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Arco degli Argentari

Historic site · Ripa, Italy

Not an arch but a trabeated gateway about six metres high, adjoining the flank of San Giorgio in Velabro on via del Velabro. Travertine base, otherwise faced entirely in white marble, with acanthus scrolls and military standards on the piers, Victories and eagles on the capitals, and sacrifice scenes, soldiers and barbarian prisoners.

History

Erected in AD 204, paid for by the guild of money-changers and cattle merchants, the argentarii et negotiantes boarii, and dedicated to Septimius Severus, Julia Domna and Caracalla. The names of Fulvia Plautilla and Geta were chiselled out of the dedicatory inscription; the principal reliefs inside show Severus and Julia Domna on one side and Caracalla on the other, with Geta, Plautilla and probably Plautianus erased under the damnatio memoriae. In the seventh century its eastern pier was half-swallowed by the wall of San Giorgio. The many drill holes in the monument are traditionally ascribed to medieval treasure-hunters.

Visit

Via del Velabro, Roma RM

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