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The Arch of
Constantine in Rome, is situated next to the Colosseum in the Piazza del
Colosseo,
close to
the bottom of the Sacra Via which leads to the Arch of Titus and the
Roman
Forum.
It was erected in AD 315 by the Senate to commemorate the victory of
Constantine over Maxentius at the Milvian Bridge in AD 312.
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The battle
of the Milvian Bridge was the decisive moment in Constantine's ambitions
to consolidate his power. In Britain, after the death of his father, he
had been proclaimed Augustus by his troops, despite having no legal claim
to the title. Maxentius also laid claim to the title of "Augustus of the
Western Empire". This conflict was finally resolved in the battle of
Milvian Bridge, located to the north of Rome. Although outnumbered,
Constantine's army was victorious. The defeated Maxentius, died while
making his escape, after a bridge across the Tiber, constructed from
boats, suddenly collapsed. |
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After
the Battle of Milvian Bridge, this triple-passageway arch was constructed
adjacent to the Colosseum to commemorate the triumph. Although the arch
was the largest to be erected in Rome for almost a century, its
construction becomes less impressive when closely examined, as many of the
sculptures had been robbed from earlier monuments. The coulombs, and a
number of other architectural features also date from earlier times. |
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The reliefs
originating from the second century were refashioned to honour Constantine
by re-carving the heads of earlier emperors with Constantine's features.
The reuse of these has been interpreted by some as an indication of Rome's
decline during this period. |
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Over
the side arches can be found eight sculptures depicting hunting scenes and
sacrifices, these date from the time of Hadrian 117-138. An original
portrait of Hadrian has been replaced by images of Constantine and
Licinius.
Carvings of prisoners on the architraves, two
reliefs on the narrow sides of the attic story,
and those inside the main arch,
date from the time of Trajan 98-117. On the long sides of the attic storey
are carved eight reliefs showing scenes of the triumphs of war. These date
from the time of Marcus Aurelius 161-180. |
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An inscription carved
into the top of the central arch reads
IMP · CAES · FL
· CONSTANTINO · MAXIMO · P · F · AVGUSTO · S · P · Q · R · QVOD ·
INSTINCTV · DIVINATATIS · MENTIS · MAGNITVDINE · CVM · EXERCITV · SVO ·
TAM · DE · TYRANNO · QVAM · DE · OMNI · EIVS · FACTIONE · VNO · TEMPORE ·
IVSTIS · REM-PUBLICAM · VLTVS · EST · ARMIS · ARCVM · TRIVMPHIS · INSIGNEM
· DICAVIT · LIBERATORI · VRBIS — FVNDATORI · QVIETIS
On the sides of the arch
is carved
VOTIS · X · VOTIS ·
XX — SIC · X · SIC · XX
The second half of the side inscription tells us that the Arch of
Constantine was erected after the tenth year of Constantine's reign. The
inscription is interpreted as saying that Constantine has reigned for ten
years, so may he reign twenty. The title Maximus, in the main inscription,
occurs only on coins that were struck after the tenth year of
Constantine's reign. The phrase
"INSTINCTV
· DIVINATATIS · MENTIS"
meaning "by divine inspiration" has been interpreted by
some as referring to his later policy of promoting Christianity. |
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