Arch of Trajan (Timgad)

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Arch of Trajan in Timgad

The so-called Arch of Trajan in the Algerian Timgad , the ancient Thamugadi , is a three-sided Roman arch of honor and at the same time the western gate of the ancient city. Since 1982 it has been part of the Timgad archaeological site as a UNESCO World Heritage Site .

Location and description

The approximately 12 meter high arch rises at the western end of the Decumanus , the main street of the Roman colony , and opens onto the arterial road to Lambaesis , the most important city in Numidia after Timgad . However, the arch of honor is slightly shifted from the axis of the decumanus. The central main arch is 6 meters high, the two side arches 3.75 meters. A niche framed by pilasters is located above the arches of the smaller side passages . The pilasters correspond to free column positions of the Corinthian order on individual pedestals . The pillars are made of red marble, their dense fluted wreath is filled with round bars in the lower third . The entablature following the pillars is cranked with the entablature of the actual arch and is crowned by a blown round gable. The niches, which were probably used to hold statues, are each flanked by small columns made of colored marble, which stand on acanthized consoles decorated with mask representations above a cornice . Its beams are also cranked with those of the arch.

Dating

The dating of the arch has not yet been clarified. An inscription on the attic mentions the founding of the colony under Trajan in the year 100. It was therefore assumed that the arch was built in honor of Trajan. However, this is countered by the structural forms, which, because of their close proximity to the Caracalla arches of Tebessa and Djémila, suggest dating to the 2nd half of the 2nd century or the beginning of the 3rd century. Henriette Doisy therefore suspected that the existing arch of honor replaced a city gate from the Trajan era and that it was rededicated to Septimius Severus , his wife Iulia Domna , his sons Geta and Caracalla and his first wife Fulvia Plautilla in 203 , probably on the occasion of their trip to Africa in the year 202/203. This met with general approval, and the axial deviation of the arch from the decumanus and the wall guidance would also find an explanation here. However, Henner von Hesberg pointed out that there was no relevant investigation into the structural forms, in particular the structural ornamentation, for the final assessment. The fragments of the Severan inscription were found widely scattered on the excavation site.

During the reign of Septimius Severus, the arch was decorated with additional statues. Among other things, a Lucius Licinius Optatianus donated statues for Mars and Concordia after he had been elected Flemish for life.

  • Today's situation in the excavation site

  • Three-quarter view of the west side

  • Detail of the arch, east side with niche architecture

  • Foundation pillar of Lucius Licinius Optatianus

See also

literature

  • Henriette Doisy: Inscriptions latines de Timgad. In: Mélanges d'archéologie et d'histoire. Vol. 65, 1953, pp. 99-137, here: pp. 125-130.
  • Henner von Hesberg : Arched monuments from the early Imperial period and the 2nd century AD. From the arch of honor to the festival gate. In: Hans-Joachim Schalles , Henner von Hesberg, Paul Zanker (eds.): The Roman city in the 2nd century AD. The functional change in public space. Colloquium in Xanten from May 2 to 4, 1990. Rheinland-Verlag, Cologne 1992, pp. 277-299, here: pp. 281 f.
  • Marietta Horster: building inscriptions of Roman emperors. Steiner, Stuttgart p. 150. 429 Cat. No. XXXV, 3.
  • Pietro Romanelli : L'arco di Traiano a Timgad: una ipotesi. In: Mélanges d'histoire ancienne et d'archéologie offerts à Paul Collart. De Boccard, Lausanne 1976, pp. 317-321.
  • Pierre Salama: Entrées et circulations dans Timgad (Etude préliminaire). In: Attilio Mastino (ed.): L'Africa romana: Atti del X Convegno di studio, Oristano, 11-13 December 1992. Editrice Archivio Fotografico Sardo, Sassari 1994 pp. 347–357, esp. P. 350 with annotation. 8th.

Web links

Commons : Arch of Trajan in Timgad  - collection of images

Remarks

  1. ↑ UNESCO page on Timgad .
  2. ↑ CIL 08, 2355 (= CIL 8, 17842).
  3. ↑ Heinz Kähler : Triumphal Arch (Arch of Honor) 49a. In: Paulys Realencyclopadie der classischen Antiquity Science (RE). Volume VII A, 1, Stuttgart 1939, Sp. 442.
  4. ^ Henriette Doisy: Inscriptions latines de Timgad. In: Mélanges d'archéologie et d'histoire. Vol. 65, 1953, pp. 125-130.
  5. ↑ CIL 08, 2368 (= CIL 8, 17872); for the reconstruction of the inscription, see Henriette Doisy: Inscriptions latines de Timgad. In: Mélanges d'archéologie et d'histoire. Vol. 65, 1953, pp. 125-130.
  6. ^ Anthony R. Birley : The African Emperor. Septimius Severus. Second, expanded edition, London 1988, p. 146.
  7. ^ Pietro Romanelli: L'arco di Traiano a Timgad: una ipotesi. In: Mélanges d'histoire ancienne et d'archéologie offerts à Paul Collart. Lausanne 1976, pp. 317-321; Pierre Salama: Entrées et circulations dans Timgad (Etude préliminaire). In: Attilio Mastino (ed.): L'Africa romana: Atti del X Convegno di studio, Oristano, 11-13 December 1992. Editrice Archivio Fotografico Sardo, Sassari 1994 p. 350 with note 8.
  8. ^ Marietta Horster: Building inscriptions of Roman emperors. Steiner, Stuttgart p. 150, note 96.
  9. ↑ Henner von Hesberg: Arched monuments of the early imperial period and the 2nd century AD. From the arch of honor to the festival gate. In: Hans-Joachim Schalles, Henner von Hesberg, Paul Zanker (eds.): The Roman city in the 2nd century AD. The functional change in public space. Colloquium in Xanten from May 2 to 4, 1990. Rheinland-Verlag, Cologne 1992, p. 281 f.
  10. ↑ CIL 08, 17829 .

Coordinates: 35 ° 29 ′ 6.2 ″  N , 6 ° 28 ′ 1 ″  E