History: Constantine's Arch

Constantine’s Arch - Built in 312-315 AD - Most famous triumphal arch, best preserved - 82 ft tall - 3 fornices -- Main fornix is 34.5 ft tall and 21 ft wide - Most balanced and consistent triumphant arch, harmonious and proportional, very detailed - There are collections of sculptures taken off of other arches - Constantine wanted his arch to reflect his favorite emperors -- Trajan Series --- 2 upper panels on the flanks and two inside the main fornix --- Depict scenes of the war with Dacia -- Hadrian Tondi --- 8 medallions on top of the smaller fornices --- 8 ft wide --- Depict scenes of hunting and sacrificing because Hadrian like to hunt -- Marcus Aurelius Series --- Higher up at the top --- 8 reliefs way above the two smaller fornices --- 10 ft high --- Depict the war on the Danube River -- Constantine Series --- Right above the smaller fornices, continue on the flanks --- 6 long, narrow reliefs --- 3 ft high, 25 ft long --- Tell the story of his battle of Maxentius at Ponte Milvio -- There are also reliefs of winged victory and a fluvial god where the small fornices arch up to the keystone. -- On the flanks there are Tondi of the gods of the sun and moon