Arch of Titus Exterior 1

Arch of Titus Exterior 1

View looking west at the Arch of Titus from the east.  To view the original inscription on the top of the arch please enlarge the image.

The inscription in Latin reads: “The Senate and People of Rome to Divus Titus, son of Divus Vespasian, Vespasian Augustus.”


The Arch of Titus (Roman Emperor A.D. 79–81) is located in Rome on the east end of the ancient Forum, as one walks along the Via Sacra toward the Colosseum.  The emperor Domitian (A.D. 81-96) built it soon after the death of Titus.

The arch commemorates the victories of Vespasian (A.D. 69–79) and Titus—particularly their putting down the Jewish revolt in Judea and the capture of Jerusalem in A.D. 70.

It is well to remember that this commemorative arch was built by Domitian, to commemorate a triumphal parade of the previous emperor Vespasian and his son Titus who was the actual conquer of Jerusalem, and who would eventually become emperor himself.

The sequence of emperors was Vespasian, Titus, and then Domitian.