DOI issue:
Wace, A.J.B.: Studies in roman historical reliefs
DOI Page / Citation link:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.70348#0288
272 The British School at Rome.
campaigns took place in 297 and 298 and were carried to a victorious
conclusion by his Caesar Galerius. The triumphal arch at Salonica, which
has been attributed to so many emperors, has been rightly determined by
Dr. Kinch to be a memorial of his success.1 As a working hypothesis we
may consider the earlier reliefs to be Diocletianic. If however we find
this impossible, we can consider the other alternatives.
Thus we may provisionally distribute the reliefs into two groups,
Diocletianic and Constantinian, represented respectively by D, E, and F,
and by B. An examination of technical points will help us to decide to
which group the others belong.
A. (Pl. XXXV, 1). This relief has all its edges complete and fits
properly into its architectural framework. Its lower edge rests on
the blocks above the archway.
B. (Pl. XXXV, 2). This like A also fits exactly into the architecture
round it, and the feet of the figures, though cut free, rest level on
the blocks above the arch and are not broken.
C. (Pl. XXXVII, 2). This relief has no border at the end, and the
right-hand part of the top border seems to have been cut away to
admit the two blocks above. The bottom border has the same
moulding as that of A and B.
D. (Pl. XXXVI, 1). Here it is noticeable that the relief has no proper
bottom border, and that all the legs are broken at the ankle and
have no proper feet. There are faint traces of feet roughly cut on
the tops of the blocks above the archway. The moulding above
which they appear is similar to the Constantinian mouldings below
A, B, and C.
E. (Pl. XXXVI, 2). The figures here also have their ankles broken,
and their feet are roughly cut on the two blocks above the arch,
and the moulding below is of the Constantinian type below A and
B. Also the bottom of the rostra has been clumsily cut away to
fit the curving slab above the keystone.
F. (Pl. XXXVII, 1). This relief fits well into its architectural sur-
roundings, but it is to be remarked that the moulding below, which
1 L' Arc de Triomphe de Salonique, Paris, Libraire Nilsson, 1890.
campaigns took place in 297 and 298 and were carried to a victorious
conclusion by his Caesar Galerius. The triumphal arch at Salonica, which
has been attributed to so many emperors, has been rightly determined by
Dr. Kinch to be a memorial of his success.1 As a working hypothesis we
may consider the earlier reliefs to be Diocletianic. If however we find
this impossible, we can consider the other alternatives.
Thus we may provisionally distribute the reliefs into two groups,
Diocletianic and Constantinian, represented respectively by D, E, and F,
and by B. An examination of technical points will help us to decide to
which group the others belong.
A. (Pl. XXXV, 1). This relief has all its edges complete and fits
properly into its architectural framework. Its lower edge rests on
the blocks above the archway.
B. (Pl. XXXV, 2). This like A also fits exactly into the architecture
round it, and the feet of the figures, though cut free, rest level on
the blocks above the arch and are not broken.
C. (Pl. XXXVII, 2). This relief has no border at the end, and the
right-hand part of the top border seems to have been cut away to
admit the two blocks above. The bottom border has the same
moulding as that of A and B.
D. (Pl. XXXVI, 1). Here it is noticeable that the relief has no proper
bottom border, and that all the legs are broken at the ankle and
have no proper feet. There are faint traces of feet roughly cut on
the tops of the blocks above the archway. The moulding above
which they appear is similar to the Constantinian mouldings below
A, B, and C.
E. (Pl. XXXVI, 2). The figures here also have their ankles broken,
and their feet are roughly cut on the two blocks above the arch,
and the moulding below is of the Constantinian type below A and
B. Also the bottom of the rostra has been clumsily cut away to
fit the curving slab above the keystone.
F. (Pl. XXXVII, 1). This relief fits well into its architectural sur-
roundings, but it is to be remarked that the moulding below, which
1 L' Arc de Triomphe de Salonique, Paris, Libraire Nilsson, 1890.