Arch of Constantine 1:160

Arch of Constantine 1:160

The Arch of Constantine is located in Rome in the immediate vicinity of the Colosseum and was erected to commemorate Emperor Constantine the Great's victory over Maxentius in the Battle of Milvian Bridge (312 AD). It was consecrated in 315 AD on the tenth anniversary of the emperor's reign. The monument was intended to celebrate Constantine's military success, legitimise his rule and deliberately place him in the tradition of earlier ‘good emperors’.

The three-arched triumphal arch is richly decorated and combines older spolia – reused reliefs from the reigns of Trajan, Hadrian and Marcus Aurelius – with newly created sculptures from Constantine's era. This mixture was politically intentional: by incorporating prestigious older works of art, Constantine was presented as a worthy heir to the glorious imperial era.

The reliefs and ornaments depict, among other things:

* Imperial hunting and sacrificial scenes that emphasise the ruler's piety and virtues.

* Battle scenes, captures and triumphal processions glorifying the victory over Maxentius.

* Personifications of Victories, river gods and allegories of the Roman people symbolising divine support and the unity of the empire.

* Richly decorated capitals, friezes and column elements adorned with acanthus leaves, garlands and eagles.

This model faithfully reproduces these ornate stone carvings and is available in the popular 1:160 scale. This makes it ideal for N gauge model railway layouts, where it can be integrated as a historically impressive eye-catcher.