Lego Fun, Vol. XIII: Roman Triumphal Arches!

Triumphal arches are a roman invention and surely among the most influential and destinctive types of imperial architecture. I have tried to recreate some roman examples of various kinds in small scale.


1) The Arch of Titus (81 AD) on the Forum Romanum is the most influential single-arched triumphal arch, model for the Arc de Triomphe in Paris and more than a dozen other modern interpretations:



2) The Arch of Germanicus (19 AD) in Saintes (France) is the only surviving example (as far as I know) of a two-arched roman triumphal arch:



3) The Arch of Septimius Severus on the Forum Romanum (203 AD) represents the second comon design, the triple-arched triumphal arch. The Siegestor in Munich is a modern copy.



4) The Arch of Septimius Severus at Leptis Magna (Libya, also 203 AD) is the best-known example of a four-way-arch, a "Quadrifons":



5) The Arch of Nero (62 AD) is only known from the coinage. Does anyone here have a Sestertius he or she can show?



6) So ist the Parthian Arch of Augustus (19 BC) which we can only reconstruct from the images on certain Denarii (there is an ongoing scientific discussion about the identity of this and Augustus´ Actium Arch):



To be continued...

Meanwhile, please show your triumphal arches (or other interesting architectural designs found on roman coinage) and share your thoughts!

 

Log in or Sign up to hide this ad.

Nice work @Julius Germanicus - you are a maestro with Lego.

 

I particularly like how you did the columns on Nero and Titus's triumphal arches. That was a very creative use of Technic axles.

 

Fantastic, @Julius Germanicus. To paraphrase Hunter Thompson, Good craziness! There's one guy (at least) who did this with castles. http://www.carneycastle.com/index.htm

 

Very nice accurate models ! Here I have an Octavian


Octavian. 30-29 BC. AR Denarius (3.75 g, 10h 19mm). Italian (Rome?) mint. Bare head right / IMP CAESAR on the architrave of Octavian’s Actian arch (arcus Octaviani), showing a single span surmounted by Octavian in facing triumphal quadriga. This arch was awarded to Octavian in 29BC for his victory, defeating Antony and Coleoptera at the battle of Actium,Very fine with interesting bankers mark.
RIC I 267; CRI 422; RSC 123;

 

As always.. Really nice!

The Arch of Lego!

 

That is a great coin! Isn´t it strange that they only found remnants of ONE arch of Augustus on the Forum (which corresponds to the layout of the Parthian Arch, but not the Actium Arch as seen on the coinage)? Either the Actium Arch was turned into the Parthian Arch after just ten years due to political reasons, or both arches existed at the same time but the location of the Actium Arch was not discovered yet.

Cool that you noticed .

That guy is not just crazy, he is insane (in a good way)

Here are some more arches:

7) The Arch of Tiberius (16 AD) was built in the Forum Romanum to celebrate the recovery of the Varus´ Aquila standards by Germanicus. It is no longer extant, but it´s shape is known from a relief on the Arch of Constantine:



8) The Arch of Caracalla at Djemila in Algeria was erected in 216 AD to honour the emperor Caracalla along with his mother Julia Domna and his deceased father Septimius Severus:



9) The Arch of Theodosius (393 AD) was the only known triumphal arch in Constantinople. It featured statues of Theodosius and his sons Arcadius and Honorius:

 

"That guy is not just crazy, he is insane (in a good way) ."
No worse than filling up your basement with a model train track, I guess. After a couple of those, though, @Julius Germanicus, the relative restraint of yours are a welcome foil!

 

Do you take these apart after a while, or do you live in a REALLY BIG house?

 

Nice models!

It is my understanding that, when Rome eventually collapsed 395 AD, the city suffered greatly from fallen arches.

 

Where do you get the Lego sets to build those tho?

 

Last but not least, here is the last Roman Triumphal Arch:

10) The Arch of Constantine (315 AD), presented here in three different scales, was the final and largest triumphal arch built in Rome:

I do not build sets, only own creations. I buy the pieces individually online or in a second hand Lego store.

No, I keep most of them. These arches are tiny and decorate my book shelves, the medium buildings take up all available spaces in our living room, the large ones are stored away in custom made wooden boxes designed by my dad.
I have a bigger problem with the dozen or so large ship models that I built, but one (of the Danish steam Frigate "Jylland") has found a new home at the International Maritime Museum in Hamburg:

 

WOW!!!! So @Julius Germanicus, you're actually getting some recognition for this!!! How cool is that?! Congratulations!!!!
The ship model is truly stunning. Awed silence ensues.

 

@Julius Germanicus, very impressive and probably fun to do.

I was wondering: do you plan to 'do' the Porta Nigra of Trier at some point? I've visited it twice, and it's so impressive.

(photo from wiki)

 

Yes, a Magnificent gate. Eloquent testimony to the profound cultural legacy, specifically of the later Empire. @Julius Germanicus, are you up for it?

 

Actually I have done so a couple of years ago, but that was just the front facade and I have since demolished it for the need of spolia:

https://www.cointalk.com/threads/lego-fun-vol-2-the-porta-nigra.293964/

OK, I will attempt an improved version (of the whole thing this time) and post it here in a month or so if I find all the parts needed in my inventory

 

@Julius Germanicus, you're a brave man! Hats off!!!