Pompeii. Arch of Caligula.

 

Also referred to as Arch of Tiberius or Caligula or Augustus [Gell], Arch of C. Caesar Augustus and castellum aquae [Fiorelli], Arch of Nero [Mau], Arch of Mercurio [after street location],

According to Katherine E Welch, the statue on which the naming after Caligula is based is probably Marcus Tullius who donated the adjacent Temple of Fortuna.

 

Arch of Caligula. May 2010. Looking north through arch at north-east end of the Forum, to the Arch of Caligula.

 

Arch of Caligula. March 2010. Looking north along the east side of the Forum through three arches in line.

Looking through the site of the Arch of Nero, the arch at the north-east end of the Forum and the Arch of Caligula.

Photo courtesy of Rick Bauer.

 

Arch of Caligula. May 2010. Looking north from Via Foro.

 

Arch of Caligula. May 2010. Looking north from arch at the start of the Via Mercurio.

A bronze equestrian statue was found in pieces beneath the arch.

This was (arbitrarily) identified as being Caligula and may have come from the top of the arch.

Now in Naples Archaeological Museum.  Inventory number 5635.

According to Welch, the statue wears a toga and senatorial sandals and is realistically portrayed as middle aged.

She suggests it is more likely to be a high ranking civic person.

She suggests that it may be Marcus Tullius who was tribunus militum a populus a non military but equestrian rank.

He was also the donor of the adjacent Temple of Fortuna Augustus in the Augustan period.

See Welch K. E. in Dobbins, J. J. and Foss, P. W., 2008. The World of Pompeii. Oxford: Routledge. (p.551-554, fig. 36.2a-c).

 

Arch of Caligula. About 1870. Looking north from arch at the start of the Via Mercurio.

Photo courtesy of Rick Bauer.

 

Arch of Caligula. September 1944, looking north towards the erupting Vesuvius.

Photo courtesy of Rick Bauer.

 

Arch of Caligula. May 2010. South side, looking north to Tower XI, the Tower of Mercurio.

 

Arch of Caligula. About 1900. South side, looking north to Tower XI, the Tower of Mercurio.

Photo courtesy of Rick Bauer.

 

Arch of Caligula. May 2010. Looking south-west.

 

Arch of Caligula. May 2010. Looking south-east.

 

Arch of Caligula. May 2010. Looking south at north side.

 

Arch of Caligula. May 2010. Looking south at west side.

 

Arch of Caligula. May 2010. Looking south at east side.

 

Arch of Caligula. May 2010. Looking north at south side.

 

Arch of Caligula. March 2009. Looking south along Via di Mercurio to arch.

 

Arch of Caligula. About 1870. Looking south along Via di Mercurio towards arch.

Photo courtesy of Rick Bauer.