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Arches were public buildings, designed for the reward and encouragement of noble enterprises, erected generally to the
honour of such eminent persons as had either won a victory of extraordinary consequence abroad, or had rescued the common wealth at home from any considerable danger. At first they were plain and rude structures, by no means remarkable for beauty or state. But in latter times no expences were thought too great for the rendering them in the highest manner splendid and magnificent: Nothing being more usual than to have the greatest actions of the heroes they stood to honour, curiously expressed, or the whole procession of the triumph cut out on the sides. The arches built by Romulus were only of brick ; that of Camillus of plain square stone; but then those of Caesar, Drusus, Titus, Trajan, Gordian, &c. were all entirely Marble.
As to their figure, they were at first semicircular, whence probably they took their names. Afterwards they were built four-square, with a spacious arched gate in the middle, and little ones on each side. Upon the vaulted part of the middle gate, hung little winged images, representing Victory, with Crowns in their Hands, which when they were let down, they put upon the Conqueror's Head, as he passed under in Triumph.