The Roman Forum is chock full of grandiose monuments which, with their marble reliefs, paint us the world and the context in which they were built. A perfect example is the triumphal arch of Septimius Severus which, however, is not the only one of its kind in the Roman Forum. During a classic tour of ancient Rome, in which I also spend some time in this extraordinary archaeological area, I never avoid passing by the Arch of Titus, one of the symbols of the Roman Forum in Rome and of the Roman Empire.

Probably completed around 90 AD, this triumphal arch (the smallest of the three remaining but also the oldest), is dedicated to the Divus Titus, which simply means to the deified emperor Titus. Titus, son of the emperor Vespasian, was the second exponent of the Flavian dynasty and, among his exploits and deeds, the most famous is certainly the capture of Jerusalem and its ancient temple. This military campaign was the real reason why, after his death, the Senate and especially his younger brother and new emperor, Domitian, decided to erect this monument in his honor. A monument with a single arch which was extensively restored in the early 19th century (and in fact on one side we see the name of pope Pius VII, the one who initiated the aforementioned restoration). Be that as it may: why a triumphal arch to the emperor Titus, who governed Rome for practically three years (from 79 to 81 AD)? We are in 70 AD, and for more than a couple of years now, the Romans had been mired in the Judaic countryside. As often happened, some Roman provinces used to rebel against the central power of the Urbe. It was for this reason that Nero sent a series of legions to counter yet another threat from modern-day Israel . However, after Nero's suicide and after his father Vespasian was consecrated emperor, it was Titus who signed a point in favor of Rome, managing to penetrate the extraordinary defensive walls of Jerusalem. According to the chronicles and sources, writing a brief description, we know that the holy city was surrounded by three imposing walls which, with much effort and losses, and blow after blow, fell under the decisive thrust of Titus. According to the chronicles, however, the third and innermost wall was destroyed with the help...of the besieged! Oh yes, because to destroy one of the huge siege machines built by the Romans, the rebels dug a tunnel, arriving right under the machine and filling the tunnel with pitch and flammable material. Then, they set fire to everything and a thunderous explosion shattered the whole battlefield. The damage to the Romans was numerous, but never as much as that suffered by Jerusalem itself! The explosion, in fact, inevitably cracked the defensive walls , also making them partially collapse. In this way, it was easier for Titus to conquer the city and sack (although it seems he did not intend to do so) the Temple of Jerusalem, which even dates back to Solomon (at least in its first version). It should also be remembered that the coup de grace was given to the wall through the siege engines of the Romans, who thus dealt the definitive blow to conquer the city walls. A time whose memory remains today only in the Wailing Wall, an object of worship by Jews from all over the world. This beautiful arch, restored in the 19th century and the subject of numerous restorations over the centuries (in the Middle Ages it was even incorporated by walls and battlements, reinforcing it and making it part of a fortress), tells us some of the key episodes of the post-war events. As you can see in the photo, for example, you can see the triumph of Tito, seated on his quadriga accompanied by a winged Victory, by a semi-naked man to symbolize the people and by a robed personification of the Senate. As if to say that Rome itself participated in the emperor's triumph, an unmissable event for the Romans for all its political and social significance (as you can read here). On the other hand, other reliefs tell us about the enormous treasure brought to Rome from Jerusalem. A treasure that perhaps also consisted of the famous Menorah, the seven-branched candelabrum of which, after millennia, no trace has been lost (but that's another story).

As you can see, therefore, the triumphal arch of Titus is not simply a monument to the imperishable glory of an emperor who, like everyone else, necessarily had to legitimize his power also through the army and military enterprises. Though his rule lasted only three years, he still remembers the man who destroyed Jerusalem's impenetrable defenses. About two thousand years later this triumphal arch also reminds us of how Rome is a city in constant evolution. The marble reliefs from the 1st century AD are incorporated into the new 19th century structure. If on the one hand we read the name of the god Titus, on the other we find the name of a pontiff. Two sides of the same, very precious, medal. The Two Faces of the Eternal City.