The Arch of Titus bears an inscription in its upper portion: ‘The Senate and People of Rome / To the Deified Titus Vespasian Augustus / Son of the Deified Vespasian’. The arch was strategically placed at the summit of the Via Sacra where the triumphal procession entered the forum, and in full view of the Colosseum – the monument constructed by the Flavians with the gold and silver brought back from the war. The arch commemorating the victory was erected later by Domitian in 81 AD, he ordered the construction of a triumphal arch to commemorate the victory of his brother and father. This parade and the spoils can be seen on the reliefs on the inside of the Arch of Titus. The celebratory triumph held on their return to Rome was like nothing Rome had seen – resplendent with spoils from Judea including furniture and trappings from the Temple of Herod – the most sacred temple of the Jews, destroyed by Titus’ troops. Vespasian and Titus were sent to Judea by Nero where they succeeded in quelling a revolt in 70 AD. Titus was the son of the Roman emperor Vespasian and they, along with Titus’ brother Domitian, made up the Flavian Dynasty. The prisoners of war followed in chains, trudged through the forum for all to see, they would soon be on sale at the slave market. ![]() A long train of carriages snaked through the forum displaying the spoils of war – gold, silver and precious objects – statues as well as animals and sometimes even trees taken from foreign lands. These parades could last for days with gifts, money and food being given out to the crowd. The triumphal parade was a public affair, the whole city gathered to see the victorious emperor and his spoils enter the city. He rode in a four-horse chariot with the goddess victory (a slave dressed with wings) through the streets of Rome in a procession with his army (unarmed), captives, and the spoils of his war. ![]() On the day of his triumph, the general or emperor wore a crown of laurel and a purple, gold-embroidered triumphal toga picta (painted toga) that identified him as near-divine or near-kingly, he was even known to paint his face red with cinnabar (mineral pigment) to resemble Jupiter.
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