Arch of Trajan

The Arch of Trajan is a monumental triumphal arch located in Benevento, Italy. Erected to honor Emperor Trajan, it was decreed or dedicated around 114 or 115 CE. The arch's relief sculptures are arranged thematically, with panels on one side depicting Trajan's policies and works for Rome and Italy, and those on the other side illustrating his foreign achievements. These reliefs exhibit a classicizing, two-dimensional style that foreshadows later Hadrianic work, and some panels may have been carved during Hadrian's reign, giving him particular prominence. The Arch of Trajan is one of several triumphal arches built during the Roman Empire, serving as honorary monuments that often spanned streets and were adorned with sculptures celebrating imperial victories and achievements.12