This imposing, three-bay triumphant arch was dedicated to Emperor Septimius Severus. It was built in the year 203 in order to commemorate two victorious campaigns of the emperor, against the Parts. Its central, highest gate, was 12 meters high and 7 meters wide and it was found directly above via Sacra, a road leading to the temple of the god Jupiter at the Capitol. Above the side arcades, we will notice scenes depicting the glorious war campaigns of Septimius, or more appropriately the invasions of four cities – Nisibis in Mesopotamia, Edessa in Asia Minor (from the side of the Forum) and Seleucia as well as Ctesiphon on the Tigris River (from the side of the Capitol), which are accompanied by images of Roman gods and the personifications of the seasons. The whole is adorned by beautiful columns with composite capitols, of which the bases are decorated with preserved until today reliefs showing prisoners of war. At the attic of the arch in the ancient bowls there is a quadriga made of bronze with the emperor and his two sons, driving six horses. In this way the emperor wanted to immortalize new territorial acquisitions which were a priority during his reign, as well as honor the army, which he led, and which was a fundament of stable dynastic policy, which he desired for his successors. War campaigns provided Rome not only with loot, taxes and other donations, but also a very important component of a well-functioning economy – slaves. The army which became a more and more important element of Roman policy, had never before nor after been so numerous. Peace within its ranks was guaranteed by constant campaigns, victories and loot.

The arch in an ideal way represents the ethos of the Roman emperor – protected and favored by the gods, a courageous victor, who conducts wars and conquests for the glory of Rome and the prosperity of its inhabitants. However, that is not all that the brave emperor wanted to smuggle into the monument of his glory; because the arch was dedicated to his two sons – successors and continuators of the new Severus dynasty – Caracalla and Geta, believing that kinship of blood will ensure them with success and facilitate joint rule. Reportedly on his deathbed he gave them his life wisdom which was such: “Be harmonious, enrich the soldiers, scorn everybody else. Their names (although only partially) are visible in the inscription found in the arch attic, which tells of the fact, that the arch was funded by the Senate and the Roman populace to the victor Septimius Severus, as well as his prominent son (Caracalla) – the father of the fatherland, who did so much for this fatherland as well as for foreigners. And where is the aforementioned second son of Septimius Severus – Geta? Initially his name was upon the inscription. However, in the year 211, meaning after the death of his father, he was assassinated by his brother and his name – condemned to eternal damnation – at the order of Caracalla was removed from the arch and replaced with more tirades in honor of Caracalla himself. However, Caracalla did not live too long. Six years after the death of his father he was murdered. Thus the Severus dynasty came to an end, and  the period of slow deterioration of the empire in the III century of its existence began. All the hopes pinned by the great leader Septimius Severus onto the shoulders of his sons were for naught – but surprisingly the arch itself remained.