 Arch of Drusus today | |
   Arch of Drusus Shown within Augustan Rome | |
 Click on the map for a fullscreen view | |
| Location | Rome |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 41°52′25″N12°30′04″E / 41.87361°N 12.50111°E |
The Arch of Drusus is an ancient arch in Rome, Italy, close to the First Mile of the Appian Way and next to the Porta San Sebastiano. Long misidentified, it is most likely the remains of the Arch of Trajan.
The exact origins of the current Arch are disputed. It is now generally agreed that it has nothing to do with Nero Claudius Drusus, the conqueror of the Germans. The original Arch of Drusus was erected by the Senate in honour of Drusus following his death in 9 BCE, and spanned the Via Appia. Its exact location is not certain, but this arch no longer exists. [1]
Regarding the current arch, some versions have this arch being constructed as part of a spur added to the Aqua Marcia by Caracalla in 211–216 AD to take water from that aqueduct to Caracalla's new baths. However, it appears more likely that the arch pre-dated the aqueduct and that the aqueduct was conveniently routed over the top of the arch.
Only the central part of this arch is now standing, but it was originally triple, or at least with projections on each side, although never finished. It is built of travertine, faced with marble, and on each side of the archway are columns of Numidian marble with white marble bases. The archway is 7.21 metres high. The Aqua Antoniniana, the branch of the Aqua Marcia, ran over this arch, but the brick-faced concrete that is visible on the top seems to belong to a later period. [2] As a number of the features of the arch, such as the pediment and the free-standing columns are Trajanic features, it is very probable that the arch is what remains of the Arch of Trajan. [3]
The Einsiedeln Itinerary written in the 9th century refers to a Arcus Recordationis situated near the Baths of Caracalla; this may be a reference to the original Arch of Drusus. [4]
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The Baths of Caracalla in Rome, Italy, were the city's second largest Roman public baths, or thermae, after the Baths of Diocletian. The baths were likely built between AD 212 and 216/217, during the reigns of emperors Septimius Severus and Caracalla. They were in operation until the 530s and then fell into disuse and ruin.
The Baths of Diocletian were public baths in ancient Rome. Named after emperor Diocletian and built from AD 298 to 306, they were the largest of the imperial baths. The project was originally commissioned by Maximian upon his return to Rome in the autumn of 298 and was continued after his and Diocletian's abdication under Constantius, father of Constantine.
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The Baths of Trajan were a massive thermae, a bathing and leisure complex, built in ancient Rome and dedicated under Trajan during the kalendae of July 109, shortly after the Aqua Traiana was dedicated.
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The Baths of Agrippa was a structure of ancient Rome, Italy, built by Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa. It was the first of the great thermae constructed in the city, and also the first public bath.
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The Aqua Traiana was a 1st-century Roman aqueduct built by Emperor Trajan and inaugurated in 109 AD. It channelled water from sources around Lake Bracciano, 40 km (25 mi) north-west of Rome, to ancient Rome. It joined the earlier Aqua Alsietina to share a common lower route into Rome.
The Baths of Licinius Sura or Thermae Suranae were a private ancient Roman bath complex built by Lucius Licinius Sura on the Aventine Hill in Rome.
The Aqua Alexandrina was a Roman aqueduct located in the city of Rome. The 22.4 km long aqueduct carried water from Pantano Borghese to the Baths of Alexander on the Campus Martius. It remained in use from the 3rd to the 8th century AD.
In ancient Rome, the Piscina Publica was a public reservoir and swimming pool located in Regio XII. The region itself came to be called informally Piscina Publica from the landmark. The piscina was situated in the low-lying area between the Via Appia, the Servian Wall, and the northeast slope of the Aventine Hill, an area later occupied by the Baths of Caracalla.
The Arch of Dolabella and Silanus or Arch of Dolabella is an ancient Roman arch. It was built by senatorial decree in 10 AD by the consuls P. Cornelius Dolabella and C. Junius Silanus.
The Aqua Anio Vetus was an ancient Roman aqueduct, and the second oldest after the Aqua Appia.
The Regio I Porta Capena is the first regio of imperial Rome, under Augustus's administrative reform. Regio I took its name from the Porta Capena, a gate of the Servian Walls, through which the Appian Way entered the city prior to the construction of the Aurelian Walls.
The Arch of Scipio was an ancient Roman arch located atop the Capitoline Hill.
| Preceded by Arch of Constantine | Landmarks of Rome Arch of Drusus | Succeeded by Arch of Janus |
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