ARCH, Memorial and Triumphal, a monumental structure erected in honor of some prominent person or memorable event. In the custom of temporarily decorating the gates of cities with garlands and trophies, on the return of a victorious general, we can find the origin of the triumphal arch. These are similar in form whether commemorating a peaceftil event or a .military triumph. In the time of the Roman republic temporary arches were erected in honor of triumphant generals. At that period also memorial arches or fornices, were erected in memory of some individual to ornament a city, but it was not until the time of the empire that the triumphal arch, the arcus, came into use, to perpetuate .the glory of a person who had obtained the honors of a triumph. Arches were often placed at the en trances of cities, becoming in such a position merely monumental forms of city gate. The usual form of triumphal or memorial arch employed a high and imposing semi-circular arch as its central motive, resting on heavy piers, which were decorated generally with Corinthian columns and other architectural de tails, statuary, and bas-reliefs. Above this was a heavy mass of stone-work or attic, on which was placed a suitable inscription. The arch of Titus, at Rome, is the most remarkable for its purity, the beauty of its sculpture and the har mony of its proportions. It was probably erected by Domitian in honor of Titus to recall his conquest of Jerusalem. In panels on the inner sides of the piers are sculptured, on one side the triumphant Titus on his quadriga sur rounded by soldiers; on the other side the tri umphal procession, with the spoils of the Temple, the sacred vessels and the seven branched candlestick. At the foot of the Capi tol, at the side of the Forum, is the arch of Septimius Severus, erected in honor of this emperor and his two sons to commemorate their victories over the Parthians and the Arabians. It has small side arches reached by a few steps, and a large central arch. The most important arch in Rome is that to Constantine, which is similar to that of Septimius Severus.
It was erected by the Senate and the Roman people in honor of Constantine. The arch of Trajan at Ancona was erected on a pier which serves as a base, and was a memorial of the completion of that port. It is said that an other arch • of Trajan at Benevento was erected to commemorate an extension of the Appian Way. In modern times the name "triumphal arch" is given to a structure of wood or staff decorated with flags, banners and floral designs, as a part of some public celebration, or in honor of some person; for example, the Dewey arch in New York. This is an outgrowth of the old Roman idea. Modern history has il lustrations of many examples of this form of arch. Albert Diirer has made many engravings of the triumphal entry of the Emperor Maxi milian, and of the arches erected in his honor. There are also illustrations of arches for Charles V at Boulogne; to Henry III at Lido, on his trip to Venice. Ruben made the de signs for the triumphal arch for Ferdinand of Austria at Antwerp, and a large arch was erected to Louis XIV at the Barriere du Tame. There are also triumphal arches in Paris: the Arc du Carrousel near the Louvre, built by Napoleon I, now destroyed; Porte Saint Denis, built by Louis XIV; the large Arc de l'Etoile, dedicated by Napoleon to his soldiers and sailors; and Porte Saint Martin (1674); in Berlin the Brandenburgerthor at the en trance of the Thiergarten. In the United States there are arches of this character in Brooklyn, N. Y. and Hartford, Conn., and the Washington arch in New York.
Among celebrated arches of this character, medieval and modern, may be named the fol lowing gateways: At Naples, the Arch of Al fonso of Aragon (1470), and the Porta Capu ana; at Burgos, the Santa Maria; at Mont pellier, a 17th century memorial of the revoca tion of the Edict of Nantes; at Milan, Della Pace; at Munich, Siegesthor (Victory Gate) (1850) ; and at London, the Marble Arch. See