ARCUS SEPTIMII SEVERI
* the arch erected in 203 A.D. in honour of Severus
and his sons Geta and Caracalla, at the north-west corner of the forum,
in front of the temple of Concord. This information is contained in the
dedicatory inscription (
CIL vi. 1033; cf. 31230) on both sides of
the attic of the arch, which is still standing. The original bronze letters
of this inscription have disappeared, but their matrices remain, and it
can be seen that the name of Geta was chiselled away after his murder,
and the space filled up with additional titles of Severus and Caracalla.
The arch is triple and built of Pentelic marble on a foundation of
travertine, which was concealed by the flight of steps that formed the
approach to the arch from the forum side. Later, probably in the
fourth century, the level in front of the arch on this side was lowered,
the flight of steps lengthened, and the top of the foundation cut away
to provide for them (
CR 1899, 233;
Mitt. 1902, 21-22). The exposed
corners of the foundation were then faced with marble. The arch was
never traversed by a road until mediaeval times.
The arch is 23 metres high, 25 wide and 11.85 deep, the central archway
being 12 metres high and 7 wide, and the side archways 7.80 high and
3 wide. Between the central and side arches are vaulted passages with
coffered ceilings. On each face of the arch are four fluted columns with
Composite capitals, 8.78 metres high and 0.90 metre in diameter at the
base. These columns stand free from the arch on projecting pedestals,
and behind them are corresponding pilasters. An entablature surrounds
the arch, and above it is the lofty attic, 5.60 metres in height, within
which are four chambers.
Over the side arches are narrow bands of reliefs representing the
triumphs of Rome over conquered peoples, and above them four large
reliefs which represent the campaigns of Severus in the East (Reinach,
Rep. d.
Reliefs i. 258-270; Strong, Sculpture 297n300; SScR 303-305).
In the spandrels of the central arch are winged Victories, and in those of
the side arches, river gods. On the keystones of the central arch are
reliefs of Mars Victor, and on the pedestals of the columns, Roman
soldiers driving captives before them. Coins of Severus (Cohen, Sev.
53, 104) and Caracalla (ib. Car. 14, 15) show that on the top of
the arch was a six- or eight-horse chariot, in which stood Severus
and Victory, escorted by Geta and Caracalla, and on the ends
four equestrian figures; but of these statues no traces have been
found.
The excellent preservation of this monument is due in part to the
fact that in the Middle Ages its southern half belonged to the neighbouring
church of SS. Sergio e Bacco, and its northern half was fortified (HC 86).
The erection of this arch destroyed the symmetry of this end of the
forum (HC 84-90; Thedenat 161-162, 234-238; LR 284-286; Rossini,
Archi trionfali, pls. 50-57; Sangallo, Barb. 31; D'Espouy, Fragments,
i. 96, 97;
PAS ii. 69, 70; DR 454-462; RE
Suppl. iv. 497-499).
