The Arch of Constantine, like many Roman monuments and statues, was covered in colourful ornamentation. However, this is not the case.Īrch of Constantine Detail (315 BCE) Michael Gaylard from Horsham, UK, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons The modern appearance of this triumphal arch is clean, white marble, and there tends to be a view that these ancient Roman monuments were created in white because the Romans understood the beauty and majesty of this clear and plain design. The Arch of Constantine is constructed of face-bricked concrete that has been covered in marble, as is quite traditional for Roman monuments of this description. The Arch of Constantine is a glorious monument to a ruler with a grandiose title, but what is the Arch of Constantine made of? This means that the Arch of Constantine is still visible today as a reminder of Constantine the Great, a man perhaps best known in the modern era for his integral role in early Christianity and for being the founder of Constantinople (or modern-day Istanbul). This triumphal arch was built between the Colosseum and Palatine Hill. This is the answer to that question: why was the Arch of Constantine built? Constantine seized more power than ever before and you do not want to be the Senate that refused him, do you? This is why the Arch of Constantine was built spanning the breadth of the Via Triumphalis, the road that was taken by Roman leaders whenever they returned after a victory. This victory helped Constantine eventually become the singular ruler of Rome. The battle came out in favour of Constantine, who was now likely well on his way to earning his moniker as Constantine the Great. He didn’t much appreciate that Emperor Maxentius held similarly large swaths of land, so on 28 October 312 CE, Constantine and Maxentius fought at the Battle of Milvian Bridge.Īrch of Constantine from the Coliseum (circa 1820) by Antonio Marinoni Antonio Marinoni, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Before this great victory, Rome was divided between four rulers, two senior and two junior, and Constantine was one of those senior Emperors in this four-person leadership system known as the Tetrarchy. The Arch of Constantine was built because it certainly was a monument to ten years of Constantine’s rule, and the decennalia games happened to be taking place too, but more importantly, this monument was made to commemorate a great victory that led to the destruction of the Tetrarchy. If you’ve ever wondered when the Arch of Constantine was built, look no further, but why was the Arch of Constantine built? Was it just because of the ten years of Constantine’s rule or was it something bigger than that? The Arch of Titus and the Arch of Septimius are the only other two similar arches in Rome because The Arch of Constantine is one of only three surviving triumphal arches found there. This was probably a great coincidence that the Roman Senate took advantage of to appease Constantine before he seized complete power over Rome. Furthermore, that year happened to be the year of the decennalia festivities and games that were hosted as a massive celebration every ten years. This means that the Arch of Constantine was constructed, as the name might suggest, during the time of Constantine the Great, and it was built to commemorate his tenth year in power. The Arch of Constantine was started in 312 but the construction of this monument was only completed in 315. You can keep reading for some more Arch of Constantine facts.Īrch of Constantine Ancient Rome Historic Center, Rome, Italy (315 BCE) Gary Todd from Xinzheng, China, PDM-owner, via Wikimedia Commons Let’s take a closer look at when this monument was built, why it was built, what it was made of, who built it, and, lastly, a look at the architecture itself. The Arch of Constantine was built using existing monuments and later became part of the Frangipane fortress and fell into some level of disrepair before it was restored. The Arch of Constantine is a 21 m tall monument dedicated to Emperor Constantine the Great that is located along the Via Triumphalis, which was the road in Ancient Rome that was used for celebratory processions after a great victory. 3.4 What About the Arch of Constantine Architecture?Ī Look at the Arch of Constantine Architect.3.2 What Is the Arch of Constantine Made Of?.3.1 Why Was the Arch of Constantine Built?.

1.5 The Arch of Constantine Architecture.

1.3 What Is the Arch of Constantine Made Of?.

1.2 Why Was the Arch of Constantine Built?.

1.1 When Was the Arch of Constantine Built?.

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