1. Arch of Titus & Arch of Constantine
Triumphal Arches
Arch of Titus & Arch of Constantine

2. Arch of Titus: Sketch

3. History: Arch of Titus
Roman Emperor ordered it to honor his brother, Titus
Via Sacra, Rome
Finished in 85 AD
Less than 4 years to make
13.50 m wide, m
high, and 4.75 m deep
The 11th Roman Emperor Empire Domitian ordered the arch to honor his brother, Titus
Domitian’s older brother
10th emperor of Rome
Siege of Jerusalem – 70AD
Death:
Fever and natural causes
Poisoned by Domitian who had been plotting against him
A bug flew into Titus’s nose and grew too the size of a bird
Via Sacra, Rome South- east of the Roman Forum
Started in 82 AD Finished in 85 AD
13.50 meters wide, high, and 4.75 deep
Inspired the Arc de Triomphe in Paris France
In 1821, Giuseppe Valadier restored the arch by using travertine versus

4. Form: Arch of Titus Corinthian order, with Ionic volutes
-a composite order that mixes both
Barrel vault to add stability
Has Roman arch order
Several huge engaged columns
(attached to wall)
Minor Frieze on the entablature
depicts many military officials,
civil officials and sacrificial animals
Includes a complete entablature
(architrave, cornice and frieze)
Above the entablature rests an attic
that extends the height of the arch
Spandrels also include relief sculpture
The Arch of Titus also relies on a barrel vault for its stability in holding up the arch. It too, has many aspects that are of Greek origin such as the fluted columns similar to the Arch of Constantine. However, the Arch of Titus has a composite order of both Corinthian and ionic origins. This means that the columns have Corinthian capitals along with ionic volutes. This arch too has the Roman arch order consisting of the two engaged columns and entablature with an arch inside. Also like the other arch, the Arch of Titus has an attic that rests on top of the entablature. There are also several winged victories on the spandrels like the Arch of Constantine. The many reliefs that are on the arch are made up of various military and civil officials, as well as sacrificial animals. The soffit, which is the underside of the arch, is coffered and has a relief of apotheosis of Titus, where coffered means that the surface consists of sunken panels. Last, the arch has a Roman square capital with inscriptions on either side.

7. The Roman Senate and People (dedicate this) to the divine Titus Vespasianus Augustus, son of the divine Vespasian

8. Arch of Constantine: Sketch

9. History: Arch of Constantine
Roman Senate ordered it to
honor Constantine I’s victories
Located between the Colosseum
and Palatine Hill
Finished 315 AD
Took less than 3 years to complete
21 m high, 25.9 m wide and 7.4 m deep
Last Roman arch that still exist today
Roman Senate ordered the arch to honor Constantine I and his victory against Maxentius at the battle of Milvian Bridge. The battle took place on October 28, On a side note, Constantine believed he was successful with help from god. This belief lead to his decision to make Rome’s official religion Christianity. This was part of the decline Rome.
Located between the Colosseum and Palatine Hill
Finished 315 AD
Took less than 3 years to complete
21 m high, 25.9 m wide and 7.4 m deep
Three arches
Latest Roman arch that still exist today

10. Form: Arch of Constantine
Three barrel vaults
Roman arch order
Above the entablature is an attic
Images of Romans and barbarians are depicted
Columns are of the Corinthian order
Above each side archway scenes of sacrifice and hunting are depicted
All reliefs and sculptures are from the four different times of Trajan, Hadrian, Marcus Aurelius, or Constantine
The Arch of Constantine consists of three barrel vaults, with their layers of arches providing the strength to hold up the arch. The Arch of Constantine also has several other Greek influences besides the revolutionary arch, one of them being the fluted column that is of the Corinthian order. Along with the columns there is the Corinthian capital and a complete entablature that spans all the way around the arch. These elements make up the Roman arch order. However, unlike the Greek buildings, on top of the entablature is the attic rather than the roof of the building. There are many reliefs on this arch where several of them depict the actions of hunting and sacrifice. The spandrels on either side of the main arch depict winged victories. The reliefs were all done in four different times of Hadrian, Trajan, Marcus Aurelius and Constantine. All the art has been reused and copied from past works.

14. To the Emperor Constantine from the Senate and the Roman People
To the Emperor Constantine from the Senate and the Roman People. Since through divine inspiration and great wisdom he has delivered the state and the tyrant and his party by his army and noble arms, [we] dedicate this arch, decorated with triumphal insignia" (quoted from Stokstad 241). The same inscription is repeated on both sides.

15. Roman Propaganda Arch of Titus
Celebrated victory of Titus in Jerusalem Wars
Relief sculptures
show Romans taking their spoils and parading them around
Emperor and a winged figure are being pulled in a chariot as though he were a deity.
Arch of Constantine
Built to display the unification of Rome under Constantine.
Used reliefs from previous emperors to compare Constantine to the great emperors of the past.
Change of Paganism to Christianity

16. Triumphal Arches: Influence
Credited with influencing other “triumphant arches”
Arc de Triomphe, arch at Washington Square Park, National Memorial Arch, India Gate

17. Washington Square Park, NYC

18. Arc de Triomphe, Paris