Arch of Septimius Severus, A Monumental Legacy of Ancient Rome

Via dell'Arco di Settimio, Roma, Italia

There are too many ancient Roman architectural monuments

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Introduction

The Arch of Septimius Severus is one of the three surviving triumphal arches in the Roman Forum. It was built in 203 AD and located at the northwest end of the Forum. The arch was erected in honor of Emperor Septimius Severus and his two sons, Caracalla and Geta, after their victory over the Parthians. Septimius Severus was an important figure in Roman history as he stabilized the Roman Empire after the chaotic reign of Commodus. The arch is 23 meters tall, 25 meters wide, and has three archways, with the central one being 12 meters high and the other two being 7.8 meters high. Originally, there was a staircase between the two platforms that connected to the central archway. However, in the 4th century, a road replaced it. Many of the reliefs were washed away during floods in the medieval period. The Arch of Constantine, located near the Colosseum, was greatly influenced by the Arch of Septimius Severus. In 212 AD, Caracalla assassinated his brother Geta and destroyed his images on public buildings.