Clear and detailed photos of the Arch de Orange

[Publius Nonius Severus]

I think the writing was put down by the Romans when presenting the captured Gallic equipment to the gods. Sort of like saying, "To Mars, From Gaius" There's an earlier RAT post about this from a while back.

A dedication makes sense.

I have also found some reference to the word on the bottom of the shield, AVOT, to mean "has made" in ancient Gaulish. Apparently this was often used to identify the author, sponsor, or creator of the inscription as found in many ancient Gaulish inscriptions found in the region.