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Photo: Jebulon, CC0 · Wikimedia Commons
Archaeological site
Arch of Titus
Triumphal arch in Rome (constructed c. 81 AD)
- Within the UNESCO World Heritage Site “Historic Centre of Rome, the Properties of the Holy See in that City Enjoying Extraterritorial Rights and San Paolo Fuori le Mura”
At a glance
- Type
- Archaeological site
- Period
- Antiquity, 82
- Coordinates
- 41°53′27″ N, 12°29′19″ E
History and description
The Arch of Titus (Italian: Arco di Tito; Latin: Arcus Titī) is a 1st-century AD honorific arch, located on the Via Sacra, Rome, just to the south-east of the Roman Forum. It was constructed in c. 81 AD by Emperor Domitian shortly after the death of his older brother Titus to commemorate Titus's official deification or consecratio and the victory of Titus together with their father, Vespasian, over the Jewish rebellion in Judaea.
The arch contains panels depicting the triumphal procession celebrated in 71 AD after the Roman victory culminating in the fall of Jerusalem, and provides one of the few contemporary depictions of artifacts from Herod's Temple. Although the panels are not explicitly stated as illustrating this event, they closely parallel the narrative of the Roman procession described a decade prior in Josephus's The Jewish War.
It became a symbol of the Jewish diaspora, and the menorah depicted on the arch served as the model for the menorah used as the emblem of the State of Israel.
The arch has provided the general model for many triumphal arches erected since the 16th century. It is the inspiration for the Arc de Triomphe in Paris.
History
Based on the style of sculptural details, Domitian's favored architect Rabirius, sometimes credited with the Colosseum, may have executed the arch. Without contemporary documentation, however, attributions of Roman buildings based on style are considered shaky. The brother and successor of Titus built the arch despite being described as hateful towards Titus by Cassius Dio.
The medieval Latin travel guide Mirabilia Urbis Romae noted the monument, writing: "the arch of the Seven Lamps of Titus and Vespasian; [where Moses' candlestick is having seven branches, with the Ark, at the foot of the Cartulary Tower"].
During the Middle Ages, the Frangipani family added a second story to the vault, converting it into a fortified tower; beam holes from the construction remain in the panels. A chamber was built in the upper half, and the roadway was lowered to expose the travertine foundations.
Pope Paul IV (papacy 1555–9), having established the Roman Ghetto in the bull Cum nimis absurdum, made the arch the place of a yearly oath of submission, forcing Jewish elders to kiss the feet of each newly crowned pope.
In 1716, Adriaan Reland published his De spoliis templi Hierosolymitani in arcu Titiano Romae conspicuis, in English: "The spoils of the temple of Jerusalem visible on the Arch of Titus at Rome".
It was one of the first buildings to undergo a modern restoration, starting with Raffaele Stern in 1817 and continued by Valadier under Pius VII in 1821, with new capitals and with travertine masonry, distinguishable from the original marble. The restoration was a model for the country side of Porta Pia.
At an unknown date, a local ban on Jews walking under the arch was placed on the monument by Rome's Chief Rabbinate; this was rescinded on the foundation of the State of Israel in 1947, and at a Hanukkah event in 1997 the change was made public. The arch was never mentioned in Rabbinic literature.
Description
The arch is large, with both fluted and unfluted columns, the latter resulting from 19th-century restoration.
The Arch of Titus measures: 15.4 meters (50 ft) in height, 13.5 meters (44 ft) in width, 4.75 meters (15.5 ft) in depth. The inner archway is 8.3 meters (27 ft) in height, and 5.36 meters (17.5 ft) in width.
The spandrels on the upper left and right of the arch depict personifications of victory as winged women. Between the spandrels is the keystone, on which there stands a female on the east side and a male on the west side.
The soffit of the axial archway is deeply coffered with a relief of the apotheosis of Titus at the center. The sculptural program also includes two panel reliefs lining the passageway within the arch. Both commemorate the joint triumph celebrated by Titus and his father Vespasian in mid-71.
The south inner panel depicts the spoils taken from the Temple in Jerusalem. The golden candelabrum or Menorah is the main focus and is carved in deep relief. Other sacred objects being carried in the triumphal procession are the Gold Trumpets, the fire pans for removing the ashes from the altar, and the Table of Showbread.
These spoils were likely originally colored gold, with a blue background. In 2012 the Arch of Titus Digital Restoration Project discovered remains of yellow ochre paint on the menorah relief.
The north inner panel depicts Titus as triumphator attended by various genii and lictors, who carry fasces. A helmeted Amazonian, Valour, leads the quadriga, a four-horse chariot carrying Titus. Winged Victory crowns him with a laurel wreath. The juxtaposition is significant in that it is one of the first examples of divinities and humans being present in one scene together. This contrasts with the panels of the Ara Pacis, where humans and divinities are separated. …
Text from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0. Full article: «Arch of Titus».
Timeline
- 82 ADBuilt
Events and people from Wikidata (CC0).
Photos
Getting there
Roma TerminiTrain, nearest
1.6 km as the crow flies
Arch of Titus
Aeroporto di Roma-Ciampino13.3 km
Distances are as the crow flies, not walking or driving.
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Nearby
See on the mapMore archaeological sites in Lazio
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Frequently asked questions
Where is Arch of Titus?
Arch of Titus is in Rome, in the province of Roma (Lazio), Italy. GPS coordinates: 41.89072, 12.48859.
How old is Arch of Titus?
Wikidata dates it to 82.
What else is there to see near Arch of Titus?
Nearby you’ll find: Archaeological park of Colosseum (0 m away), Antiquarium forense (0 m away), Palatine Museum (100 m away).
Sources and licences
Text. Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Data. Wikidata (CC0); opening hours and contacts OpenStreetMap (ODbL).
Photos. Wikimedia Commons, author and licence on every image.
Credits for the 9 photos
- Arch Titus, Forum Romanum, Rome, Italy — Jebulon, CC0
- 20160425 056 Roma - Foro Romano - Arco di Tito - Arch of Titus (26700570516) — Sjaak Kempe from Groningen, The Netherlands, CC BY 2.0
- 1982-10-02 Arch of Titus — Dave Cooper, CC BY-SA 4.0
- 2002 Rome Arch of Titus — Nicholas Hartmann, CC BY-SA 4.0
- 2016 Arco di Tito — Jordiferrer, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Arch of Titus - Rome, Italy - DSC01437 — Daderot, Public domain
- Arch of Titus (31853373388) — Bradley Weber, CC BY 2.0
- Arch of Titus (Roma) — ThePhotografer, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Arch of Titus and relief — A. Hunter Wright, CC BY-SA 3.0
Updated 28 October 2026. All sources and licences