Arch of Augustus (Rimini)

The Arch of Augustus is gate in the former city wall of Rimini, Italy. The arch was dedicated to the Emperor Augustus by the Roman Senate in 27 BC and is one of the oldest Roman arches which survives to this day. It signaled the end of the via Flaminia, which connected the cities of Romagna to Rome, and spans the modern Corso d'Augusto (the ancient decumanus maximus), which led to the beginning of another road, the via Emilia, which ran northwest to Piacenza.

Arch of Augustus
Detail of the inscription

Appearance

Its style is simple, but solemn. The arch, which is of exceptional size, is flanked by two engaged columns with fluted shafts and Corinthian capitals. The four clipei (shields) placed next to the capitals each depict Roman divinities: Jupiter and Apollo on the Roman side, Neptune and Roma facing the city of Rimini.

The gate supported a lavish bronze statue of Augustus, depicted driving a quadriga.

The main peculiarity of this arch is that the archway is especially large for a gate of the time. The explanation is perhaps that the peaceful policy of Augustus, the so-called Pax Romana, made a civic gate that could be closed seem unnecessary, since there was no danger of attack.

History

The gate remained in use after antiquity with some modifications. The battlements (merlons) on the upper part date to the medieval period (10th century), at which time the city came to be held by the Ghibellines. The arch remained one of the city gates until the Fascist period, when the city wall was demolished and the arch was left as an isolated monument.

Along with the Bridge of Augustus and Tiberius, it is today one of the symbols of Rimini, so important that it appears on the city's coat of arms.[1]

Inscription

The Latin inscription above the arch reads:

SENATUS POPVLVSQVE ROMANVS

IMPERATORI CAESARI DIVI IVLIO FILIO AVGVSTO IMPERATORI SEPTEM
CONSOLI SEPTEM DESIGNATO OCTAVOM VIA FLAMINIA ET RELIQVEIS

CELEBERRIMEIS ITALIAE VIEIS ET AVCTORITATE EIVS MVNITEIS

The Senate and People of Rome [dedicated this arch]
to Imperator Caesar Augustus, son of the divine Julius, Imperator seven times,
Consul seven times and consul-elect for an eighth time, on account of the via Flaminia

and the other very distinguished roads of Italy having been repaired by his auctoritas.

See also

References
  1. Rimini's coat of arms
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