The Arch of Trajan (also called Porta Romana, Porta Varrone, and Varrense) is a Roman triumphal arch from the first half of the second century, located in Canosa di Puglia (Ancient Canusium, now in the Province of Barletta-Andria-Trani). The arch stands on the route of the ancient Via Traiana.
The arch, considered to be from roughly the time of Trajan, had been dated to 109, on the hypothesis that its construction occurred during the production of the Via Traiana (108–110). [1] Other scholars have preferred to date it to the reign of Hadrian. [2]
It is also known as the Porta Varrone or Porta Varrense. This name derives from a traditional scholarly attribution of the arch to Gaius Terentius Varro, one of the Roman Consuls defeated in the Battle of Cannae in 216 BC.
It was restored several times in the nineteenth century and in 1911, with large amounts of modern reconstruction incorporated into it. [3]
The arch, which has a single vault, was built of brick and probably coated in marble originally. It is now partially buried, but must have reached a height of about 13 metres, a width of 12 metres and a depth of 5 meters. [4]
There are lesenes on the external corners of the pylons and in the middle of the front side of each of the pylons. These must have supported an entablature.
A fragment of marble relief from the decoration of the arch is kept in the Museo diocesano in Trani, which probably depicts a Dacian, and was found among the spolia in the crypt of the Church of Santa Maria de Russis. There is also a fragment of the frieze, also in marble, reused in the Castel del Monte, depicting a military scene; both reliefs are datable to the reign of Trajan. [5]
Benevento is a city and comune of Campania, Italy, capital of the province of Benevento, 50 kilometres (31 mi) northeast of Naples. It is situated on a hill 130 metres above sea level at the confluence of the Calore Irpino and the Sabato. In 2020, Benevento has 58,418 inhabitants. It is also the seat of a Catholic archbishop.
The Province of Benevento is a province in the Campania region of Italy. Its capital is the city of Benevento.
Canosa di Puglia, generally known simply as Canosa, is a town and comune in the province of Barletta-Andria-Trani, Apulia, southern Italy. It is located between Bari and Foggia, on the northwestern edge of the plateau of the Murgia which dominates the Ofanto valley and the extensive plains of Tavoliere delle Puglie, ranging from Mount Vulture at the Gargano, to the Adriatic coast. Canosa, the Roman Canusium, is considered the principal archaeological center of Apulia, and is one of the oldest continually inhabited cities in Italy. A number of vases and other archaeological finds are located in local museums and private collections. It is not far from the position on the Ofanto River where the Romans found refuge after the defeat of the Battle of Cannae and is the burial place of Bohemund I of Antioch.
Timgad was a Roman city in the Aurès Mountains of Algeria. It was founded by the Roman Emperor Trajan around 100 CE. The full name of the city was Colonia Marciana Ulpia Traiana Thamugadi. Emperor Trajan named the city in commemoration of his mother Marcia, eldest sister Ulpia Marciana, and father Marcus Ulpius Traianus.
The Province of Bari was a province in the region of Apulia, Italy. Its capital was the city of Bari.
The Province of Barletta-Andria-Trani is a province of Italy in the Apulia region. The establishment of the province took effect in June 2009, and Andria was appointed as its seat of government on 21 May 2010.
Trajan's Forum was the last of the Imperial fora to be constructed in ancient Rome. The architect Apollodorus of Damascus oversaw its construction.
Andria is a city and comune in Apulia. It is an agricultural and service center, producing wine, olives and almonds. It is the fourth-largest municipality in the Apulia region and the largest municipality of the Province of Barletta-Andria-Trani. It is known for the 13th-century Castel del Monte.
Borgo is the 14th rione of Rome, Italy. It is identified by the initials R. XIV and is included within Municipio I.
The Arch of Trajan is an ancient Roman triumphal arch in Benevento, southern Italy. It was erected in honour of the Emperor Trajan across the Via Appia, at the point where it enters the city.
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Guglielmo della Porta was an Italian architect and sculptor of the late Renaissance or Mannerist period.
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.
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Media related to Arch of Trajan (Canosa) at Wikimedia Commons