Rome:
As It Was
Arches
Arch of Constantine
The Arch of Constantine was built in 315 C.E. in order to commemorate Emperor Constantine's victory over Emperor Maxentius. The Roman Senate decided to have the arch erected between the Colosseum and the Palatine Hill. The dimensions of the arch are 70 ft high, 85 ft wide and 25 ft deep. The Arch of Constantine is the most recently built arch in the city. The arch is still in good condition to this day and still stands in the same place beside the Colosseum. It is a popular tourist attraction in the city and can be seen in the picture on the right, while the picture on the left displays the model available for download on the site open in Google Earth.
Arch of Septimius Severus
The Arch of Titus was built by Emperor Domitian in the year 81 C.E. The arch celebrates the victories of Vespasian and Titus over the Jews. The artwork on the arch displays the sack of Jerusalem in 70 C.E. with engravings on the interior faces of the arch. The arch is one of the most artistic as it displays the parade of Titus' army returning to Rome, the Romans taking spoils from Jerusalem, Titus' uplifting to the heavens and original written inscriptions. The arch can be found on the east side of the Roman Forum. The arch still stands today as displayed in the picture on the right, while the picture on the left side provides a picture of the model in Google Earth.
Arch of Titus
The arch was built by Emperor Septimius Severus in the year 203 C.E. The arch was built to commemorate the Roman victories over the Arabs and Parthians in the eastern and southern areas of the mediterranean. The Arch is 82 ft wide and 75 ft tall. At the top of the arch sit four horses and a chariot. The capitol on top of the arch represents the Emperor Septimius Severus and his two sons Geta and Caracalla. The arch is located in the Roman Forum sitting in front of the Curia Julia. It is also still standing to this day. The picture on the left is the arch today and the on the right is a picture of the model in Google Earth.
Triumphal arches were built as monumental structures and are a type of architecture most associated with Ancient Rome. It is believed that the use of triumphal arches began under the Romans as they were used to commemorate victorious generals, the foundation of new colonies, the construction of a new road or bridge and built to celebrate the ascension of a new Emperor or the death of an old Emperor. The top of the arch often held a statue or an inscription commemorating the arch to a person or event, while the rest of the arch displayed carvings, reliefs and dedications.