Arch of Constantine

The Triumphal Arch of Constantine, erected in 315 C.E., commemorates Roman Emperor Constantine’s I the Great Victory over the Roman tyrant Maxentius at the battle of Milvian Bridge in Rome.

The Arch is located along the Via Triumphalis, between the Colosseum, the Temple of Venus, and the Roma and Roman Forum. It is the most modern Roman triumphal Arch and the last monument of Imperial Rome.

Things to Know before Visit the Arch of Constantine in Rome

Exciting Facts and Numbers

Here are five compelling and unusual facts about the Arch of Constantine:

1. If built today, a similar marble triumphal arch—with expert craftsmanship, materials, architects, sculptors, and labor—would cost approximately $25 million USD. This price factors in modern marble prices, skilled artists’ fees, and detailed sculptural work.
2. The Arch of Constantine is a patchwork monument, uniquely combining sculptural decorations taken from monuments built for three other emperors—Trajan, Hadrian, and Marcus Aurelius. This artistic recycling spans nearly two centuries of imperial Roman history.
3. Remarkably, the massive Latin inscriptions dedicated to Constantine contain letters measuring up to 60 centimeters (almost 2 feet) tall, making them clearly visible from afar and underscoring the monument’s grandeur.
4. Having survived earthquakes, wars, and urban expansion without major structural collapse, the Arch of Constantine has impressively stood intact for more than 1,700 years since its dedication in 315 CE.
5. Each year, tourists and locals take over one million photographs of the Arch of Constantine, making it one of Rome’s top ten most Instagrammed ancient landmarks—an enduring symbol of the Eternal City.
6. The arch incorporates eight Corinthian columns originally taken from a lost Flavian monument built nearly 200 years earlier. Each column is topped by statues depicting Dacian prisoners, adding symbolic depth and historical context to Constantine’s triumph.

The Arch of Constantine is one of the 30 main attractions in Rome.

History

The Arch was erected on 25^th July 315 C.E. on the 10^th anniversary of Constantine’s reign. It is 21 meters high and almost 26 meters wide. Moreover, the monument is made from grey and white Proconnesian marble. The Arch was a part of a fortress under the Frangipane in the Middle Ages before being renovated in the 15^th century C.E. Also, in 1597 C.E., Pope Clement VIII removed one of the yellow marble columns. Instead, he used it in a doorway of the St John Lateran church, replacing it with a purple column.

Constantine believed that his Victory over Maxentius was acquired with the help of the Christian God. Consequently, during the reign of the emperor, the persecution of Christians ended, and Christianity became the official religion in the Roman Empire. Moreover, Constantine moved the empire’s capital from Rome to Constantinople (now Istanbul) in 325A.DD.

Inscription

The block above the monument’s arches presents sculpted panels and an inscription in Latin.

It reads:

IMP CAES FL CONSTANTINO MAXIMO
P F AUGUSTO SPQR
QUOD INSTINCTU DIVINITATIS MENTIS
MAGNITUDINE CUM EXERCITU SUO
TAM DE TYRANNO QUAM DE OMNI EIUS
FACTIONE UNO TEMPORE IUSTIS
REM PUBLICAM ULTUS EST ARMIS
ARCUM TRIUMPHIS INSIGNEM DICAVIT

Translation

To the emperor Flavius Constantine the Great
pious and fortunate, the Senate and People of Rome
because by divine inspiration and his own greatness of spirit
with his army
on both the tyrant and all his
faction at once in rightful
the battle he avenged the State
dedicated this Arch as a mark of triumph.
(Claridge, 308)

Sculpture

The Arch is large, and many parts of it were recycled from the 1^st and 2^nd centuries. Monuments such as the Luna marble panels were taken from the Arch of Marcus Aurelius. There are eight marble panels on each façade, showing architectural elements where the emperor is at war or conducting his civil duties.

Eight white Luna medallions on the facades are from the lost monument in honor of Hadrian.

The medallions depict scenes of the lion and bear hunt or of sacrificial ceremonies in honor of Hercules, Diana and Silvanus, and Apollo.

Moreover, the two inner central arch reliefs and the upper panel on each side of the monument are connected to the Great Trajanic Frieze, which was eliminated from the Basilica Ulpia in Trajan’s Forum.

There are two frieze panels, where the first one depicts Trajan or Domitian on campaign riding a horse and charging barbarians. However, the depiction was re-worked to make it look more like Constantine. The second panel has an architecture drawing of Constantine crowned by Victory with two females representing honor and virtue.

The eight Corinthian columns are from the Flavian monument of the 1^st century, which was lost. So you can see the Dacian prisoners standing above each of them.

There is an original sculpture that represents river gods above the two smaller arches and two victories over the larger arch on both facades.

Moreover, the monument contains a sculpture depicting the Sun and Moon on each short side. Additionally, below these, you can see a frieze depicting the entry into Rome from the east side and departure from Milan from the west.

Overall, the Arch of Constantine is one of the best-preserved monuments from ancient Rome. It has a central location and serves as one of the most photographed sites nowadays.

Author: Kate Zusmann

I have lived in the Eternal City for the past 12 years. They say every angle of Rome has its history, and I'm here to tell you about the most intriguing historical facts and city legends. :)

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