The soldiers in the relief parade the spoils taken from the Temple of Jerusalem, prior to Titus’s destruction of it the seven-branched Menorah appears at the centre of the scene, but other sacred objects are also recognisable, including the golden Table of Shewbread, and the silver trumpets, which are carried in on wooden stretchers, the fercula, borne by the soldiers (Östenberg, Staging the World, p. 111). Just as they did during the triumph of 71 CE, Titus’s soldiers approach this gate as part of the route from the Campus Martius to the Capitoline Hill, whose presence through the archway up ahead can just be glimpsed. The interior southern panel of the fornix appears to show the beginning of the triumphal procession to the right side is the Triumphal Gate, which is indicated by a vertical column and the beginning of an arch, upon which two chariot groups carrying the two triumphators can just be seen (Claridge, Rome, p. 121). The sculptures of the outer faces of the two great piers were lost when the triumphal arch of Titus was incorporated into medieval defensive walls. In the spandrels there are winged Victories. The attic of the arch was originally crowned by more statuary, perhaps a gilded quadriga, or chariot, carrying the emperor, which is now lost. The main reliefs consist of an exterior frieze that decorates the attic, various reliefs which decorated the outer western and eastern facades of the arch, two panels set within the archway, on the southern and northern sides, with a further relief panel in the top of the interior of the arch. The surviving inscription is set on the western attic, but there may have been a second text also on the eastern side, which has been replaced by an inscription recording the papal restoration of the arch. The structure, which follows the scheme of the traditional Roman triumphal arch, is characterised by the presence of two great piers joined by an archway, which is crowned with a flat entablature, or attic. This public dedication was a clever way to cement the Flavian Dynasty – relative newcomers to Roman politics – into the anals of history.The Arch of Titus is located on the Velia, namely on the eastern edge of the Roman forum, on the Via Sacra.

The Arch of Titus bears an inscription in its upper portion: ‘The Senate and People of Rome / To the Deified Titus Vespasian Augustus / Son of the Deified Vespasian’. The arch was strategically placed at the summit of the Via Sacra where the triumphal procession entered the forum, and in full view of the Colosseum – the monument constructed by the Flavians with the gold and silver brought back from the war. The arch commemorating the victory was erected later by Domitian in 81 AD, he ordered the construction of a triumphal arch to commemorate the victory of his brother and father. This parade and the spoils can be seen on the reliefs on the inside of the Arch of Titus. The celebratory triumph held on their return to Rome was like nothing Rome had seen – resplendent with spoils from Judea including furniture and trappings from the Temple of Herod – the most sacred temple of the Jews, destroyed by Titus’ troops. Vespasian and Titus were sent to Judea by Nero where they succeeded in quelling a revolt in 70 AD. Titus was the son of the Roman emperor Vespasian and they, along with Titus’ brother Domitian, made up the Flavian Dynasty. The prisoners of war followed in chains, trudged through the forum for all to see, they would soon be on sale at the slave market. A long train of carriages snaked through the forum displaying the spoils of war – gold, silver and precious objects – statues as well as animals and sometimes even trees taken from foreign lands. These parades could last for days with gifts, money and food being given out to the crowd. The triumphal parade was a public affair, the whole city gathered to see the victorious emperor and his spoils enter the city. He rode in a four-horse chariot with the goddess victory (a slave dressed with wings) through the streets of Rome in a procession with his army (unarmed), captives, and the spoils of his war.

On the day of his triumph, the general or emperor wore a crown of laurel and a purple, gold-embroidered triumphal toga picta (painted toga) that identified him as near-divine or near-kingly, he was even known to paint his face red with cinnabar (mineral pigment) to resemble Jupiter.

Arch of titus dimensions