ARCH OF TITUSARCH OF TITUS

THE ARCH…THE ARCH… stands close to the highest point of the stands close to the highest point of the

Sacred Way (Sacra Via) in Rome. Sacred Way (Sacra Via) in Rome. it was along the Sacra Via that a victorious it was along the Sacra Via that a victorious

general would ride in triumphal procession general would ride in triumphal procession towards the Temple of Jupiter. towards the Temple of Jupiter.

is made from a single barrel vault flanked is made from a single barrel vault flanked by two tiers which support the entablature by two tiers which support the entablature and an attic.and an attic.

was originally made of Pentelic marble was originally made of Pentelic marble taken from near Athens. taken from near Athens.

originally on the top of the arch was a originally on the top of the arch was a gilded chariot driven by Titus. gilded chariot driven by Titus.

WHO? WHEN? WHY?WHO? WHEN? WHY? the arch was completed by Titus’ brother and the arch was completed by Titus’ brother and

successor Domitian. successor Domitian. we know this because the inscription on the eastern we know this because the inscription on the eastern

side of the attic says:side of the attic says:““The Senate and the People of Rome, to The Senate and the People of Rome, to

Divine Divine Titus Titus Vespasian Augustus, son of Vespasian Augustus, son of Divine Divine Vespasian”Vespasian” this tells us that the arch was completed after the this tells us that the arch was completed after the death and deification of the emperor Titus, in death and deification of the emperor Titus, in 81 AD81 AD. .

THE OUTSIDE…THE OUTSIDE… beneath the attic on the beneath the attic on the

frieze of the entablature is frieze of the entablature is a minor frieze depicting a a minor frieze depicting a procession of civil and procession of civil and military officials with military officials with animals being led to animals being led to sacrifice. sacrifice.

the façades have engaged the façades have engaged columns with Composite columns with Composite capitals (Ionic and capitals (Ionic and Corinthian capitals). Corinthian capitals).

The spandrels of the arch The spandrels of the arch hold reliefs of winged hold reliefs of winged women – Victories. women – Victories.

on the keystones of the on the keystones of the archways are a male (on archways are a male (on the west) and a female the west) and a female (on the east) figure.(on the east) figure.

But it’s what’s on the inside But it’s what’s on the inside the arch that matters most the arch that matters most

to us…to us…

THE VAULTED CEILING…THE VAULTED CEILING…

is decorated with is decorated with coffers and rosettes.coffers and rosettes.

in the centre, at the in the centre, at the top of the vault, is a top of the vault, is a panel depicting the panel depicting the deified Titus deified Titus ascending to heaven ascending to heaven on the back of an on the back of an eagle (his eagle (his apotheosis). apotheosis).

this confirms the arch this confirms the arch was made after his was made after his death.death.

ALSO ON THE INSIDE…ALSO ON THE INSIDE… two panels on the two panels on the

north and south north and south sides of the interior sides of the interior of the arch show of the arch show images from Titus images from Titus career.career.

North panel.North panel. South panel.South panel.

THE NORTH PANELTHE NORTH PANEL

This panel shows Titus in his triumphal chariot, This panel shows Titus in his triumphal chariot, attended by divinities, senators and lictors carrying attended by divinities, senators and lictors carrying fasces. fasces.

Titus himself rises above the crowd in his chariot Titus himself rises above the crowd in his chariot with his right hand raised in greeting. with his right hand raised in greeting.

Senators walk behind the chariot.Senators walk behind the chariot. Titus and the divinities:Titus and the divinities:

a winged Victory stands a winged Victory stands behind Titus holding a behind Titus holding a

laurel over his head,laurel over his head, a genius of the Roman a genius of the Roman

people stands by the chariot,people stands by the chariot, a helmeted Amazonian a helmeted Amazonian

leads the chariot. leads the chariot. the presence of these the presence of these

divinities show that all of divinities show that all of Rome celebrating Titus’ victoryRome celebrating Titus’ victory

and that here is divine and that here is divine approval for Flavian greatness.approval for Flavian greatness.

THE SOUTH PANELTHE SOUTH PANEL

This panel shows a procession with soldiers This panel shows a procession with soldiers carrying the spoils of war. carrying the spoils of war.

Amongst the sacred objects taken from the Amongst the sacred objects taken from the Temple in Jerusalem by Titus in 70 AD are the Temple in Jerusalem by Titus in 70 AD are the seven-branched seven-branched menorahmenorah and the and the trumpetstrumpets of of Israel and Jericho. Israel and Jericho.

Our eyes Our eyes

are drawn are drawn

towards towards

the spoils the spoils

of victory.of victory.

The soldiers:The soldiers: their heads bob up and their heads bob up and

down suggesting down suggesting business, liveliness and business, liveliness and depth.depth.

the soldiers are shown in the soldiers are shown in ¾ view.¾ view.

the soldiers overlap the soldiers overlap making the procession making the procession looking busy.looking busy.

Roman standards occupy Roman standards occupy the relatively empty the relatively empty upper part of this frieze.upper part of this frieze.

BOTH FRIEZESBOTH FRIEZES unlike others this arches was meant to be walked under. unlike others this arches was meant to be walked under.

So it is fitting that the reliefs should represent parts of So it is fitting that the reliefs should represent parts of Titus’s procession along the same road.Titus’s procession along the same road.

the lower level of the both friezes is cluttered while the the lower level of the both friezes is cluttered while the upper levels are mostly empty.upper levels are mostly empty.

diagonal lines (placards and fasces) help to break up the diagonal lines (placards and fasces) help to break up the open spaces in the upper level. open spaces in the upper level.

a sense of forward movement is created by the placement a sense of forward movement is created by the placement of the dominant image. This movement is in the same of the dominant image. This movement is in the same direction as a Triumphal procession would move.direction as a Triumphal procession would move.

high relief is used in the middle and lower relief is used on high relief is used in the middle and lower relief is used on the outsides to give the pieces depth. the outsides to give the pieces depth.

it seems that both processions momentarily swing closer to it seems that both processions momentarily swing closer to the viewer as they seem move around a bend in the road.the viewer as they seem move around a bend in the road.

in both these panels we see the human and the divine in both these panels we see the human and the divine mixing in the same scene.mixing in the same scene.

Now for some close ups….Now for some close ups….The North PanelThe North Panel

Now for some close ups….Now for some close ups….The South PanelThe South Panel

Now for some more photos…Now for some more photos…

So that is it…So that is it…THE ARCH OF TITUSTHE ARCH OF TITUS