Arch of Septimius Severus (Roman Forum)

The Arch of Septimius Severus stands at the north-west end of the Roman Forum, a white marble triumphal arch built in the 3rd century to celebrate the emperor’s victories over the Parthians. It rises on a travertine base once reached by steps from the ancient Forum level, with three large archways framed by composite columns. The central passage is topped by a richly coffered semicircular vault, while the spandrels carry carved Winged Victories. A staircase in the south pier leads to the top, where statues of the emperor and his sons once stood in a gilded bronze quadriga. The arch is notable for its detailed reliefs and varied craftsmanship. Four large panels adorn each face of the attic, and eight smaller panels line the inner faces of the archways, depicting scenes from the Parthian campaigns. Scholars such as Richard Brilliant have observed that different workshops produced these reliefs, each with subtle stylistic differences. The structure mixes traditional Roman elements—Corinthian columns, cornices, and pedestals—with innovative textures and planes that hint at a shift from classical norms. Visitors walk beneath the central archway and see prisoners of war carved low on the piers, their expressions and poses conveying defeat. Above them, flying Victories and statues of the four seasons reinforce the theme of imperial triumph. The loot and booty from the campaigns are shown on carts, reinforcing Rome’s dominance. The attic once bore a gilded bronze chariot group, its reflections making the inscribed victories legible only in certain light. The precision of the marble blocks, fitted so tightly without visible mortar, shows the skill of the builders.