Arch of TitusArch of Titus AD 81

So far we have studied: Portraiture

Patrician carrying bustsPhilip the ArabianCommodus

Religious ArchitectureAra PacisPantheonMaison CareeBacchus at Baalbek

Now this is:Relief Sculpture

But first...a list of But first...a list of EmperorsEmperorsJulio-Claudian dynastyJulio-Claudian dynasty

Augustus 27BC- AD14Augustus 27BC- AD14 Tiberius AD14 - 37Tiberius AD14 - 37 Caligula AD37 – 41Caligula AD37 – 41 Claudius AD 41- 54Claudius AD 41- 54 Nero AD54- 68Nero AD54- 68

Year of 4 emperors Year of 4 emperors (AD 68 –AD69)(AD 68 –AD69) GalbaGalba OthoOtho VitelliusVitellius

Flavian DynastyFlavian Dynasty Vespasian AD69-79Vespasian AD69-79 Titus AD79-81Titus AD79-81 Domitian AD 81-96Domitian AD 81-96

Trajanic DynastyTrajanic Dynasty Nerva AD96-98Nerva AD96-98 Trajan AD98-117Trajan AD98-117 Hadrian AD117-138Hadrian AD117-138Antonine DynastyAntonine Dynasty Antoninus Pius AD138-161Antoninus Pius AD138-161 Marcus Aurelius AD161- 180Marcus Aurelius AD161- 180 Lucis Verus AD161-169Lucis Verus AD161-169 Commodus AD177-192Commodus AD177-192

Severan dynastySeveran dynasty (11 emperors)(11 emperors)

Emperors during the height Emperors during the height of crisis AD 235-268of crisis AD 235-268

Philip the ArabianPhilip the Arabian Many others (constant Many others (constant

change)change)

Constantine AD 337-307Constantine AD 337-307

Vocab listVocab list

Pylons – 2 outside pillars of an archPylons – 2 outside pillars of an arch Vault – circular central part of an archVault – circular central part of an arch Posthumous – after deathPosthumous – after death Fasces – bundles of birch rods surrounding Fasces – bundles of birch rods surrounding

an axean axe Keystone Keystone (highlight in your glossary)(highlight in your glossary) Spandrels Spandrels (highlight in your glossary)(highlight in your glossary) Apotheosis – becoming a godApotheosis – becoming a god

Workbooks, p.45Workbooks, p.45

Location: The Via Sacra (Sacred Way) in RomeThe Via Sacra (Sacred Way) in Rome Architectural type: ArchArch Inscription: The senate and people of Rome, To The senate and people of Rome, To

divine Titus Vespasian Augustus, Son of Divine divine Titus Vespasian Augustus, Son of Divine VespasianVespasian

Purpose: To celebrate Titus’ defeat of the Jews and To celebrate Titus’ defeat of the Jews and destruction of Jerusalem and its temple in AD 7odestruction of Jerusalem and its temple in AD 7o

Dates of Construction: : Constructed and dedicated as Constructed and dedicated as a posthumous (after death) monument in AD81, by a posthumous (after death) monument in AD81, by Titus brother and successor DomitianTitus brother and successor Domitian

Construction materials: pentallic marblepentallic marble Dimensions:15m15m high & 12m widehigh & 12m wide

DiagraDiagram...m... West

North

East

South

vault

pylonpylon

attic

entablature

inscription

Engagedcomposite columns

Exterior columnsAre unfluted

Interior columns are fluted

Relief of Apotheosis (Titus on an eagle)

“It is elegant in its simplicity. A single gateway stands crowned byAn entablature and attic storey.”

The architrave is supported by aProjecting key stone, which has beenCarved into a scroll. The scroll is decorated on One side of the monument with the figureOf Roma & on the other with the figure of Fortuna.

The spandrels are decorated in a reliefof the winged Goddess of Victory flying through the air, carryingA battle trophy. (A common motifIn Roman art)

The Frieze is carved in high relief, & depicts a procession of figuresLeading sacrificial animals (possiblyRepresents the Arch’s inaugurationCeremony)

Apotheosis of Titus

This scene is placed on the centre of the Coffered vault, over the main passage. Depicts Titus being carried heavenward on The back of a large eagle.

The triumph is The triumph is recorded on a pair recorded on a pair of relief panels that of relief panels that decorate the decorate the interior walls of the interior walls of the arch. arch.

Each is a Each is a continuous continuous narrative which narrative which represents a represents a section of the section of the events from the events from the triumphal parade of triumphal parade of AD71AD71

The South panel depicts Rome’s triumphant soldiers shouldering the spoils/sacred objects taken from the Temple of Jerusalem after the war.

The upper portion of the panel has placards being The upper portion of the panel has placards being paraded by soldiers (a common feature of all triumphal paraded by soldiers (a common feature of all triumphal processions) they were inscribed with highlights of the campaignprocessions) they were inscribed with highlights of the campaign

Menorah (Jewish 7 branched candle-stick)7 branched candle-stick)Placards held by soldiers

Arc of the Covenant

Trumpets of Jericho

Triumphal arch ‘Porta

Triumphalis’

2m high

Knees bent the weightof the plunder,Emphasising the amount& therefore the victory

The heads bob upIrregularly showingBusiness, liveliness andDepth

The south panelThe south panel

The soldiers wear only tunics and laurel wreaths The soldiers wear only tunics and laurel wreaths because it was tradition that before entering because it was tradition that before entering Rome, they had to leave their weapons outside Rome, they had to leave their weapons outside the city walls.the city walls.

The stretches held above the soldier’s heads, The stretches held above the soldier’s heads, are raised above eye level, they are framed are raised above eye level, they are framed against an empty background and the viewer’s against an empty background and the viewer’s eye is drawn straight to them.eye is drawn straight to them.

The most prominent feature of this relief is the The most prominent feature of this relief is the men holding the menorah, so much attention to men holding the menorah, so much attention to detail, that they use pillows on their shoulders detail, that they use pillows on their shoulders to help ease the burdento help ease the burden

innovative treatment of perspective & illusion of depth and space.

The figures standing closest to the viewer are carved in High relief, those at the back lie very flat.

The marching soldiers appear to come from the left hand side of the panel, arc out towards the viewer & turn to enter the gateway

Emperor Titus depicted at rear of parade as Emperor Titus depicted at rear of parade as Triumphator Triumphator (Triumphant general). (Triumphant general).

He is led through the city by personifications of the virtues He is led through the city by personifications of the virtues most admired by Romans.most admired by Romans.

The north panelThe north panel

Quadriga (4 horse chariot)Lead by Roma (warlikePersonification of Rome)

The winged goddess Victory crownsTitus with a Laurel Wreath

Titus

Figures either side of the chariotGenius Populi Romani (GuardianSpirit of Roman people) shownNude to the waist &Genius Senatus (Guardian ofSpirit of the Senate) in toga

Background filled withFasces, Traditionally carried byemperor’s attendants calledLictors

South panelSouth panel Depiction of Titus travelling Through mix of

human & semi Divine figures was innovative for its time

It is as if the procession is swinging around a corner, the relief is carved deeper in the centre to create the image of the horses coming toward the viewer

Head of Titus is missing, would have been a portrait carved separately & added to relief.

To emphasise him, he is placed high above the ground against empty background – similar to highlighting spoils from the Jerusalem

*Interesting facts Its current appearance is the result of much Its current appearance is the result of much

restoration during the 19restoration during the 19thth century. century.

The arch had once been incorporated into a medieval The arch had once been incorporated into a medieval fortress as part of its defences and a chamber was fortress as part of its defences and a chamber was built into the vault of the arch – the large holes that built into the vault of the arch – the large holes that held its support beams are still in the reliefs of the held its support beams are still in the reliefs of the central passagecentral passage

Inscription was once in bronze, the latin phrase Inscription was once in bronze, the latin phrase “Senatus Populusque Romanus” or ‘SPQR’ translates “Senatus Populusque Romanus” or ‘SPQR’ translates to ‘the senate and people of Rome’, is a common to ‘the senate and people of Rome’, is a common feature of Roman monuments.feature of Roman monuments.

Top of the arch once had a bronze statue of a Top of the arch once had a bronze statue of a quadriga on itquadriga on it