Architecture lesson #7 arcus titi

Arcus Titi

The Arch of Titus

The Arch of Titus is one of two remaining arches in the vicinity of the Forum Romanum.

It was built on the Via Sacra (the oldest and most famous street in Rome) in honor of Emperor Titus and in commemoration of the siege of Jerusalem

Emperor Titus Flavius Sabinus Vespasianus (AD 40 - 81)

Titus became emperor in AD 79, but died in AD 81. Emperor Domitian, Titus's brother and successor, built the Arch of Titus that same year.

Titus’s reign was also marred by disaster: The eruption of Mount Vesuvius, a destructive 3-day fire, and plague all struck the Empire during his short time in power.

Emperor Titus Flavius Sabinus Vespasianus (AD 40 - 81)

Titus finished construction of, and held lavish inaugural games at the Colosseum (which his father had started building) to counter-act the negative tone his reign had.

The ArchThe 50-foot high arch is the oldest surviving example of a Roman arch.At the inside of the arch are two panels with reliefs. One depicts the triumphal procession with the spoils taken from the Second Temple in Jerusalem. The other one shows Titus in a chariot accompanied goddesses

The underside of the archway is deeply coffered with a relief of Titus at the center.

The Inscription

The Senate and People of Rome (dedicate this) to the late revered Titus

Vespasian, Augustus, son of the late revered Vespasian

SENATVSPOPVLVSQVE·ROMANVS

DIVO·TITO·DIVI·VESPASIANI·F

VESPASIANO·AVGVSTOStanding for Latin: Senatus Populusque Romanus Divo Tito Divi Vespasiani Filius Vespasiano Augusto

Preservation

Today, the Arch looks like it survived the centuries in great shape, but this is not quite the case: instead of regular maintenance, it was subjected to various damages, so that it required restoration during the 19th century

Preservation

The arch was restored by Giuseppe Valadier. The outer sides were rebuilt in travertine (limestone facing) instead of marble, so they would be distinguishable from the original.

Preservation

The opposite side of the Arch received new inscriptions after restoration

The InscriptionINSIGNE · RELIGIONIS · ATQVE · ARTIS ·

MONVMENTVM VETVSTATE · FATISCENS

PIVS · SEPTIMVS · PONTIFEX · MAXNOVIS · OPERIBVS · PRISCVM · EXEMPLAR ·

IMITANTIBVS FVLCIRI · SERVARIQVE · IVSSIT

ANNO · SACRI · PRINCIPATVS · EIVS · XXIIII Standing for Latin: Insigne Religionis Atque Artis Monumentum,

Vetusate Fatiscens, Pius Septimus Pontifex Maximus

Novis Operibus Priscum Exemplar ImitantibusFulciri Servarique Iussit

Anno Sacri Principatus Eius XXIIII

The Inscription

(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 exemplarordered it reinforced and preserved.

In the year of his sacred rulership the 24th

The Arch of Titus has been the model for many triumphal arches – most famously, the Arc de Triomphe in Paris