The Arch of Septimius Severus

BEneath the Campi•oglio there is a Tryumphant Arch, which by the inscription may be conceiued to be made in the tune of Lucius Septimus Seuerus, and vnder his name, and by that which men marke and sufficiently find, it is made with Roofes of other buildings: it is also well adorned with good cutting and grauing: it is richly wrought both on the sides, and also before and behind: it was measured by the old Romane Palme of 12. fingers, euery finger of 4. minutes, which in to tall maketh 48. minutes. The widenesse of the Arch in the middle is 22. Palmes, 15. minutes and a halfe. The widenes of the Arches on the sides is 9. Palmes, 30. minutes. The thicknesse of the Arch in the •es is 23. Palmes, 25. minutes. The little Gates within the Arches are 7. Palmes and 30. minutes wide. The breadth of the Pilasters with the Columnes is 8. Palmes and 7. minutes. The thicknesse of the Columnes is 2. Palmes, 30. minutes. The thicknesse of the flat Columnes is 28. minutes. This Arch is now vnder the earth as farre as about the Pedestall, (for so high the earth is there raysed with the ruines) but there was a part left vncouered to unasure it, but they could not come to the Base to take the measure thereof, because it was troublesome to remoue the ruines.

BEfore I haue set downe all the measures of this Arch, touching the Ichnographie, that is the thicknesse and br•dth, now I will speake of the height. The height of the middlemost Arch, is 45. Palmes and 3. minutes. The height of the Arches besides, are 25. Palmes. The height of the Pedestall, is about 10. Palmes. The thickenesse of the Columnes is 2. Palmes and 30. minutes in Diameter beneath: but aboue vnder the Capitall, they are 2. Palmes and 16. minutes. The height of them, is 23. Palmes and 25 minutes. The height of the Architraue, in one Palme and 30. minutes. The height of the Fréese, is one Palme, and 3. minutes. The height of the Cornice, is two Palmes and 14. minutes. The height of the Plinthus, aboue the Cornice, marked ✚. is 29. minutes. The Base aboue the Plinthus, is halfe a Palme. The vppermost Cornice, is one Palme and 2. minutes, and proportioned in a greater forme.

IMP. CAES. LVCIO SEPTIMO. M. FIL. SEVERO. PIO. PERTINACI AVG. / PATRI PATRIAE PARTHICO ARABICO, ET PARTHICO ADIA BENICO / PONTIF. MAX. TRIBVNIC. POTEST. XI. IMP. X•OS. 3. PRO. / COS. ET. IMP. CAES. M. AVRELIO. L. FIL. ANTONINO. AV•. / PIO FEDICI TRIBVNIC. POTEST. VI. COS. PRO•. P. / OPTIMIS, FORTISSIMISQVE PRINCIPIB• / OB REMPVBLICAM RESTIIVTAM IMPER •O POPVLI ROMANI PRO. / PAGATVM INSIGNIBVS VIRTVTIBVS •O•WM DO• •ORIS Q. S. P. Q. R.

IN the side before, I haue set downe all the heights and bredths of the Arch Triumphant, of Lucius Septimus Seuerus: now I will shew the particular, and seuerall parts thereof, as I said before. There is no measure of the Base of the Pedestals; but it may be thought, that they containe as much at the least, as the Cornice of the Pedestals: which Cornice is a Palme, and so much the Base may hold: of which part, the forme standeth heere in the middle, marked G. The Base of the Columne standeth thereby marked F. the which Base hath a stone or counter-Base vnder the Plinthus: and this may peraduenture be done, because the Columnes could not reach to such a height as they should. The Capitall is here not set downe, because you shall see the like in the beginning of the Order, called Composita, in my fourth Booke, for this is Composita worke. The height of the Architraue, is one Palme and 30. minutes: the Fréese is 9. Palmes and 3. minutes: which Freese, for that it is full of grauing, sheweth of a small height where it standeth: and by Vitruuius writing, it ought to stand the fourth part higher then the Architraue; and this is lesse. The height of the Cornice, is two Palmes and 14. minutes: which in trueth is much too high, according to the proportions of the other members; and it sheweth so much the greate• because it hath more proiceture of height: and this makes me specially beléeue, that this Arch is made of diuers pieces o• the• buildings, because of the shrinking of the members. The forme of the Architraue, Fréese and Cornice, is marked •th B. The height of the Base, aboue the said Cornice, is halfe a Palme: the height of the last Cornice, is a Palme and two minutes, and hath such a great proiecture, and hanging ouer, as you sée in the Figure: and in such place, I blame not the Cornice; but affirme that it was made with great iudgement: for that the great proiecture makes the Cornice shew great• because it is seene from vnder vpwards, and for that there is like matter, it is not in vaine for the building. This • here is marked with A. The Cornice which beareth vp the greatest Arch is marked with C. whereof the Prose•re is much too great: and for my part, in such a subiect, I would rather giue iudgement that it should be high • it with the bearing out, it should not hinder the sight of the Arch. That worke marked D. commeth right on the Facie, which goeth from Columne to Columne, aboue the two little Arches; and this accompanieth the Cornice C. The Cornice marke• with E. is that which vpholdeth the smal Arch, the which Cornice hath a Scima, wh• should not make fi•ch a piece of worke: for that all Cornices, whose crownes haue not their iust Proiecture, are • for the • of a Cornice, is, that the crowne bee of a good height, and of a good proiecture: wherefore • for a co•-rule, that the crownes that are higher then their Scima, and those at least, that shall haue as • Proiecture • height, shall alwayes be commended by men of vnderstanding. This I thought good to set downe • ruse • thereof that know it not.