![]() ![]() It was later reconstructed by Tiberius to celebrate the victories of Germanicus over the German tribes in Rhineland. It was built on the former Via Agrippa to honor the veterans of the Gallic Wars and Legio II Augusta. There is debate about when the arch was built, but current research that accepts the inscription as evidence favors a date during the reign of Augustus (27 BC - AD 14). The city was fenced by walls and included a forum as well as a theatre. In 35 BCE the veterans of the Second Legion Augusta founded a colony, Colonia Iulia Firma Secundanorum Arausio. ![]() ![]() There was fought in 105 BCE a major battle between two Roman armies and the Cimbri and Teutones tribes. The name Arausio originated in the name of the Celtic water god. It is possible to identify soldiers of the Legio II Augusta, an emblem of which was the Capricornus.Īrausio was originally a Celtic oppidum. The central base of the upper attic, which was supposed to bear an equestrian statuary group, is decorated on both sides of the arch with reliefs depicting a battle. While the Romans are depicting wearing the lorica hamata, the helmet and the shield, the Gauls are depicted naked, with long hairs, albeit with shields. The relief depicts a battle between Romans and Gauls. A frieze runs all along the four sides of the monument. Maybe the purpose of these reliefs was to emphasize Roman naval supremacy after the battle of Actium. These panels depict warships, tridents, and anchors. The one located on the northeast is the better preserved. Under these four panels, there are four more which depicts naval trophies. These names may be those of local sculptors. Some of the shields bear names: Sacrovir, Decurdus and Marius. Four of the panels are located under the flanking arches, and depicts helmets, spears, and shields disposed on four rows. The arch is decorated with various reliefs of military themes, including naval battles, spoils of war, and Romans waging war against Germans and Gauls. The actual reading of the inscription is very different: “To Tiberius Caesar, son of the divine Augustus, grandson of the divine Iulius, Augustus, pontifex maximus, exercising tribunician power for the twenty eighth time, emperor for the eighth time, consul for the fourth time, given back to him by the administration of the colony (or refounder of the colony)”, and the inscription is dated to 26/27 CE. Thus, Pierre Hebert dated the arch to 12 CE. A first reading was proposed in 1862 by Pierre Hebert: “To the son of Iulius Caesar, to the emperor Caius Iulius Caesar Augustus, exerting the tribunician power for the eleventh time, the 36th cohors of volunteers and the city of Arausio Iulia, colony of the second legion, in remembrance of Egypt, Gallia Comata and defeated Germany, submitted to the payment of the tribute, elevated and dedicated this arch in the name of the whole country”. On the northern (outward-facing) facade, the architrave and cornice have been cut back and a bronze inscription inserted, which is now lost attempts at reconstructing its text from the placement of cramp holes for the projecting tines of its letters have not been successful. ![]() The arch contains an inscription dedicated to Emperor Tiberius in 26/27 CE. Each façade has four semi-engaged Corinthian columns. The Triumphal arch of Arausio has three arches, the central one being larger than the flanking ones. To Tiberius Caesar, son of the divine Augustus, grandson of the divine Iulius, Augustus, pontifex maximus, exercising tribunician power for the twenty eighth time, Emperor for the eighth time, consul for the fourth time, given back to him by the administration of the colony (or refounder of the colony). Ti(berio) Caesar(i), divi Augusti f(ilio), divi Iuli nepoti, Augusto, Pontifici Maximo, Potestate XXVIII Imperatori IIX Co(n)s(uli) IIII restituit R(es) P(ublica) coloniae (or : restitutori coloniae) To the son of Iulius Caesar, to the emperor Caius Iulius Caesar Augustus, exercing the tribunician power for the eleventh time, the 36th cohors of volunteers and the city of Arausio Iulia, colony of the second legion, in remembrance of Egypt, Gallia Comata and defeated Germany, submitted to the payment of the tribute, elevated and dedicated this arch in the name of the whole country. Imp(eratori) Caio I(ulio) Cæ(sari) Augusto divi I(ulii) fil(io) Ægypt(o) Tr(ibunicia) P(otestate) XI comat(a) tribut(aria) Germania victaCoh(ors) XXXIII volunt(ariorum) (et) colonia Araus(io) I(ulia) secundan(orum) hunc arc(um) ded(icavit) publice IMP CAIO I CÆ AVGVSTO DIVI I FIL ÆGYPT TRP XI COMAT TRIBVT GERMANIA VICTA COH XXXIII VOLVNT COLONIA ARAVS I SECVNDAN HVNC ARC DED PVBLICE A first reading was proposed in 1862 by Pierre Hebert. ![]()
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