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Claudius' British Victory Arch in Rome*

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 November 2011

A.A. Barrett
A.A. Barrett
Affiliation:
Department of Classics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver.
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Extract

The victories that followed Claudius' invasion of Britain in A.D. 43 were celebrated by a lavish and extensive triumph in Rome in the following year. Moreover, as a more permanent and visible reminder of the emperor's successes, two victory arches, one in Gesoriacum (Boulogne), his embarkation point, and the other in Rome, were decreed by the Senate. No trace of the Boulogne structure has survived; the Roman arch, on the other hand, is one of the most intriguing monuments of the Julio-Claudian period, presenting scholars with a series of epigraphic and architectural problems. The purpose of this paper is primarily to attempt to throw some light on the epigraphic issue, but since, as will become clear, any discussion of the arch's inscriptions must take place within the context of its architecture and decoration, the latter will be considered first.

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Britannia , Volume 22 , November 1991, pp. 1 - 19
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Copyright © A.A. Barrett 1991. Exclusive Licence to Publish: The Society for the Promotion of Roman Studies

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References

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33 Duplicate inscriptions are even found in Britain (although there is not, of course, any evidence of their use on victory arches), as at Milecastle 38 (Hotbank); see RIB 1637-38.

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39 Eutropius 7.13: ‘quasdam insulas etiam ultra Britannias in Oceano positas imperio Romano addidit, quae uppellantur Orchades.’ Ligorio's transcription was. of course, of the other copy of the same inscription.

40 De Gozze's transcription was published by Martrnelli, Fioravante, Roma rícercata nel suo cito (1644)Google Scholar, and several later editions) and the text recorded there reprinted in 1771 by Nardini., op. cit. (note 13), vol. 3, 989Google Scholar.

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45 Perrot., G. ‘Une Inscription de Cyzique’, RA xxxi (1876), 100 reads aram instead of arcum, but without discussionGoogle Scholar.

46 Collingwood, R.G., Roman Britain and the English Settlements (1937). 85, n. 2. suggested that Suetonius might have taken his phrase from the arch. A misunderstanding of this reference in Suetonius (or of a common source) may explain the confused allusion in Dio LXI.30 (epitome), under A.D. 47, to the use by Claudius of British captives (along with freed men) in gladiatorial shows. Another example of Suetonius’ apparent use of inscriptionssi provided by ILS 218, on the Porta Maggiore. The record of repair to aqueducts bears a striking resemblance to Suetonius' account of the same event (Claud. 20.I). I am grateful to my student Bruce Robertson for drawing this to my attentionGoogle Scholar.

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50 Claudius assumed his fifth consulship in A.D. 51, and held the eleventh award of tribunicia poteslas from late January 51 to the same date in 52. Des in the inscription is a restoration, but on historical grounds some abbreviation of designato is certain (Gordon, loc. cit. (note 28), believes that he can see the s).

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53 Tac, , Ann. xu.35. The association was first suggested by Henzen (in CIL). Koeppel cites Tac, Hist. III. 45: ‘[Cartimandua] instruxisse triumphum Claudii Caesaris videbatur.’ as proof that Claudius celebrated a second triumph in A.D. 51. It would be risky, however, to press too technical an interpretation on Tacitus at this pointGoogle Scholar.

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