The Secrets of the Arch of Constantine

Emperor Constantine 306-337, first Christian Emperor	Arch of Constantine	Arch of Constantine
Rondels and Frieze	Rectangular Panels South Side Left	Rectangular Panels South Side Right
Roundel Relief	Frieze of Constantine (1)	Frieze of Constantine (2)
Frieze of Constantine (3)	Frieze of Constantine (4)	Frieze (Detail)

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Constantine's Arch has always puzzled and intrigued scholars.  Recent archeological discoveries have uncovered many of its secrets.  Constantine ordered that an existing Arch, dedicated to the Emperor Hadrian, be rebuilt in his honor.  The picture below is a sketch of the original Arch.  Little has yet appeared in English on these developments.  The picture is taken from Adriano: Architettura e progetto (Milano:  Electra, 2000).  This book gives a good summary of the latest work and a complete bibliography of the literature.

Hadrian's Arch  Constantine built his arch using a pre-existing arch that Hadrian had built in the second century.  Constantine added a story  to Hadrian's arch and placed the rectangular scuptural panels that pictured Marcus Aurelius on it.  The transformation was completely unknown until very recently.  Click on the picture for a diagram of what Constantine added to Hadrian's Arch.

Hadrian had built another Arch in Athens

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