Posted by Shazarch on 18 Mar 2021
Arch of Tiberius
16 CE, Roman Forum
Archaeological site
The Arch of Tiberius was a triumphal arch situated in the Roman Forum, specifically located on the Vicus Iugarius just beyond the intersection with the Via Sacra and adjacent to the Temple of Saturn. Erected in 16 CE by the Roman Emperor Tiberius, the arch was constructed to commemorate the victorious campaigns of his adoptive son Germanicus, particularly the recovery of the legionary eagles lost by Varus. The single-arched monument became a testament to military success and imperial propaganda. Tacitus, in his 'Annales' (Book II, 41), mentions the arch, noting its significance in celebrating the achievements under Germanicus, guided by the auspices of Tiberius. The Arch of Tiberius was one of three arches that framed the forum square, with the fourth and final arch, dedicated to Septimius Severus, completing the set in 203 CE. A depiction of the Arch of Tiberius is believed to be present on the relief of the 'Oratio' on the Arch of Constantine, set against the backdrop of the nearby Rostra. Today, only the foundations of the Arch of Tiberius remain, located to the left of the Schola Xantha. These were uncovered during the excavations of 1900, along with various architectural fragments found in earlier nineteenth-century digs.