On each of the short sides of the monument there is a single round sculpture depicting the Sun (east side) and Moon (west side), both riding chariots. Each column base also carries sculpture depicting winged victories holding palm fronds, Roman legionaries and captives. Other original sculpture includes river gods above the two smaller arches and two victories over the larger arch on both façades. Photo by Mary Haarsch, Flickr, Creative Commons It is the largest surviving example of a Roman Triumphal Arch. 315 CE to commemorate the Roman emperor’s victory over Maxentius in 312 CE. The Arch of Constantine in Rome, built in c. The frieze scenes situated below each pair of medallions are 1 m high and commemorate Constantine’s military victories showing the siege of Verona (south façade, left side), the battle with Maxentius (south façade, right side), a scene addressing the public in the Roman Forum (north façade, left side) and a gift-giving ceremony or largito (north façade, right side). The arch does however have sculpture made specifically for the monument. The eight Corinthian columns were taken from a 1st century CE Flavian monument (now lost) and the Dacian prisoners standing above each of them were probably part of an unknown monument to Trajan. The second panel shows Constantine being crowned by Victory and flanked by two females possibly representing Honour (dressed as an Amazon) and Virtue (in armour). The first of the two frieze panels within the central arch depicts Trajan or Domitian on campaign riding a horse and charging barbarians but with the head once again re-worked to look more like Constantine. These were also altered to suit the purposes of the new monument and use white Pentelic marble. The two inner central arch reliefs and the upper panel on each side of the arch are part of the Great Trajanic Frieze which was removed from the Basilica Ulpia in Trajan’s Forum. Photo by Mark Cartwright, Creative Commons It is the largest surviving triumphal arch and the last great Imperial Roman monument. Dedicated in 315 CE, the triumphal arch celebrates the emperor’s victory over the Roman tyrant Maxentius in 312 CE. The south side of the Arch of Constantine I in Rome. Pious and fortunate, the Senate and People of Romeīecause by divine inspiration and his own greatness of spiritĭedicated this arch as a mark of triumph. To the emperor Flavius Constantine the Great The letters would originally have been inlaid with gilded bronze. The inscription, above the central arch, is a long one and is repeated on both sides of the arch. The block or ‘attic’ storey above the monument’s arches also presents sculpted panels and an inscription in Latin, a common feature of triumphal arches. The inscription which appears on both sides of the Arch of Constantine I in Rome. Even more colour was provided through the use of purple-red porphry as a background for the sculpted Hadrianic Roundels, four on each façade, green porphry for the main entablature frieze, Carystian green for the statue pedestals and Phrygian purple for the statues themselves. Above the entablature, and as it were extending the columns, stand four pedestals, each carrying a statue representing a Dacian prisoner. Dividing the arches are four detached Corinthian columns in Numidian yellow marble, each stood on a pedestal and topped with an entablature. All three arches express the same ratio of height and width. The monument is an imposing 21 metre high and 25.6 m wide rectangular block of grey and white Proconnesian marble consisting of three separate arches: one larger central arch with a shorter and narrower arch ( fornix) on either side. The arch was dedicated on 25th July 315 CE on the 10th anniversary of Constantine’s reign ( Decennalia) and stood on Rome’s triumphal route. The arch is also a tour de force of political propaganda, presenting Constantine as a living continuation of the most successful Roman emperors, renowned for their military victories and good government. It is the largest surviving Roman triumphal arch and the last great monument of Imperial Rome. 315 CE, stands in Rome and commemorates Roman Emperor Constantine’s victory over the Roman tyrant Maxentius on 28th October 312 CE at the battle of Milvian Bridge in Rome. The Arch is a huge conglomerate of imperial Roman sculpture as many parts of it were recycled (spolia) from earlier 1st and 2nd century CE monuments. The north side of the Arch of Constantine I in Rome.
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