Triumphal arch - Definition and Overview

Arc de Triomphe, Paris

A triumphal arch is a structure in the shape of a monumental gate, usually built to celebrate a victory in war. This tradition dates back to Ancient Rome and the tradition of the Roman triumphes. A number of arches from the city's imperial era can still be seen in modern Rome.

Some triumphal arches are made of stone and intended to be permanent. Temporary triumphal arches are also constructed, intended to be used for a celebratory parade or ceremony and then be dismantled afterwards.

Temporary triumphal arch commemorating election of Emilio Aguinaldo as President of the Philippines, 1899

See also

• city gate
• Roman architecture

List of triumphal arches

Permanent monumental triumphal arches include:

Austria

• Siegestor, Innsbruck

Belgium

• Arch of the Cinquantenaire, Brussels (erected 1880-1905)

Croatia

Marble Arch, London

• Arch of Sergius, Pula, Istria

England

• Marble Arch, London
• Wellington Arch, Hyde Park Corner, London

France

The triumphal arch of Glanum

• Carpentras
• Dijon: Porte Guillaume
• Montpellier: Porte du Peyrou (1692)
• Nevers: Porte de Paris
• Orange
• Paris:
  • Arc de Triomphe (1806-1836)
  • Arc du Carrousel (1806-1808)
  • Grande Arche, La Défense (1982-1989)
  • Porte Saint-Denis
  • Porte Saint-Martin
• Pontarlier
• Reims: Porte de Mars
• Saint Rémy de Provence: Roman site of Glanum

Germany

• Brandenburg Gate, Berlin
• Siegestor, Munich (1843-1850)

Greece

• Arch of Galerius, Thessaloniki
• Hadrian's Arch, Athens

India

• Gateway of India, Mumbai

Iraq

• Hands of Victory, Baghdad

The Arch of Constantine, Rome

Italy

• Arch of Trajan, Ancona, erected 113
• Augustan Arch, Aosta
• Arch of Trajan, Beneventum, the Porta Aurea, erected 114
• Arco Campano, Capua
• Arch of Augustus, Fano
• Arch of the House of Lorraine, Florence, erected 1738 - 1759: the first freestanding permanent triumphal arch in Italy since Antiquity
• Arco della Pace, Milan, erected 1807 - 1838
• Arch of Augustus, Rimini, erected 27 CE
• Arch of Constantine, Rome erected 312 - 315
• Arch of Septimius Severus, Rome, erected 203
• Arch of Titus, Rome (81)
• Susa, erected 7 BCE
• Arco dei Gavi, Verona

The Soldiers and Sailors Arch at Grand Army Plaza, Brooklyn, New York

Korea

• Arch of Triumph (Pyongyang)

Libya

• Arch of Tiberius, Leptis Magna, erected 35 AD
• Arch of Septimius Severus, Leptis Magna

Romania

• Arcul de Triumf, Bucharest

Russia

• Poklonnaya Hill, Moscow
• Moscow Triumphal Gate, St Petersburg
• Narva Triumphal Gate, St Petersburg

Spain

• Arc de Triomf, Barcelona
• Puerta de las Granadas, Granada
• Plaza de la Independencia, Madrid

Syria

• Arch of Septimus Severus, Latakia
• Palmyra

Turkey

• Anazarbus

The Washington Square Arch, New York City

Ukraine

• Arch of Catherine the Great, Novgorod-Seversky

United States

• Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Arch, Grand Army Plaza, Brooklyn, New York
• Monumental Arch, Galveston, Texas (1987-1990)
• Washington Square, New York, New York