The
Arch of Galerius was built in 305 AD, to celebrate the definitive
triumph of the Emperor over the Persians..
The whole structure consisted
of 4 main pillars and 2 smaller ones on each side, the former supporting
a central dome. Through the latter, a connection to the Galerius
Palace (to the south) and to the Rotunda (to the north) was possible.
Today, only a part of the monument still stands and there is no
information on the period or the circumstances under which the rest
of the arch was destroyed.
The Arch of Galerius belongs
to the Galerian group of buildings, in the SE part of the historical
center of Thessaloniki. From the original triumphal arch only three
pillars and a part of the brick ma-sonry above are preserved to
the present day. The two main pillars are covered with sculpted
marble slabs, which narrate the wars of Galerius against the Persians.
The central arched opening is 9.7 m wide and 12.5 m high and the
secondary 4.85 m and 6.5 m respectively.
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