THE ARCH OF TITUS - NOT WHAT I EXPECTED

Recently, Shauna and I spent a vacation in Italy, and not surprisingly we visited Rome for a few days. We booked our tour of the Coliseum and Palatine [the nearby hill once occupied by luxurious Roman Places and monuments].  A travel guide of Rome describes the area this way "Shrouded in legend and steeped in history, the Palatine Hill is a place of enchantment. " I must admit that my experience was quite different. Walking into the Coliseum, my imagination conjured up scenes of animal and human execution, unimaginable cruelty, and murderous sport. Looking at the ancient seats I saw the rabble of Rome and heard their shouting, while not far sat the elite and wealthy of Rome no less vocal and excited, watching Jewish prisoners or slaves play out the last scenes of their lives in pain and torture. When we heard tour guides elaborate on the cruelty of the "Games" it was predominately with reference to Christian suffering and martyrdom. Quietly, I surmised that many more Jewish martyrs met their death in the Coliseum than Christians, though I have no basis for that assumption. 

The one place that the local Tour Guides did emphasize the Jewish perspective, was at the Arch of Titus. As you leave the Coliseum, and walk towards the Palatine Hill were Royal Palaces and the Forum [the Roman marketplace] were located, the main street passes under a massive arch. Unlike many other Victory Arches, this one posses only one large arch in the middle without the two smaller side arches that The Roman's sometimes built. At the top of the arch there is a large engraved dedication where the name Vespasian stands out quite prominently. 

THE ARCH OF TITUS

 The exterior is surprisingly rather stark, with just eight columns carved in the corners of the arch framing the arch itself. In addition there are some elaborate decorative carvings above the arch and below the architrave. However on the inside of the arch itself facing each other from either side of the gap and covering the entire width of the arch from side to side, are two very elaborate carvings that remain in relatively good condition. On the right side [as the observer is facing north] the artisan has depicted a man dressed in Roman Armour riding a chariot that is pulled by four massive horses. He is surrounded by  soldiers and celebrants. Standing next to him on the chariot, is a winged woman, perhaps some sort of Angel. The carving is in good shape.  Only the faces of the individuals in and around the chariot itself are badly damaged, perhaps by some overenthusiastic invader centuries after it was first built. One imagines the face on the driver of the chariot was that of Titus himself or perhaps his father Vespasian. Father and son looked remarkably alike so it would be difficult to tell in any case.  I am reminded of something I once read about Israeli academic Yossi Elitzur who remarked that this image reminded him of the prophesy of Zecharia- The four charioteers [see Zecharia Chapter 6:1-8].

TITUS

VESPASIAN

Just to remind you of a few facts and give some perspective, Vespasian was sent by the Emperor Nero in the yer 67 AD to put down the revolt in Judea. He traveled to Judea at the head of at least three legions  one led by his Son Titus. Nero committed suicide in the year 68 and after a period of political chaos Vespasian finally returned to Rome and ascended the throne and left the siege of Jerusalem in the capable hands of his son Titus.  Titus destroyed Jerusalem and the Temple in the summer of the year 70. 

He brought the spoils from Judea and the Holy Temple to Rome and proceeded to build this arch and subsequently the adjacent Coliseum with the proceeds from the conquest. There was likely even enough money left over to renovate and rebuild the palaces of the Palatine Hill.  Vespasian ruled until the year 79, and then Titus became Emperor for about two years until late summer 81 AD. His brief reign was marked by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius, a three day fire in the City of Rome, and a severe plague that took many Roman lives.

 We don't need to go into detail abut the cruelty with which Titus carried out his mission. Suffice it to recall that the Jews on Masada chose death rather than submitting to the Roman armies of Vespasian  in surrender.  

Now we come to the more emotional of the two carvings. On the opposite side of the Arch there is a second depiction of the spoils and prisoners from the conquest of Judea as they are marched in procession before the crowds of Rome. To the credit of the Tour guides in the area they all used this opportunity to describe the conquest of Judea and the spoils that Titus brought back which in turn paid for the construction on the Arch and the Coliseum itself. This was the place that the Jewish perspective came out. This was the place where I was overcome with emotions approaching revulsion instead of adulation. 

One can see clearly the Menorah being carried by prisoners or perhaps soldiers towards the outline of a huge arch. They are also carrying what seems to be a small alter and two trumpets taken from the spoils of the Temple. Waving in the air are placards [tabula ensata] possibly celebrating their victory over the Jews of Judea. It is hard to pinpoint the emotion flooding through your body while viewing this evidence of the celebration of the defeat of your people. Excuse me if I admit that I WANTED TO SPIT.  I resisted the temptation. Subsequently though, I could not help thinking of the over-told story of Yisrael Eldad standing in front of the bust of the Emperor Hadrian at the Israel museum. In my mind I substituted Titus for Hadrian.  Titus, Titus, take a look at the state of your palaces now. See the ruins of your Coliseum now. As for us we just celebrated the 67th independence day of the renewed State of Israel. It is no coincidence that in front of the Knesset there is nothing other than a huge menorah telling the story of the Jewish People. It is no coincidence that the emblem of the State of Israel is made up of another menorah flanked by two olive branches reminiscent of another prophesy of Zecharia. At that moment revulsion was replaced by pride and I thought of my parents. As my mother would have said, Titus, may your memory continue to "Sitz in Drert" where it belongs.