Arch of Constantine

When Constantine killed Maxentius in the battle of the Milvian Bridge, in 312 AD, he marched triumphantly into Rome. After the victory parade was over, Constantine decided he wanted people to remember this victory, and he put up a large stone triumphal arch, like the Arch of Titus and the Arch of Septimius Severus, or the columns of Trajan and Marcus Aurelius, to remind people that he had won this important battle.

The Arch of Constantine, though, is a little different from the earlier arches, because Constantine was reminding people about a civil war, not a war against foreign enemies. Titus had conquered the Jewish revolt, and Septimius Severus had conquered the Germans, but Constantine had conquered another Roman emperor.

On top of the arch, Constantine had an inscription carved that reminded people of his victory. It's carefully phrased, so that while it refers to God, it doesn't specify which god - a Roman god like Jupiter, or the Christian God? In 312 AD, Constantine was already a Christian, but he wasn't ready to put it on a public monument yet.

Around the lower part of the arch, just over the side archways, Constantine put pictures of the battle itself. You can see the walls of Rome on the right.

Next, of course, comes the battle for the Milvian Bridge, with soldiers drowning in the water underneath.

(Go on to page two)

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