Arcus Argentariorum

The monument dates back to 204 AD and was built in honor of Septimius Severus, his wife and children. Measurements: over 6 meters high, almost 6 meters wide and the door has an opening of 3.3 meters. The artifact is rich in friezes, decorations and bas-reliefs, some of which have been erased: historians indicate that they belonged to people who later fell into disgrace. There were probably some statues above the architrave. The different size of the columns and other marbles indicates that the material used in the construction is reused. The fact that the right side does not lean perfectly against the church indicates that previously there was an ancient Roman building, which was later lost.

As a tour guide it is always a pleasure for me to pass here and admire the whole surrounding area, between the so-called Arco di Giano, the Church of San Giorgio al Velabro and the Arco degli Argentari. They all deserve to be seen and photographed at the very least. The beautiful Arco degli Argentari is actually an architrave (not an arch), which rests on the right side of the Church of San Giorgio al Velabro. Beautiful and valuable are the friezes that run along the marble surface of the artifact, built at the beginning of the third century by the Argentari (merchants and merchants, obviously rich, of the time). In an area dedicated to the market, and therefore to commerce, it is almost natural to be able to find a small monument with this meaning, a monument donated to the imperial family of the Severi. It is also interesting to note how, moreover, the Arco degli Argentari brings with it a great example of damnatio memoriae, a condemnation in vogue in ancient Rome for which the historical memory was literally erased from those condemned for treason: statues, reliefs or buildings that had to deal with the traitor they had to be destroyed or replaced by something else. And this happened to Geta, brother of the Emperor Caracalla who first killed him and then accused him of treason. Geta was sentenced to damnatio memoriae and here too, among the reliefs, we note that in particular one figure has an abraded face. That face in the past represented Geta itself. Moreover, the Arco degli Argentari is also at the center of some legends with a mystical flavor of the medieval era, as it would have been the entrance to a huge treasure that no one, however, has ever found.

... Rome ... every corner is a marvel. The arch of the Argentari .... The dynasty of the Severi, the writings and the abraded figure of Geta for DAMNAZIO MEMORIE ... them in the Greek Ripa ... market area ... Boario olitorium and piscarium ... on the slopes of the Palatine as soon as you cross the arch of Janus

You get there only if brought by a guide and moved by knowledge and curiosity. No. It is said that by passing under it one could reach a great treasure (may it be for this reason that it is inaccessible?). It is a real arch but a supporting lintel which is richly decorated with bas-reliefs. It bears the signs of the custom of being canceled if one were convicted of serious crimes. Very beautifull