.jpg) The Arch of Titus, showing the "Spoils of Jerusalem" relief on the inside arch | |
  Arch of Titus Shown within Augustan Rome | |
 Click on the map for a fullscreen view | |
| Location | Regio X Palatium |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 41°53′26.5812″N12°29′18.906″E / 41.890717000°N 12.48858500°E /41.890717000; 12.48858500 |
| Type | honorific arch |
| History | |
| Builder | Emperor Domitian |
| Founded | c. 81 A.D1943–1944 years ago |
TheArch of Titus (Italian:Arco di Tito;Latin:Arcus Tītī) is a 1st-century ADhonorific arch,[1] located on theVia Sacra,Rome, just to the south-east of theRoman Forum. It was constructed inc. 81 AD by EmperorDomitian shortly after the death of his older brotherTitus to commemorate Titus's officialdeification orconsecratio and the victory of Titus together with their father,Vespasian, over theJewish rebellion in Judaea.[2]
The arch contains panels depicting thetriumphal procession celebrated in 71 AD after the Roman victory culminating in thefall of Jerusalem,[2] and provides one of the few contemporary depictions of artifacts fromHerod's Temple.[3] Although the panels are not explicitly stated as illustrating this event, they closely parallel the narrative of the Roman procession described a decade prior inJosephus'The Jewish War.[4][5]
It became a symbol of theJewish diaspora, and themenorah depicted on the arch served as the model for the menorah used as theemblem of the State of Israel.[6]
The arch has provided the general model for manytriumphal arches erected since the 16th century. It is the inspiration for theArc de Triomphe inParis.[7] It holds an important place inart history, being the focus ofFranz Wickhoff's appreciation ofRoman art in contrast to the then-prevailing view.[8]
Based on the style of sculptural details,Domitian's favored architectRabirius, sometimes credited with theColosseum, may have executed the arch. Without contemporary documentation, however, attributions of Roman buildings on the basis of style are considered shaky.[9] The brother and successor of Titus built the arch despite being described as hateful towards Titus byCassius Dio.[10]
The medieval Latin travel guideMirabilia Urbis Romae noted the monument, writing: "the arch of the Seven Lamps of Titus and Vespasian; [where Moses' candlestick is having seven branches, with the Ark, at the foot of the Cartulary Tower"].[11][12]
During theMiddle Ages, theFrangipani family added a second story to the vault, converting it into a fortified tower;[13] beam holes from the construction remain in the panels.[14] A chamber was built in the upper half, and the roadway was lowered to expose the travertine foundations.
PopePaul IV (papacy 1555-9), having established theRoman Ghetto in the bullCum nimis absurdum, made the arch the place of a yearlyoath of submission, forcing Jewish elders to kiss the feet of each newly-crowned pope.[15]
In 1716,Adriaan Reland published hisDe spoliis templi Hierosolymitani in arcu Titiano Romae conspicuis, in English: "The spoils of the temple of Jerusalem visible on the Arch of Titan at Rome".
It was one of the first buildings sustaining a modern restoration, starting withRaffaele Stern in 1817 and continued byValadier underPius VII in 1821, with new capitals and withtravertinemasonry, distinguishable from the original marble. The restoration was a model for the country side ofPorta Pia.[13][16]
At an unknown date, a local ban on Jews walking under the arch was placed on the monument by Rome'sChief Rabbinate; this was rescinded on the foundation of theState of Israel in 1947, and at aHanukkah event in 1997 the change was made public.[17][18][19] The arch was never mentioned inRabbinic literature.[20]
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The arch is large with bothfluted and unfluted columns, the latter being a result of 19th-century restoration.[21]
The Arch of Titus measures:15.4 meters (50 ft) in height,13.5 meters (44 ft) in width,4.75 meters (15.5 ft) in depth.The inner archway is 8.3 meters (27 ft) in height, and 5.36 meters (17.5 ft) in width.[22]
Thespandrels on the upper left and right of the arch contain personifications of victory as winged women. Between the spandrels is thekeystone, on which there stands a female on the east side and a male on the west side.[21]
Thesoffit of the axial archway is deeplycoffered with a relief of theapotheosis of Titus at the center. The sculptural program also includes two panel reliefs lining the passageway within the arch. Both commemorate the jointtriumph celebrated by Titus and his fatherVespasian in the summer of 71.
The south inner panel depicts the spoils taken from theTemple in Jerusalem. The golden candelabrum or Menorah is the main focus and is carved in deep relief.[23] Other sacred objects being carried in the triumphal procession are the Gold Trumpets, the fire pans for removing the ashes from the altar, and theTable of Showbread.[21]These spoils were likely originally colored gold, with the background in blue.[21] In 2012 the Arch of Titus Digital Restoration Project discovered remains of yellow ochre paint on the menorah relief.[24]
The north inner panel depicts Titus astriumphator attended by variousgenii andlictors, who carryfasces. A helmeted Amazonian, Valour, leads thequadriga or four horsed chariot, which carries Titus. WingedVictory crowns him with alaurel wreath.[21] The juxtaposition is significant in that it is one of the first examples of divinities and humans being present in one scene together.[21] This contrasts with the panels of theAra Pacis, where humans and divinities are separated.[21]
The sculpture of the outer faces of the two great piers was lost when the Arch of Titus was incorporated in medieval defensive walls.[21] Theattic of the arch was originally crowned by more statuary, perhaps of a gilded chariot.[21] The main inscription used to be ornamented by letters made of perhaps silver, gold or some other metal.
The original inscription is attached to the east side of the Arch. It is written inRoman square capitals and reads:
SENATVS
POPVLVSQVE·ROMANVS
DIVO·TITO·DIVI·VESPASIANI·F(ILIO)VESPASIANO·AVGVSTO
(Senatus Populusque Romanus divo Tito divi Vespasiani filio Vespasiano Augusto),[25] which means
The Senate and the Roman people (dedicate this) to the deified Titus Vespasian Augustus, son of the deified Vespasian."[26]
The opposite side of the Arch of Titus received new inscriptions after it was restored during the pontificate ofPope Pius VII byGiuseppe Valadier in 1821. The restoration was intentionally made intravertine to differentiate between the original and the restored portions.
The inscription reads:
INSIGNE · RELIGIONIS · ATQVE · ARTIS · MONVMENTVM
VETVSTATE · FATISCENS
PIVS · SEPTIMVS · PONTIFEX · MAX(IMVS)
NOVIS · OPERIBVS · PRISCVM · EXEMPLAR · IMITANTIBVS
FVLCIRI · SERVARIQVE · IVSSITANNO · SACRI · PRINCIPATVS · EIVS · XXIIII
(Insigne religionis atque artis, monumentum, vetustate fatiscens: Pius Septimus, Pontifex Maximus, novis operibus priscum exemplar imitantibus fulciri servarique iussit. Anno sacri principatus eius XXIV), which means
(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 exemplar
ordered it reinforced and preserved.• In the 24th year of his sacred rulership. •
Works modelled on, or inspired by, the Arch of Titus include:
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| External videos | |
|---|---|
 Smarthistory - Arch of Titus |
According to an ancient ban placed on the monument by Rome's Jewish authorities, once a Jewish person walks under the arch, he or she can no longer be considered a Jew... the chief rabbi of Rome had told the Israeli Embassy that the original ban was no longer valid, since an independent State of Israel had been established. Unfortunately, no one who knew about the ban had ever been informed of its abrogation!
The Soldiers' and Sailors' Memorial Arch is reminiscent of the Arch of Titus in Rome, and it is made of light colored granite with a base-course of dark, polished granite.
Media related toArch of Titus at Wikimedia Commons
| Preceded by Arch of Septimius Severus | Landmarks of Rome Arch of Titus | Succeeded by Arcus Novus |
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