The Etruscan Arch or Arch of Augustus or Augustus Gate is one of eight gates in the

Etruscan __NOTOC__ Etruscan may refer to: Ancient civilization *The Etruscan language, an extinct language in ancient Italy *Something derived from or related to the Etruscan civilization **Etruscan architecture **Etruscan art **Etruscan cities **Etruscan ...

wall of

Perusia The ancient Perusia, now Perugia, first appears in history as one of the 12 confederate cities of Etruria. It is first mentioned in the account of the war of 310 or 309 BC between the Etruscans and the Romans. It took, however, an important par ...

, known today as

Perugia Perugia (, , ; lat, Perusia) is the capital city of Umbria in central Italy, crossed by the River Tiber, and of the province of Perugia. The city is located about north of Rome and southeast of Florence. It covers a high hilltop and part o ...

. It is one of the only two surviving gates along with the Porta Marzia to the south.Castex, pp. 1–2 It was constructed in the second half of the 3rd century BC and was restored by

Augustus Caesar Augustus (born Gaius Octavius; 23 September 63 BC – 19 August AD 14), also known as Octavian, was the first Roman emperor; he reigned from 27 BC until his death in AD 14. He is known for being the founder of the Roman Pri ...

in 40 BC after his victory in the

Perusine War The Perusine War (also Perusian or Perusinian War, or the War of Perusia) was a civil war of the Roman Republic, which lasted from 41 to 40 BC. It was fought by Lucius Antonius and Fulvia to support Mark Antony against his political enemy Octav ...

. Representing the best surviving and most monumental of the Etruscan city gates it opens onto the ''cardo maximus'' of the city, corresponding to the modern Ulisse Rocchi Road. The arch is part of a massive set of walls which are tall and long made of travertine and set without mortar. It covers approximately a quarter of a square mile over three hills. The arch consists of an attractive facade with a single archway and two trapezoidal towers. The archway forms a semicircular ''barrell vault'' passageway over 30 feet high. Two rows of ''voussoirs'' form the shape of the arch and are held in place by a keystone at the top. Above the arch (in two concentric rows) there is an ornate Doric-inspired frieze of

metope In classical architecture, a metope (μετόπη) is a rectangular architectural element that fills the space between two triglyphs in a Doric frieze, which is a decorative band of alternating triglyphs and metopes above the architrave of a bu ...

s with round shields and

triglyph Triglyph is an architectural term for the vertically channeled tablets of the Doric frieze in classical architecture, so called because of the angular channels in them. The rectangular recessed spaces between the triglyphs on a Doric frieze are ...

s in six vertical bands. Above this is another smaller voussoir arch between two pilasters making the height of the Etruscan Arch more than 60 feet. On the internal face it is possible to read the inscription ''Augusta Perusia,'' which was the name of the city after the reconstruction of 40 BC; on the external face the inscription ''Colonia Vibia'' is inscribed, testimony to the ''ius coloniae'' received from Emperor

Trebonianus Gallus Gaius Vibius Trebonianus Gallus (206 – August 253) was Roman emperor from June 251 to August 253, in a joint rule with his son Volusianus. Early life Gallus was born in Italy, in a family with respected Etruscan senatorial background. He had ...

(251–253). The

loggia In architecture, a loggia ( , usually , ) is a covered exterior gallery or corridor, usually on an upper level, but sometimes on the ground level of a building. The outer wall is open to the elements, usually supported by a series of columns ...

on the left tower is an addition from the 16th century, while the fountain at the bottom of the same tower was completed in 1621. In front of the arch is Palazzo Gallenga Stuart, the seat of the

University for Foreigners Perugia A university () is an institution of higher (or tertiary) education and research which awards academic degrees in several academic disciplines. Universities typically offer both undergraduate and postgraduate programs. In the United States, t ...

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{{reflist Buildings and structures completed in the 3rd century BC Buildings and structures in Perugia Etruscan sites Etruscan architecture

See also

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