Triumphal arches are monumental structures with at least one arched passageway and built to honor an important person or to commemorate a significant event. Although triumphal arches have been built by many nations it was the Romans who started the tradition. It is unclear when the Romans first began building triumphal arches but once the tradition became popular they created many Roman arches that were increasingly elaborate.

Patuxai is a war monument in the centre of Vientiane, Laos, dedicated to those who fought in the struggle for independence from France. It was built between 1957 and 1968. The monument has 5 towers that represent the 5 principles of coexistence among nations of the world. They are also representative of the 5 Buddhist principles of “thoughtful amiability, flexibility, honesty, honour and prosperity”.

Lucius Septimius Severus was a Roman Emperor born in Leptis Magna, in present day Libya, who reigned 193 until his death in 211. The Arch of Septimius Severus cannot be dated precisely, but it is likely that the citizens of Lepcis started the construction immediately after their fellow citizen had become emperor. The central scene on the arch shows the emperor shaking hands with his sons, Caracalla and Geta. Caracalla is shown as a tall young man and this offers a clue for the moment of completion of the arch, probably in the early 200′s.

Arch of Titus in Rome was constructed in 82 AD by the Roman Emperor Domitian shortly after the death of his older brother Titus to commemorate Titus’ victory in the Sack of Jerusalem in 70 AD. The Arch of Titus has provided the general model for many of the triumphal arches erected since the 16th century including the Arc de Triomphe.

Timgad was a Roman colonial town in present day Algeria founded by the Emperor Trajan around 100 AD. At the west end of the town rises a 12 meter (39 feet) high triumphal arch, called Trajan’s Arch (or the Timgad Arch), which was partially restored in 1900. The chief material used in building the arch was sandstone. The fluted columns are of fine white limestone and smaller columns are of colored marble.

Situated in the north of Jordan, Jerash was one of the most important cities in the Roman province of Arabia. The Romans ensured security and peace in this area which enabled its people to achieve great prosperity. Emperor Hadrian visited Jerash in AD 129-130. The Arch of Hadrian was built to celebrate his visit. This triumphal arch was intended to become the main Southern gate to the city but the expansion plans were never completed.

flickr/Storm Crypt

Situated next to the Colosseum in Rome, the Arch of Constantine was erected in 315 AD to commemorate Emperor Constantine I’s victory over Emperor Maxentius. The battle marked the beginning of Constantine’s conversion to Christianity. According to chroniclers, Constantine had a vision that God promised victory if his army daubed the sign of the cross on their shields. Although The triumphal arch certainly attributes Constantine’s success to divine intervention it does not display any overtly Christian symbolism.

flickr/5telios

The white marble Arch of Septimius Severus at the northeast end of the Roman Forum in Rome was built in 203 AD to commemorate the victories against the Parthians of Emperor Severus and his two sons. After the death of Severus, his sons Caracalla and Geta were initially joint emperors until Caracalla had Geta assassinated in 212 AD. Geta’s memorials were destroyed and inscriptions referring to him were removed from the triumphal arch.

This iconic Arc de Triomphe forms the focus of the main east-west road axis of Paris, running between the Louvre and the Grande Arche de la Défense in the west. The monument was commissioned by Napoleon in 1806 after his victory at Austerlitz. It was finally completed in 1836, long after his death. Famous victory marches around or under the Arc have included the Germans in 1871, the French in 1918, the Germans in 1940 and the French and Americans in 1944.