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Triumphal arch
A triumphal arch is a structure in the shape of a monumental archway, in theory built to celebrate a victory in war, actually used to celebrate a ruler. Invented by the Romans, the classical triumphal arch is a free-standing structure, quite separate from city gates or walls, but the form is often used in engaged arches as well. In its simplest form a triumphal arch consists of two massive piers connected by an arch, crowned with a flat superstructure or attic on which a statue might be mounted or which bears commemorative inscriptions. The structure should be decorated with carvings, notably including "Victories", winged female figures (very similar to angels), a pair of which typically occupy the curved triangles beside the top of the arch curve. More elaborate triumphal arches have flanking subsidiary archways, typically a pair. The rhythmic ABA motif?of central arched void flanked by smaller ones?was adapted in Classical architecture, particularly since the Renaissance, to articulate the walls of structures. The voids may take the form of niches or be "blind", with masonry continuous behind. 
Arc de Triomphe, Paris, 1806 
Arco di Constantino, Rome, 315 AD 
India Gate, New Delhi, 1931 Roman triumphal archesThe tradition dates back to ancient Rome and is connected to the Senate's custom of granting Roman triumphs. Surprisingly little is known about how the Romans used triumphal arches; the only ancient author who discussed them was Pliny the Elder, writing in the first century AD. They are not mentioned at all by Vitruvius, the first century BC writer on Roman architecture. Pliny describes them as being honorary monuments of unusual importance, erected to commemorate triumphs. By the second century arches were being erected to commemorate other events, such as the surviving triumphal arch at Ancona, erected by a grateful city to commemorate Trajan's improvements to the harbor. It is unclear when the Romans first began erecting triumphal arches. They originated some time during the Roman Republican era, during which time three were erected in Rome, the earliest being one to Lucius Stertinius built in 196 BC. These appear to have been temporary structures, and none now survive. Most triumphal arches were built during the Roman Empire. By the fourth century, thirty-six triumphal arches can be traced in Rome. Only five now survive (see list below). The arches of Rome became increasingly elaborate over the centuries. They were at first very simple symbolic temporary gateways to the city, being built of brick or stone with a semicircular arched heading and hung with trophies of captured arms. Later arches were built of high-quality marble with a large central arch in the middle, its ceiling treated as a barrel vault, and sometimes two smaller ones on each side, adorned with a complete Architectural order, of columns and entablature, enriched with symbolic or narrative bas-reliefs and crowned with bronze statues, often a quadriga. The festive Corinthian order was the usual one. Post-Roman triumphal arches
Temporary Triumphal arch for a royal wedding in Gdansk in 1746 Temporary triumphal arches are still constructed, intended to be used for a celebratory parade or ceremony and then be dismantled afterwards. List of triumphal archesFor Roman ones only, see List of ancient Roman triumphal arches Permanent monumental triumphal arches include:
AlgeriaAustraliaAustriaBelgium
BulgariaChinaCroatiaCanada
France
GambiaGermany
GreeceHungary
India
IraqIrelandItaly
Libya
LaosMoldova
MoroccoNorth KoreaPhilippines
PortugalRomaniaRussia
Spain
There are many similar monuments in Spain which were originally built as gates in city walls and therefore cannot be considered triumphal arches in any sense except in their resemblance. In Madrid there are the Puerta de Alcalá, Puerta de Toledo, Puerta de San Vicente, Puerta de Hierro, etc. SyriaTurkey
UkraineUnited KingdomUnited States
VenezuelaLine notesSee alsoGallery<gallery> Image:Roman Arch of Trajan at Thamugadi (Timgad), Algeria 04966r.jpg|Trajan's Arch in Timgad, Algeria Image:Archofconstantine.jpg|The Arch of Constantine, Rome Image:ArchGlanum.jpg|The triumphal arch of Glanum Image:Berlin-brandenburg-gate.jpg|The Brandenburg Gate, in Berlin, Germany Image:Moscow Triumphal Gates.jpg|Moscow Triumphal Gates in Saint Petersburg Image:Sk328.jpg|Triuphal arch on Kutuzov Avenue in Moscow Image:Puerta de Alcalá.jpg|Puerta de Alcalá is a triumphal arch forming a monumental gateway to Madrid Image:Sankt Petersburg Narva Triumphal Arch 2005 a.jpg|Narva Triumphal Gates in Saint Petersburg Image:Hadrianus_gate.jpg|The triumphal arch erected to honor Hadrian who visitied Antalya in the 2nd century A.D. Image:Bukarest_Triumpf.jpg|The Thriumph Arch in Bucharest Image:The Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Arch at Grand Army Plaza.jpg|The Soldiers and Sailors Arch at Grand Army Plaza, Brooklyn, New York City Image:Triumphal arch - Washington Square.jpg|The Washington Square Arch, New York City Image:Chisinau Center.jpg|Triumfal arch, center of Chi?in?u Image:Hadrian's Arch.jpg|Arch of Hadrian in central Athens, with the Acropolis seen in the background. Image:ArcoDoTriunfoLisboa1.JPG|The Arco do Triunfo in Lisbon Image:redgates.jpg|Red Gate in Moscow used to be a rare example of a baroque triumphal arch. Image:Arc de Triomphe d'Orange.jpg|The triumphal arch in Orange, France Image:Arc_de_Triomf_Barcelona.JPG|The Arc de Triomf in Barcelona Image:Gambia banjul arch22.JPG|Arch 22 in Banjul, Gambia Image:GatewayIndia.jpg|The Gateway of India, Mumbai, India Image:Patou Xay.jpg|The Patuxay in Vientiane, Laos. A triumphal arch built to commemorate soldiers who died fighting the French for independence. Image:AguinaldoTriumphalArch.jpg|Temporary triumphal arch commemorating election of Emilio Aguinaldo as President of the Philippines, 1899 Image:CMR - Arche commémorative.JPG|Royal Military College of Canada Memorial Arch in Kingston, Ontario </gallery> External links
br:Bolz-enor ca:Arc de triomf cs:Vít?zný oblouk da:Triumfbue de:Triumphbogen el:????????? ????? es:Arco de triunfo eu:Garaipenaren ate fr:Arc de triomphe ko:??? hr:Slavoluk it:Arco trionfale he:??? ?????? hu:Diadalív nl:Triomfboog ja:??? no:Triumfbue oc:Arc de Trionf pl:?uk triumfalny ro:Arc de Triumf ru:???????????? ???? sk:Ví?azný oblúk fi:Riemukaari sv:Triumfbåge vi:Kh?i hoàn môn uk:???? ??????????? zh:??? Source: Wikipedia | The above article is available under the GNU FDL. | Edit this article
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