One of top landmarks of Rome during the high season is often so overcrowded by the tourist making photographs, that is hard to came even closer to it.
The triumphal arch was built by Senat and People of Rome three years after the victory of Constantine over his co-emperor Maxentius.
The battle took place in 312, preceded, according to the tradition, by the vision of Christ over the Milvian Bridge protecting the Emperor.
Although later Constantine introduced Christianity as a leading religion in Roman Empire, which started development of modern Church, there is nothing Christian in the arch itself.
As the building has to be finished relatively fast, instead of the new sculptures, the existing ones were re-employed.
The statues of four Dacian prisoner, which now are on the upper storey were taken from the former monument of Traian from 1st century.
The eight bas reliefs are from monument erected to the honour of Marcus Aurelius, and show the glorious moments from the time of Aurelius’ victory over the German tribes, but the head of Emperor was replaced by tho one of Constantine.
Eight round medalions came from a monument to Hadrian, and represent the hunting moments and sacrifices to Gods.
They are Apollo with wild boar, Hercules wearing a lion skin, god of forest Silvanus, and the hunting goddess herself – Diana.
During the Middle Ages the arch and the colosseum were incorporated into the chain of city walls. The restorations at the turning of 17th and 18th centuries brought back the old splendour to the triumphal Arco di Constantino.
[ photo courtesy of profzucker]
Guides: rome
