Framing the Sun: The Arch of Constantine...

[tlclark]

Framing the Sun: The Arch of Constantine and the Roman Cityscape by Elizabeth Marlowe

Art Bulletin, June 2006, Vol LXXXVIII no. 2

New article in the Art Bulletin. It's rare the Art Bulletin ever has a Roman topic so this is cool.

Marlowe argues that the arch was created to frame the existing colossus of Nero which was remodeled to be Sol Invictus. Neat diagrams.

Needless to say, this throws the whole debate over Constantine's religious devotions into doubt once again. If the arch is meant to frame an existing statue of Sol, then the attic inscription becomes far less ambiguous.

Interesting.

Travis

[Quintius Clavus]

I possess a coin of Constantine, which has the god, Sol Invictus, on its reverse. Toleration of Christianity did not mean converting. He wasn't baptized until on his deathbed, likely because he had a pretty guilty conscience due to the people(including close family members) he had had executed during his reign as emperer.

Quinton/Marcus Quintius Clavus