Arch of Gallienus

The Esquiline Gate, also known as the Arch of Gallienus, is one of the ancient gates of Rome, located in the Esquiline district. This monumental gate is part of the Servian Walls, the oldest city walls dating back to the 6th century BC during the reign of Servius Tullius. The Servian Walls were built using tuff blocks and represent one of the first major urban defense works of ancient Rome. The area where the Esquiline Gate stands has a history intertwined with the growth and expansion of the city. Originally, this area was located on one of the seven hills of Rome, the Esquiline, which became an important residential and commercial district during the republican and imperial era. With urban expansion, the Esquiline Gate became a crucial access point for traffic and commerce, connecting Rome to the Labicana and Prenestina roads leading to important settlements outside the city. The gate itself underwent various transformations over the centuries. During the Augustan period, the Esquiline Gate was monumentalized and expanded with the addition of travertine blocks. However, the current appearance of the gate is mainly due to a restoration intervention in 262 AD, commissioned by the prefect Marcus Aurelius Victor and dedicated to the emperor Gallienus and his wife Cornelia Salonina. This restoration is commemorated by an inscription still visible on the structure, celebrating Gallienus as a merciful and valorous prince. In the Middle Ages, the Esquiline Gate became known as the Arch of Gallienus, and the two smaller lateral arches were demolished in 1447 to make way for the construction of the church of Saints Vito and Modesto, located adjacent to the main arch. The current structure of the arch is simple and austere, with Corinthian pillars at the corners and few decorations, reflecting its adaptation to the functional and religious needs of the period. The location of the Esquiline Gate in the Roman urban context was of great strategic importance. Located in one of the most exposed areas of the city, the gate and the adjacent walls were often reinforced to ensure defense against potential attacks. However, despite its position, the gate was never the scene of significant military events, although it was part of a larger defensive system that also included an agger, a defensive earthwork over 30 meters wide, built to strengthen the flat stretch between the Quirinal and the Esquiline. An interesting anecdote related to the Esquiline Gate concerns the celebration of the Quinquatria minor, a festival dedicated to the goddess Minerva. According to legend, a group of flute players, in protest against a limitation imposed by the Roman Senate, exiled themselves to Tivoli. During a festival, the flute players were loaded onto a cart, drunk, and sent back to Rome. The driverless cart entered the city through the Esquiline Gate and arrived at the Forum, where the sympathy of the citizens turned this episode into an annual celebration with masks and music. Over the centuries, the Esquiline Gate lost its primary defensive function, becoming a historical and cultural symbol of Rome. During the medieval and Renaissance periods, the gate was gradually incorporated into the growing urban fabric of the city. Its importance as a main access point diminished, but the structure itself remained an important testimony to the ancient history of Rome.