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Dec 6, 2023 · by Dr. Darius Arya and Dr. Beth Harris. Triumphal Arch of Septimius Severus, 203 C.E., marble above a travertine base, roughly 23 x 25 m, Roman Forum, speakers: Dr. Darius Arya, executive director of the American Institute for Roman Culture and Dr. Beth Harris.
- No Triumph
- The Monument
- Relief 1
- Relief 2
- Relief 3
- Relief 4
- Other Sculpture
- Literature
The Arch of Septimius Severus is arguably the most impressive monument on the Forum Romanum. Although the statues on the top of the arch are now lost, the reliefs have lost their painting, and two reliefs are almost illegible, the monument as a whole is very well-preserved. The emperor Septimius Severus came to power in 193. On 31 December 192, Com...
The monument is almost 21 meters high, has a width of more than 23 meters, and is made of Proconessian white marble from the Sea of Marmara, which was very much en vogue during the reign of Septimius Severus. The monument was built close to the Senate's meeting place, the Curia Julia. According to Herodian and Cassius Dio, Severus had dreamt that h...
On the first relief, which is extremely damaged, we can see preparations for the first of the two wars, a battle scene, and the liberation of Rome's ally Nisibisin 195, which had been attacked by the Parthians when the Romans were involved in a civil war. An enemy leader flees to the right.
Because the right-hand side of the eastern face of the arch is damaged as well, we do are not completely certain what is shown. A possible hypothesis is that it shows the revolt of a Roman ally, Edessa, the capital of Osrhoene. The town is attacked with siege engines (bottom) and king Abgar VIII surrenders (central scene). In the upper register, we...
Moving to the Capitol side, we get a better view of the reliefs, which show the second Parthian campaign (197-198). On the left-hand side, we see how the Romans attack Seleucia, an important city on the Tigris. The Parthian soldiers flee towards the left and right. The upper part shows how the citizens surrender.
On the right-hand side of the side facing the Capitol, we see the last battle of the war: the siege and sack of Ctesiphon, the Parthian capital. A siege engine is employed (bottom left) and the city surrenders (right). In the upper register, we see how Septimius Severus declares that his oldest son Caracalla will be his co-ruler and that his younge...
There are more reliefs on the arch of Septimius Severus: Victorias are flying in the spandrels, there four statues of the four seasons, and the pedestals are decorated with prisoners of war. Below the four main reliefs, we can see how the loot is being transported. Another Arch of Septimius Severus was erected in Lepcis Magna.
R. Brilliant, The Arch of Septimius Severus in the Roman Forum(1967)M. Lloyd, "The Arch of Septimius Severus in the Roman Forum: a Re-Consideration", in: American Journal of Ancient Historyns. 117 (2013)People also ask
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The Arch of Septimius Severus, a marble structure in Rome built in 203, was erected to immortalize the victories of Emperor Septimius Severus and his sons, Caracalla and Geta, over the Parthians. The arch has suffered the passage of time, but its facade still has images of the Parthians’ defeat in the years 194-195 and 197-199. Structure
Jun 14, 2017 · Arch of Septimius Severus in the Roman Forum. The striking triumphal Arch of Septimius Severus, located at the western end of the Roman Forum in Rome, Italy, was built in 203 A.D. to commemorate the Emperor’s victory against the Parthians, a population that lived between the modern Iran and Iraq, and his two sons, Caracalla and Geta.
Description. The central arch is made of a limestone core and a marble facing featured elaborately decorated panels. There are four primary frieze panels, depicting the imperial family in scenes of the triumph, procession, sacrifice, and Concordia Augustorum. Other areas are decorated with ornate deeply drilled floral and other ornaments.
- c. 203
- Tripolitania
- 1982 (6th session)
The Arch of Septimius Severus (Arco di Settimio Severo), situated at the north-western end of the Roman Forum is an ancient Roman triumphal arch consecrated in 203 CE to commemorate the Parthian victories of Emperor Septimius Severus and his two sons, Caracalla and Geta.
The white marble Arch of Septimius Severus (Italian: Arco di Settimio Severo) at the northwest end of the Roman Forum is a triumphal arch dedicated in AD 203 to commemorate the Parthian victories of Emperor Septimius Severus and his two sons, Caracalla and Geta, in the two campaigns against the Parthians of 194/195 and 197-199.After the death ...
