View Page: The Manifest Glory of Rome: The Roman Triumph

	The Manifest Glory of Rome: The Roman Triumph
	written by daw84 / 09.04.2005

Section Three

3 of 7

Function

http://www.photo.net/ photo/pcd0800/arch- of-titus-complete-23

Fig. 10

View Through the Arch of Titus

http://web.mit.edu/~mip/ www/photos/rome/

Fig. 11

Arch of Titus at the top of the Via Sacra

http://www.barca.fsnet.co.uk/ rome-triumph.htm

Fig. 12

Map of Roman Triumph Route

http://www.ebibleteacher.com/ imagehtml/ntplaces1.html

Fig. 13

The Spoils of War

The function of the arch to the viewer can first be seen in the orientation of the friezes. The directed orientation shows the procession as it would have approached the completed arch, and, although the arch was completed long after the triumph took place, on the southern frieze, the prisoners of war are depicted on the verge of passing through the arch itself. This shows that the arch served as a marker of the pathway along which the triumph traveled, correlating with the idea of the Christians using churches in Rome to mark certain significant sites. The shape of the arch forms an entranceway showing that it marks not a specific location, but rather a route.

As the triumph itself was the closest thing to the true ethos of the Romans, triumphal arches served as constant reminders of past glory and present security and domination. In ancient times, mounted on top of the arch would have been a large statue made of bronze or another precious metal. An additional figure atop this already daunting monument resting at the peak of the Via Sacra would have made its presence even more well-known, serving as a constant reminder of the overshadowing presence and power of the Roman Empire.

Furthermore, the interior frieze depicting the presentation of the Jews’ most holy articles, intended to be viewed strictly by priests, to the entire population of Rome utterly crushed and humiliated the Jewish people. Even today, Jews often refuse to pass under the arch because of the shame which the triumph must have brought them. In a triumph, the most valuable items captured were those representing the gods of the opposition, as capture of these meant that the enemy had been completely defeated. In this way, the triumphal arches were lasting propaganda displaying the glory of Rome, and also warning all who passed through them of the consequences of failure to abide by the laws of the empire.

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