Arch of Titus
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The Arch of Titus is an arch with a single bay, located on the Summa Sacra Via to the west of the Forum in Rome. It was constructed in 81 CE, following the death of the emperor Titus (born 41, emperor 79--81). The arch commemorates Titus' capture and sack of Jerusalem in 70 CE, which effectively terminated the Jewish War which had begun in 66 (the Romans did not achieve complete victory until the fall of Masada in 72 CE). The sculptural program of the arch includes two panel reliefs that line the passageway. Both commemorate the joint triumph celebrated by Titus and his father Vespasian in the summer of 71 CE. One of the panels depicts the spoils taken from the Temple, while the other depicts Titus as triumphator attended by various genii and lictors. The soffitt of the arch depicts the apotheosis of Titus. The attic of the arch was originally crowned by more statuary, perhaps of a quadriga pulled by elephants. 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 on basis of style are considered shaky.
