Arch of Septimius Severus

The Arch of Septimius Severus is a white marble triumphal arch in the Roman Forum in central Rome, erected in AD 203. It honours Emperor Septimius Severus and his sons for victories in Parthia.

The monument is a triple-bayed arch decorated with relief panels depicting military campaigns and scenes of triumph. It originally bore dedicatory inscriptions and the names of Severus’s sons, but inscriptions to Geta were later removed following his assassination.

Commissioned by the Roman Senate and completed in the early 3rd century AD, the arch has remained a prominent surviving example of Roman imperial propaganda and sculptural programme. Over time it survived reuse, partial burial and later exposure during modern archaeological clearance of the Forum.

The arch sits at the northwest end of the Roman Forum adjacent to the Via Sacra and close to the Capitoline Hill, in central Rome’s archaeological core and within walking distance of major city sights.

• Date and dedication: Erected in AD 203, it commemorates Emperor Septimius Severus's Parthian victories and originally bore inscriptions and reliefs naming his sons Caracalla and Geta.
• Best viewing points: The arch stands at the northwest end of the Roman Forum and is best viewed from the Via dei Fori Imperiali and the Capitoline Hill for clear frontal and contextual views.