Museo dell'Arco di Traiano (Palazzo Casiello)

The Arch of Trajan in Benevento is a marble triumphal arch begun in 114 AD to commemorate Emperor Trajan and the Via Traiana.

Why it matters

The arch's reliefs provide an unusually extensive sculptural programme celebrating imperial government, public welfare and the construction of a major road to Brindisi. Its later use as a city gate helped preserve the monument through the medieval period.

What to notice

The attic inscription dates the monument to Trajan's reign. Relief panels depict imperial duties, civic benefactions and episodes connected with the Via Traiana, while the long frieze records the emperor's Dacian triumph. The monument's imagery presents Trajan as a ruler concerned with military success and civic order.

Context and history

The Senate commissioned the arch, which was dedicated in 114 AD. It commemorated the Via Traiana, completed in 109 AD, and Trajan's public works. During the medieval period the arch served as the Porta Aurea in Benevento's walls. Adjoining buildings were removed in 1854, restoring its freestanding appearance.