Arch of Septimius Severus: View of the arch and its position on the Forum Romanum

A triumphal arch dedicated in AD 203 to commemorate the Parthian victories of Emperor Septimius Severus and his two sons, Caracalla and Geta, in the two campaigns against the Parthians of 194-195 and 197-199. After Caracalla came to power, references to Geta were removed from the arch. The central archway, spanned by a richly coffered semicircular vault, has lateral openings to each side archway, a feature copied in many later triumphal arches. The Arch stands close to the foot of the Capitoline Hill. A flight of steps originally led to the central opening. It was originally topped with a quadriga sculpture group.