Arch of Hadrian

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The Arch of Hadrian (also called the "Arches of Capua" or the "Lucky Arch") is an ancient Roman triumphal arch located in Santa Maria Capua Vetere (ancient Capua, now in the Province of Caserta, southern Italy). It was originally a triple arch, but today only three pylons and one of the lateral arches survive. It spanned the Appian Way and constituted an ideal entrance to the city, perhaps corresponding to the line of the pomerium.

History: The arch was erected between the latter half of the 1st century and the former half of the 2nd century, but we are ignorant of its dedication. An inscription was reported, with a dedication to the Emperor Hadrian, later determined to be false. A dedication to Septimius Severus was also dubiously reported (CIL X, 3825), but this probably belonged to the podium of a statue. It was hypothesised that the arch's erection occurred under the Flavian dynasty after the gift of the status of colonia to the city (along with the name Colonia Flavia Augusta). There was a restoration, with additions and reconstructions of the lateral structure in 1851. In 1860, it was involved in combat in the Battle of Volturnus: a commemorative plaque, with text written...