Last modified: December 20, 2018

The ancient building, installed near the Colosseum, is one of the most recognizable monuments of the Eternal City. The Arch of Constantine, which has survived to this day, is one of the most majestic monuments of Ancient Rome, located on the Street of Triumphs (Via dei Trionfi), which in ancient times was intended for solemn processions held in honor of the emperor.

The arch was erected in honor of the emperor Constantine, who became for the Roman people "the liberator and messenger of peace" as a gratitude for his merits. According to the conclusions of historians, Constantine the Great was indeed one of the best rulers of Rome and a commander capable of defending the empire.

History of the ancient monument

The triumphal arch was erected by decision of the Senate in memory of the victory of Constantine over the emperor Maxentius in the battle that took place on October 28, 312 AD. at the Milvio bridge. The official opening of the monument took place in 315. Studies have shown that the building was built in the first half of the 2nd century, during the reign of Emperor Hadrian (117-138gg), and it, in all likelihood, was originally intended for a completely different historical character, whose name was lost in the annals of history. At the beginning of the IV century. the arch was again repaired, decorated with new bas-reliefs and used as the basis for a new monument of glory.

It is interesting!

The Arch of Constantine is the only monument in Rome that commemorates the victory not over an external enemy, but in a civil internecine conflict between two emperors.
In 306 AD Marcus Aurelius Maxentius (278-312), who came to power through intrigue, was proclaimed the next emperor. The unrighteous tyrant, mired in debauchery, imposed unbearably high taxes on the population, spending the collected funds on numerous lavish festivities. In 312g. Emperor Constantine I set out with his army against the tyrant and, having defeated the main forces of Maxentius in several battles, approached Rome. The opposing sides met at Ponte Milvio and, after a brief skirmish, Maxentius's troops turned into a stampede. The narrow bridge, unable to withstand the huge mass of the crowded people, collapsed overnight, burying hundreds of bodies and Maxentius himself under its rubble. Constantine, solemnly entering Rome on October 28, carried before him the bloody head of a tyrant. The monumental arch of Constantine was erected in the Eternal City to commemorate this particular victory.

In its decorative design, the triumphal building has elements of different historical periods. They differ not only in age, but also in the quality of detail. For example, it is reliably known that bas-reliefs and decor were added to the already existing marble blocks of the old brick arch, glorifying the era of Trajan (98-117). In addition, images of the emperors Hadrian and Commodus appeared somewhat later.
Capital restoration of the Arch of Constantine was carried out several times: in the XII, in the XV-XVI centuries, and also in 1733. Then the missing fragments found were added to the building.

Description of the Arch of Constantine

The triumphal arch consists of three through spans, of which the central one is higher and wider in relation to the side ones. Its architectonics is similar to the Arc de Triomphe of Septimius Severus, located on. Both facade parts, external and internal walls of the building are decorated with bas-reliefs that represent two hundred years of the history of the empire, imprinted in marble. For the construction of the arch, marble of various origins and qualities was used, and some blocks were borrowed from older structures, as were some of its decorative elements.

In the central upper part, on both sides of the arch, there is an inscription in Latin, with the same text: “The Senate and the people of Rome dedicate this outstanding arch of triumphs to the Emperor Caesar Flavius ​​Constantine Maximus Pius Felice Augustus, who, inspired by the deity and the greatness of his spirit, along with his army dealt with the state tyranny overnight with the right weapon.

Plots of the façade tondo from the northern side of the arch

• Boar hunting
• Sacrifice to Hercules
• Sacrifice to Apollo
• lion hunting

Bas-reliefs of Marcus Aurelius on the Arch of Constantine

In the attic and on the facades of the building, there are eight bas-reliefs dating back to the reign of Marcus Aurelius. Their location is in pairs on both sides of the inscription. Rectangular marble slabs, about three meters high, contain scenes of the battles of Marcus Aurelius, which took place in the second half of the 2nd century against the Germanic peoples - the Quads and the Marcomanni.

Bas-reliefs of the southern facade of the arch

• Rex datus - presentation of the defeated ruler to Marcus Aurelius;
• Captivi - captives of the emperor;
• Adlocutio - emperor with his army;
• Lustratio is a sacrifice on the battlefield.

Two of them are located in the attic on the sides of the arch, the other two are on the inner surface of the central span. According to the conclusions of the researchers, the four marble slabs used to decorate the Arch of Constantine are only part of one large bas-relief. Some fragments of the ancient Trajan bas-relief are today stored in the Louvre, the Antiquarium of the Roman Forum, as well as in. You can see all four plates combined together in the Museum of Roman Civilization, where copies of them are presented.

If we compare the image data with the reliefs made on, it becomes obvious that they were all made by the same master or in the same workshop.

Arch of Constantine in Rome (Italy) - description, history, location. Exact address, phone number, website. Reviews of tourists, photos and videos.

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The Roman Empire existed for more than 500 years, so it is not surprising that it left behind a huge number of architectural monuments. The state was famous for its conquests and it was customary to meet the generals returning with a victory with all due honors. Thus, a special type of architectural architecture was born in Rome - triumphal arches. They were built of stone and were supposed to perpetuate the achievements and exploits of the Roman rulers. On the arches were depicted portraits of emperors and their accomplishments during their lifetime. The Arch of Constantine differs from its predecessors in that it was erected not as a result of the conquests of the empire, but timed to coincide with the victory in the civil war of Emperor Constantine over his rival Maxentius.

According to legend, on the night before the decisive battle, Constantine dreamed of a sign in the form of a cross. After this event, Christianity began to spread widely in Western Europe.

Story

The construction of the arch was carried out from 312 to 315 AD. For the construction, marble taken from earlier erected arches was used. Later, a fountain was installed nearby, which was used as a bath for gladiators. Only the remains of its foundation have survived to this day.

Over the years, the condition of the arch deteriorated, and in 1832 the architectural evidence of ancient times was finally brought into proper condition. Today the Arch of Constantine is the latest surviving triumphal arch.

Description

The building impresses with its size and grandeur. It rises to a height of 21 m, a width reaches almost 26 m, and a depth of more than 7 m. There are eight bas-reliefs taken from the monument of Marcus Aurelius on the attic. This is the main treasure of the Arch of Constantine. The first northern bas-relief depicts the return of Emperor Marcus Aurelius to Rome after the victory over the Germans and Sarmatians. On the second, Marcus Aurelius is already leaving the city, going to war. The third symbolizes generosity, the emperor is shown distributing money here. The fourth bas-relief shows the mercy of the emperor and his inner circle.

Four bas-reliefs on the south side show the ceremony of granting power to the German leader by the emperor; soldiers leading captives; Constantine's appeal to his troops before the start of a military campaign; the process of sacrifice. The bases of all eight columns are decorated with relief images of soldiers, captured Germans and the goddess of victory, Victoria.

The medallions, about 2 m in diameter, depict scenes from hunting, sacrifices, the Sun and the Moon in chariots. The relief frieze shows the military campaign of Emperor Constantine from the departure from Rome to the entry into the city as a winner.

Practical information

Address: Rome, st. via Sacra, near the Colosseum and the Palatine.

How to get there: by metro line B to Colosseo station, by buses no.

Admission is free, the arch is open to the public every day and around the clock.

Introduction

architecture arch triumphal

Before talking about the arches of Ancient Rome, France and Russia, it is worth saying what a triumphal arch is.

The triumphal arch is an architectural monument, which is a large solemnly decorated arch. Triumphal arches are arranged at the entrance to cities, at the end of streets, on bridges, on high roads in honor of the winners or in memory of important events.

There are several types of triumphal arches. They can be temporary (most often wooden) or permanent (made of stone, brick, concrete). They have one, three or five spans, covered with semi-cylindrical vaults, ending with an entablature and an attic, decorated with statues, reliefs (bas-reliefs and high reliefs) and commemorative inscriptions.

Triumphal arches originated in ancient Rome, where they were intended for the solemn entry ceremony of the winner. Of the surviving Roman triumphal arches, the most famous are the arch of Titus (81), the arch of Septimius Severus (205; both in Rome) and the arch of Trajan (the same as the Golden Gate; Benevent, 114-117); of the later ones, the most famous is the Arch of Constantine (Rome, 315). Images of triumphal arches are preserved on many medals minted in honor of the victories of Augustus, Nero and others.

Learn more about these and other arches.

Triumphal arches of ancient Rome

As a tribute to their heroes, triumphal arches were erected in Rome. The victor who won the battle glorified his heroic deeds by entering Rome through the sacred gates. The beginning of the construction of arches in Rome dates back to the 2nd century BC, but during the time of the Roman Empire, the number of arches built increased dramatically. This is due to the fact that now the arches glorified not only the winners of wars, but also the families of the Emperors.

Arch of Titus

The triumphal arch of Titus is a single-span arch located on the ancient Sacred Road (Via Sacra) southeast of the Roman Forum. Built by Domitian shortly after the death of Titus in 81 AD. in memory of the capture of Jerusalem in 70 AD. Served as a model for many triumphal arches of the New Age.

There was also another, three-span arch of Titus, erected by the Senate in 81 AD. at the eastern end of the Circus Maximus hippodrome.

The height of the monument is 15.4 m, the width is 13.5 m, the depth of the span is 4.75 m, the width of the span is 5.33 m.

The semi-columns with which the arch is decorated are the first known example of a composite order. Four winged Victorias are carved in the corners near the span of the arch. Inside the span there are two bas-reliefs: a procession with trophies captured in Jerusalem (the menorah stands out especially), and the emperor Titus driving a quadriga. The statue of Titus on the quadriga was also at the top of the arch, but has not survived to this day. On the soffit there is a bas-relief depicting the apotheosis (obtaining the divine essence) of the emperor. The dedicatory inscription on the attic reads:

SENATUS POPVLUSQVE ROMANUS DIVO TITO DIVI VESPASIANI F(ILIO) VESPASIANO AVGUSTO

"The Senate and the people of Rome (dedicate or erected this arch) to the divine Titus Vespasian Augustus, son of the divine Vespasian"

In the Middle Ages, the arch of Titus was included in the fortification, later part of it was destroyed. In 1821, under Pope Pius VII, Giuseppe Valadier restored the monument. To celebrate the elements he recreated, Valadier made them in travertine rather than marble, and also simplified their form. On the other side of the ancient dedication, Pius VII inscribed a new one:

INSIGNE RELIGIONIS ATQVE ARTIS MONVMENTUM VETUSTATE FATISCENS PIUS SEPTIMUS PONTIFEX MAX(IMUS) NOVIS OPERIBUS PRISCUM EXEMPLAR IMITANTIBUS FULCIRI SERVARIQVE IVSSIT ANNO SACRI PRINCIPATUS EIUS XXIIII

“This monument, remarkable from the standpoint of both faith and art, has fallen into disrepair over time. Pius VII, the great pontiff, ordered to strengthen and preserve it with new works based on ancient models. In the 24th year of Sacred Government."

Arch of Constantine

The triumphal arch of Constantine is a three-span arch located in Rome between the Colosseum and the Palatine on the ancient Via Triumphalis. Built in 315 and dedicated to the victory of Constantine over Maxentius at the Battle of the Milvian Bridge on October 28, 312. It is the latest surviving Roman triumphal arch, using decorative elements taken from more ancient monuments. In addition, this is the only arch in Rome built in honor of the victory not over an external enemy, but in a civil war.

The arch has a height of 21 m, a width of 25.7 m and a depth of 7.4 m. The central span is 11.5 m high and 6.5 m wide, the side ones are 7.4 m and 3.4 m each. blocks, brick attic, lined with marble.

Three explanations have been proposed why elements removed from other structures were used to decorate the arch:

1. Art of the Roman Empire of the 4th century AD. was in a state of decline, the skills needed to create a triumphal arch that would look worthy on a par with the old ones were lost. This version was the most popular some time ago, but now there is a recognition of the originality of the art of late Antiquity and its high value, and therefore this point of view is losing ground.

2. The creators of the monument were put in a narrow time frame: the start of work dates back no earlier than the end of 312, and completion - by the summer of 315.

3. The use of decorative elements from the times of Trajan, Adrian and Marcus Aurelius had a symbolic meaning: in this way Constantine was introduced into the circle of "good emperors".

On the attic, there are 8 bas-reliefs in pairs, taken from an unknown monument of the era of Marcus Aurelius (161-180), probably a triumphal monument in honor of the war with the Sarmatians (169-175). On the north side from left to right are depicted: the return of the emperor to Rome from a military campaign, the emperor leaves the city and is greeted by the personified Via Flaminia, the emperor distributes money to the people, the emperor interrogates a captured German. On the south side (also from left to right): the German leader appears before the emperor, other captives, the emperor addresses the troops, the emperor sacrifices a pig, a sheep and a bull to the gods. On the bas-relief with the distribution of money to the people, traces of the distant figure of the son of Marcus Aurelius Commodus remained.

At the top of each column are figures of Dacians, probably taken from Trajan's forum. From there, either from the barracks of the Imperial Horse Guards, there are bas-reliefs from the side walls of the attic arch and from the central span, depicting the celebration of the victory over the Dacians.

8 Corinthian columns (4 on each side) are made of Numidian yellow marble. The bases of the columns are decorated with reliefs depicting Victoria (front side), Roman soldiers and captive barbarians (side sides), Victoria is also depicted in the axils of the arch of the main span. All these reliefs date back to the time of Constantine.

Above the side arches are pairs of medallions 2 meters in diameter from the era of Hadrian. On the north side, from left to right, they are depicted: hunting for a boar, sacrificing to Apollo, hunting for a lion, sacrificing to Hercules, on the south (also from left to right): going hunting, sacrificing to Sylvanas, hunting for a bear, sacrificing to Diana. The heads of Hadrian are replaced in the hunting scenes on the north side by Constantine, in the sacrificial scenes: by Licinius and Constantius Chlorus; vice versa on the south side. On the lateral sides of the arch, on similar medallions from the time of Constantine, the deities of the Sun (on the east side) and the Moon (on the west side) are depicted on chariots.

Under Constantine, a relief frieze was also created illustrating the campaign of Constantine against Maxentius. The narrative begins on the east side with the departure from Milan, continues on the south side with scenes from the military campaign. On the western side is Constantine's entry into Rome, on the north - speeches to the people and distribution of money.

Arch of the North

The triumphal arch of Septimius Severus is a three-span arch located in the northern part of the Roman Forum between Curia and Rostra on the ancient Sacred Road (Via Sacra). Built in 205 AD. in honor of the victories of the emperor Septimius Severus and his sons Caracalla and Geta over Parthia in two military campaigns 195-203.

The height of the arch is 20.9 m, width 23.3 m, depth - 11.2 m. It is built of brick and travertine, lined with marble slabs. The height of the attic is 5.6 m, there are 4 rooms in it, to which a staircase leads. The central span of the arch is 12 m high and 7 m wide, the side spans are 7.8 m high and 3 m wide; in front of them from the side of the Forum are several steps. All three flights are connected by passages, this technique is used in many triumphal arches of the New Age.

In ancient times, there was a quadriga with statues of Septimius Severus, Caracalla and Geta on the arch. It was in this form that she was depicted on Roman coins. The quadriga has not survived to this day.

The largest decorative elements of the arch are 4 reliefs (3.92 by 4.72 m in size) depicting episodes of the war with Parthia. The narrative begins with the left relief from the Forum, where there are preparations for war, the battle with the Parthians, the emperor's appeal to the legionnaires, the battle with the enemy army led by the king. The right relief depicts the assault on Edessa, the emperor's appeal to the troops, the capitulation of the king of Osroena Abgar, the Roman military council. On the left side of the Capitol, the siege of Seleucia and the flight of the Parthians, as well as the solemn entry of the emperor into the taken city, are shown. On the right - the assault on Ctesiphon, and the emperor's speech before the troops near the walls of the captured enemy capital.

In the axils of the arch of the central span of the arch, there are reliefs of Victoria flying over the geniuses of the seasons. The side spans are decorated with personifications of rivers. Relief images of Roman soldiers and captive Parthians are placed at the bases of the columns of the composite order.

Rome is such an ancient city that there are some historical and cultural monuments at every turn. Any masterpiece is a reminder of some important event from the centuries-old annals of the Italian capital. Here you can see many arches erected in honor of the valiantvictorious generalswho returned home after a long and hard war.

general information

One of these unique architectural monuments dating back to the heyday of the Roman Empire is located near the famous Colosseum. This is the Triumphal Arch of Constantine. Rome (Italy) has always met its winners very solemnly. In honor of the victor, a special stone structure was erected, in which his feat was immortalized. The courageous warrior proudly drove into the city through the built arch, where he was greeted with great honors by the locals. However, there are exceptions. It was not at all at the time of the victorious return of this Italian emperor that the Triumphal Arch of Constantine was erected in Rome.

The history of the appearance of the monument

The only building in the Italian capital, erected after the victory of the commander in the civil war, has a completely different background. The fact is that Constantine, being a daring and ambitious young man, always dreamed of becoming an emperor. For the sake of achieving his goal, he was ready for anything. His father was a commander. Before his death, he transferred his own powers to his son, and the soldiers proclaimed Constantine emperor in advance. Rome at that time was ruled by the cruel and despotic Maxentius. The valiant Constantine, who dreamed of ascending the throne, set out with his army through the Alps against the enemy. Realizing that the forces of Maxentius significantly exceed the number of his soldiers, the future emperor prayed for a long time in the hope of receiving some kind of sign from above.

And a miracle happened: a cross appeared in the sky from the rays of the sun, and at night Christ came to him in a dream and urged him to go to war against the pagan Maxentius in order to restore Christianity in the Roman Empire. Inspired, Constantine stepped forward and defeated the army of a cruel tyrant. Already in 312, the head of Maxentius was brought to Rome so that the inhabitants could see the defeated despot. Having become the winner, Constantine sat on the long-awaited throne. And only two years later, the construction of a structure in memory of this event began.

Description

The triumphal arch of Constantine is built directly next to the Colosseum. She is perhaps the most beautiful of all three ancient counterparts that have survived to this day in modern Rome. This is a majestic monument set on the road along which all the Roman emperors solemnly entered the capital after any solemn events. A detailed inscription made on the attic reports the emperor's victory over Maxentius and that the Triumphal Arch of Constantine in Rome was built by the senate and the people.

Those who are lucky enough to see it with their own eyes are shocked by the size of the structure. Its height is 21 meters, width - 26 meters with a span depth of more than 700 centimeters.

The triumphal arch of Emperor Constantine is the latest of all three similar structures, and is considered at the same time the largest in the ancient quarter of Rome. It is also distinguished by the decorative elements used, as well as corrugated Corinthian columns.

Construction

The erection of the monument was completed in July 315. The building was commissioned by the Senate. Presumably, this building was originally crowned with a quadriga, which disappeared after the invasion of Rome by the Visigoths Alaric in 410.

During the Middle Ages, the Arc de Triomphe of Constantine, like the neighboring Colosseum, was integrated into the city's fortification system. And only at the beginning of the 19th century this majestic monument was brought to its current state.

Appearance

The triumphal arch of Constantine has four columns that adorn its pediments. On their plinths, reliefs of the goddess of victory Victoria, as well as captive barbarians, are made. In the corners there are figures of deities, personifying all seasons, as well as several river spirits. The relief, located above the small spans, shows the whole history of the emperor's military campaign, his victory and the seizure of power.

The triumphal arch of Constantine is perfectly visible from the Colosseum. On each side of the monument there are eight paired medallions dating back to the era of the Roman Emperor Hadrian. On them you can see scenes of hunting and sacrifice. The main figure on four medallions is the head of Constantine, and on the rest - his father Constantius I. The reliefs of the main span belong to the Ulpia basilica from the forum of Trajan.

The statues that crown the columns depict the Dacians, reminiscent of Trajan's campaign against them. Between them are rectangular reliefs in pairs, which show scenes from the Marcomannic War of Emperor Marcus Aurelius. The triumphal arch of Constantine ends with a dedication inscription.

Modern researchers are discussing what specifically caused the use of elements from more ancient buildings in the arch: financial difficulties during the construction of the monument and, as a result, savings, or maybe the authors of this monument thus wanted to glorify their emperor in the traditions of early historiography . Some suggest that even in the time of Hadrian, a predecessor arch stood in this place, which was later only supplemented with an attic and re-lined.

The triumphal arch of Constantine, according to scientists, is a real "museum" of ancient Roman art, located in the open air. With a closer study of this ancient monument, specialists can easily trace the stages of the stylistic development of Roman sculptural art. The triumphal arch of Constantine is the latest Roman ancient monument with magnificent reliefs of various styles, which was created shortly before the establishment of Christianity as the state religion. For architectural art, this monument is of inestimable importance. Entrance to it for tourists is free: the arch is open for visiting every day and around the clock.

Rome is considered the cradle of Western civilization. The city is full of unique monuments and buildings that characterize the culture and history of the ancient Roman Empire. A complex state transition from a republic to an empire, internal confrontations between oligarchic communities, endless military campaigns - all these reviews of the past are reflected in architectural masterpieces. Monumental buildings are an integral continuation of the policy of ancient Rome. Triumphal arches were built in honor of the merits of the emperors. The bas-reliefs and columns of buildings personified the victories and military power of the state.

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In the III century, the Roman Empire was tormented by the invasions of the ancient Germanic tribes. The internal political turmoil that prevailed at that time did not add stability to this confrontation. The state consisted of several provinces, in which the governors ruled with their troops. Each of them strove to become an emperor. In such a difficult situation, a leader appeared who managed to unite the country. It was Constantine, who later became the Great.

Constantine received an excellent military education. His father Constantius Chlorus led the Western Roman Empire. Before the young man, prospects opened up in achieving a lofty goal. The young commander successfully fought against the barbarians on the banks of the Rhine. Konstantin established himself as a brave and gifted strategist, which contributed to the acquisition of authority among the military. After the death of his father, the army proclaimed Constantine the pretender to the imperial throne. To gain full power, it was necessary to defeat the internal enemy.

In 306 Rome was ruled by the usurper Maxentius, who is a militant pagan. Any decision he made, guided by the fortune-telling of the priests on the sheep's entrails. Constantine, having enlisted the support of other co-rulers of the provinces of Rome, outlaws the tyrant Maxentius and prepares a military campaign against the capital. The commander with his army approaches the Tiber River, which was considered the only obstacle on the road to Rome.

There he is met by Maxentius with an army many times larger than the army of Constantine. In 312, a fierce battle began on the banks of the river, during which Maxentius was defeated. During a shameful flight, the usurper drowned in the waters of the Tiber. Constantine becomes sole ruler of the Western Roman Empire.

In 315, by decision of the Roman Senate, a triumphal arch was erected, symbolizing Constantine's victory over the tyrant. The architectural structure was built and decorated with fragments taken from other ancient monuments of the city. This was the special political plan of Constantine. The idea of ​​assembling decorative elements from different times into a single ensemble was to consolidate society after the civil war. Bas-reliefs and panels depicting the events and exploits of the previous rulers of Rome were taken.

It is worth highlighting one important aspect related to the spiritual values ​​of Emperor Constantine. There are no symbols of Christianity on the triumphal arch. On the contrary, the bas-reliefs of the arch describe scenes of pagan sacrificial rites. There is evidence that during the climactic battle against Maxentius, the shields of the soldiers of Constantine's army bore the monograms of the cross of Jesus.

The future emperor believed that with the Christian banner he would be lucky. During the erection of the arch, Constantine behaved like a cautious diplomat. In order to prevent a split in society, he decided to unite it later with a single religious movement - Christianity.

Description

The triumphal arch has three spans. The main part of the monument was erected from marble blocks. The building is over 20 meters high and 25 meters wide. The architectural structure is framed by eight marble columns, four on each side. Sculptural compositions are also installed here. The bases of the pilasters are decorated with images of Roman soldiers, captive barbarians and the goddess of victory, Victoria.

The second tier of the arch is represented by eight large tondos framed with red stone (porphyry). The images represent different episodes from the life of Emperor Hadrian. Each medallion individually is a scene of hunting and sacrifice to the gods. The relief compositions depict the emperor's departure for hunting with his retinue. One of his companions holds the horse by the bridle, the other leads the dog on a leash. Participants of the roundup are fighting with a bear, a wild boar and a lion.

On other medallions, hunters can be seen bringing gifts to the forest god Silvanus, as well as Apollo, Hercules and Diana. Tondo have nothing to do with military victories, but their placement on the arch symbolizes the success of the emperor in all areas of his activity.

Along the entire middle part of the arch, there is a sculptural frieze characterizing the military exploits of Constantine. This composition is rather primitive, unlike other bas-reliefs. There is no clarity and proportionality of the lines of the sculptures. These scenes are more ideological than artistic accuracy. The commander goes on a campaign with his army, besieges cities, fights victoriously with Maxentius and then enters Rome. On the other side of the arch, the emperor is depicted distributing money to the people.

Decoration of the attic

The upper level of the arch is considered a true masterpiece of ancient Roman art. Stand-alone statues at the top of the columns attract attention. These are the figures of enemies conquered by Emperor Trajan. The sculptures are dressed in long trousers, cloaks and pointed hats, which testify to the images of barbarians. After all, the Romans wore only togas. Representatives of the ancient tribes are shown in defeated poses: their heads are lowered, their hands are folded together. Bas-reliefs are installed between the statues, reflecting the attack of the Roman cavalry and the onslaught of the legion on the barbarians.

The attic of the northern part of the arch is represented by several scenes describing the political situation in the Roman state under Emperor Aurelius. The sculptures depict military actions against the Sarmatians in 169. The figures are executed with scrupulous accuracy of small details. The emperor is dressed in different attire: a short tunic, a mantle, or a marching cloak. Soldiers are depicted in armor, helmets with shields and weapons. The bas-relief describes the scene of the ruler addressing the army with an inspiring speech.

The composition that tells about the interrogation of a captured German leader is impressive. Nearby are informative sculptures demonstrating the triumphant return of Marcus Aurelius to Rome after a military campaign, the distribution of money to the people and the rite of purification through sacrifice. The central part of the attic is decorated with an inscription expressing gratitude to Constantine for the liberation of Rome from tyranny and oppression.