Why did the ancient Romans erect triumphal arches?
Although the arch was already in existence, it was during the imperial period that ancient Romans erected numerous triumphal arches to commemorate the achievements of their emperors. In this example, the triumphal arch celebrates Constantine’s military victory over Maxentius. The Arch of Constantine was erected to celebrate this momentous military victory. The arch, its sculptural decoration and inscriptions commemorate his achievements, and are testimony to the Emperor’s power and glory. • Art Analysis: • For whom was the Arch of Constantine constructed? During Ancient Roman times, art was produced under a patronage system. In the example of the Arch of Constantine, the Senate commissioned the architect to erect an archway to commemorate Constantine’s military victory over Maxentius at the Milvian Bridge. The needs of the patron determined what the artist or architect would create, hence the focus on Constantine’s military victories. But in the end, it was the Roman people who were th
