Porte de Mars is an ancient Roman
triumphal arch
A triumphal arch is a free-standing monumental structure in the shape of an archway with one or more arched passageways, often designed to span a road. In its simplest form a triumphal arch consists of two massive piers connected by an arch, cro ...
in
Reims, France. It dates from the third century AD, and was the widest arch in the Roman world.
The Arch
The monumental Mars Gate dates from the first part of the 3rd century and is the only remaining of four gates that gave access to the Gallo-Roman town known as
Durocortorum
Durocortorum was the name of the city Reims during the Roman era. It was the capital of the Remi tribe and the second largest city in Roman Gaul.
Before the Roman conquest of northern Gaul, the city was founded circa 80 BC, served as the cap ...
.
The arch stands 32 metres long and 13 metres high, with three wide arched openings. It was named after a nearby temple to
Mars
Mars is the fourth planet from the Sun and the second-smallest planet in the Solar System, only being larger than Mercury. In the English language, Mars is named for the Roman god of war. Mars is a terrestrial planet with a thin at ...
. The arch has many highly detailed carvings on its exterior and on the ceilings of its three passageways, including Romulus and Remus, farm workers, and Leda and the swan. Local folklore says that the inhabitants of Reims built the arch in gratitude when the Romans brought major roads through their city. It became part of the
castle of the archbishops in 1228, which was destroyed in 1595, leaving the arch, with the openings blocked, part of the city walls. Rediscovered in 1667, it was not fully revealed until the dismantling of the city walls in 1844-54.
Gallery
Image:Porte Mars 03.jpg
Image:Porte Mars 07.jpg
Image:Porte Mars 11.jpg
Image:Porte Mars 09.jpg
Image:Porte Mars 10.jpg
Image:Porte Mars 06.jpg
Image:Porte Mars 12.jpg
Image:Porte Mars 13.jpg
File:Porte_Mars_Arch,_Reims,_France_02.jpg
File:Porte_Mars_Arch,_Reims,_France_03.jpg
References
Buildings and structures completed in the 3rd century
Ancient Roman triumphal arches
Buildings and structures in Reims
Tourist attractions in Marne (department)
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