto.
The inscription in Roman square capitals reads:
SENATVS
POPVLVSQVE·ROMANVS
DIVO·TITO·DIVI·VESPASIANI·F(ILIO)
VESPASIANO·AVGVSTO
(Senatus Populusque Romanus divo Tito divi Vespasiani filio Vespasiano Augusto)
which means "The Roman Senate and People (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 by Giuseppe Valadier in 1821. The restoration was intentionally made in travertine 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
(Insigne religionis atque artis, monumentum, vetustate fatiscens: Pius Septimus, Pontifex Maximus, novis operibus priscum exemplar imitantibus fulciri servarique iussit. Anno sacri principatus eius XXIV)
(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 •
[edit] History
Detail from the Arch of Titus showing spoils from the Sack of Jerusalem
Based on the style of sculptural details, Domitian's favored architect Rabirius, sometimes credited with the Colosseum, may have executed the arch. Without contemporary documentation, however, attributions of Roman buildings on basis of style are considered shaky.
The Frangipani family turned it into a fortified tower in the Middle Ages.[3]
It was one of the first buildings sustaining a modern restoration, starting with Raffaele Stern in 1817 and continued by Valadier under Pius VII in 1821, with new capitals and with travertine masonry, distinguishable from the original. The restoration was a model for the country side of Porta Pia.[3][4]
[edit] Significance
The Arch provides one of the few contemporary depictions of Temple period artifacts.[5][6] The seven-branched menorah and trumpets are clearly depicted. It became a symbol of the Jewish diaspora. In a later era, Pope Paul IV made it the place of a yearly oath of submission. Jews refuse to walk under it. The menorah depicted on the Arch served as the model for the menorah used on the emblem of the state of Israel.[citation needed] However, when the existence of modern State of Israel was formally declared, the entire Roman Jewish community spontaneously gathered by the arch and in joyful celebration, walked backwards under the arch to symbolize beginning of the long-awaited redemption from the Roman Exile.[7]
[edit] Architectural influence
Works modeled on, or inspired by, the Arch of Titus include:
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ It was not a triumphal arch; Titus' triumphal arch was in the Circus Maximus.
- ^ a b c d e f g Art and Architecture of the Roman Empire. Bellona Books. 2006. pp. 45–48. ISBN 978-0-9582693-1-5.
- ^ a b A Let's Go City Guide: Rome, page 76, Vedran Lekić, 2004, ISBN 1-4050-3329-0.
- ^ The Buildings of Europe: Rome, page 33, Christopher Woodward, 1995, ISBN 0-7190-4032-9.
- ^ First Temple artifacts found in dirt removed from Temple Mount
- ^ Bromiley, Geoffrey W., "The international standard Bible encyclopedia", pg 98 "Usually associated with the báma are the cult objects known as massébá and séra".
- ^ http://www.fangduffkahn.com/blog/2011/jul/25/roman-jews-and-the-arch-of-titus-0
- ^ "Arch of Titus". Smarthistory at Khan Academy. Retrieved December 19, 2012.
[edit] External links