The Arch of Septimius Severus on the Forum Romanum. Source of image: egraphicdesign.com/ Roma/pages/DSCF0042.html

This monumental arch, coated with slabs of Pentelic marble, standing on the north-eastern corner of the Forum Romanum, stands tall in its environment because of a high base with stairs. This arch has three entrances and its measurements are: height 20,88 m, depth 11,20 m and width 23,27 m.

The erection purpose of this arch was the celebration of the victories in war over the Partians and their allies in Mesopotamia and Syria (195-199 CE) by the emperor Septimius Severus (period of reign: 193-211 CE) and his sons Caracalla and Geta.

The Arch of Septimius Severus, reconstruction and ancient coin. Source of images: http://wings.buffalo.edu/AandL/Maecenas/rome/arch_septimius/ac741611.html and http://www.wildwinds.com/coins/sear5/s6271.html

The inscription on the attica dates the arch in the years 202-203 CE:

IMP CAES LVCIO SEPTIMIO M FIL SEVERO PIO PERTINACI AVG

PATRI PATRIAE PARTHICO ARABICO ET

PARTHICO ADIABENICO PONTIFIC MAXIMO TRIBVNIC POTEST XI

IMP XI COS III PROCOS ET

IMP CAES M AVRELIO L FIL ANTONINO AVG PIO FELICI

TRIBVNIC POTEST VI COS PROCOS P P

OPTIMIS FORTISSIMISQUE PRINCIPIBVS

OB REM PVBLICAM RESTITVTAM IMPREIVMQUE POPVLI ROMANI PROPAGATVM

INSIGNIBVS VIRTVTIBVS EORVM DOMI FORISQVE S P Q R

The inscription on the Arch of Septimius Severus. Source of image: http://www2.siba.fi/~kkoskim/rooma/pages/FSEPTIMI.HTM

According to the images of the arch on Roman coins, high on top of the arch statues of the emperor and his sons were placed in a chariot with six horses, flanked to the left and the right by other statues on horseback.

To the sides above the main entrance victories are hanging in the corners and there are personifications of the four seasons.

Victories on the main entrance of the arch. Source of image: http://www.q12.org/novey/europe2003.html

On the consoles, just above the center part of the entrance, there is a Mars figure on both sides. To the sides above the other entrances, eastern river gods are leaning back. Just above the other entrances, there is a small frieze going round, imaging the triumhus, the triumphal procession of the emperor. On the bases of the columns with Ionic-Corinthian capitals, protruding from the arch on both sides (4 on each side), a Roman soldier is taking away a prisoner of war.

Prisoners of war are being lead away on the bases of the protruding columns of the arch. Source of image: http://historylink102.com/italy/arches-1.htm

Most important are the four large panels above the other entrances. They tell the story of a series of highlights and dramatic moments in the Partian War. These panels are read from the left on the Forum side to the right on the hind side (facing the Tabularium). Each panorama is dealing with a Mesopotamian city and is divided in a number of zones, which have to be read from the bottom to the top.

One of the large panels with scene from the Parthian War. Source of image: http://www.hp.uab.edu/image_archive/ule/uler.html

This way, the four panels have these four subsequent themes:

I. departure, on the battle field, 'adlocutio' (speech of the commander), liberation of the city of Nibisis.

II. Attack on the city of Edessa, submission, 'adlocutio' and court martial.

III. Attack on the city of Seleucia, the Parthians flee, seleucia is taken.

IV. Attack on the city of Ctesiphon, sack of the city, last 'adlocutio'.

Stylistically, these panels are akin to the reliefs on the column of Marcus Aurelius. An evidence of this is the fact that the individual person in the scenes is replaced by groups. The figures within these groups are taking the shape of an undefined mass. Also, the emperor is always depicted in a frontal way. The illusion of 'moving groups', because of the sort of relief and the lighting, is also visible. The cities are depicted in flight perspective.

Bibliography:

Coarelli, F., Guida archeologica di Roma, Milano, 1994, 105-106.