The Arc de Triomphe, an iconic landmark in Paris, is often seen as a grand symbol of triumph. However, it may surprise many to learn that it doesn’t fit the traditional definition of a “triumphal arch” from ancient Rome. Built to honor French heroes and celebrate military victories, the Arc de Triomphe is a massive structure made of solid stone, located at the western end of the Champs-Élysées. Despite its grandeur and historical significance, it diverges from the Roman concept of a triumphal arch.
In ancient Rome, a triumph was a specific ritual, a grand parade celebrating a significant military victory. This parade included the victorious general, his army, and spoils of war, and it passed through a specially erected triumphal arch. These arches were more than just monuments; they were part of the ceremonial route and commemorated an actual Roman triumph.
The Arc de Triomphe, while inspired by Roman architecture, was constructed in the 19th century to honor the French army and Napoleon’s victories. It doesn’t commemorate a single specific triumph but rather celebrates many. The three kings after Napoleon couldn’t agree on who the arch should be dedicated to, so today the arch is dedicated to a lot of different armies and events. This distinction makes it different from true Roman triumphal arches, which were tied to specific events and rituals.
Understanding this difference highlights how historical architecture can blend and reinterpret traditions, creating monuments that honor the past while adapting to new contexts and meanings. The Arc de Triomphe stands as a testament to French pride and military history, even if it doesn’t fit the strict Roman definition of a triumphal arch.
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Interestingly, Napoleon did commission it as a celebration of the victory at Austerlitz, but when we actually arrived in Paris he passed under a smaller wooden arch that was dedicated to his marriage to his 2nd wife, and the Arc de Triomphe was not completed during his lifetime.
I like those Adobe texties you got there…
Is a non binary Arch of Triumph is the OG of that term
Maybe it's a Masonic message that, "Rome Triumphed Here". Did anyone consider that? Does it look like Rome continues? Large, expensive, symbolic public monuments don't just drop willy-nilly onto the landscape for the amusement of tourists. And the Olympic association – oh. my. God; a massive passion play humanity puts on – visible from space – for us to show-off for the entertainment of our all-seeing, ancient cataclysm-surviving, breakaway-civilization overlords.
And don't even get me started on your new multi-billion franc subway station downtown – the one that looks like a roof caving in.
It ain't that special, we have one in London
Bucharest, Romania arch looks the same as that in Paris, France.
THE ARCH IS FAKE AND SO IS FRANCE HOORAH FOR THE FLAG OF THE FREE MAY IT WAVE AS OUR STANDARD FOREVER THE GEM OF THE LAND AND THE SEA AND THE BANNER OF THE RIGHT
Yeah, god forbids we use a word to name something slightly different
What is everybody's favorite color? How long has it been your favorite and why?
It's not a Roman arch, so the entire line of argument here is pointless
White House is 'fake' too. You'll find out why.
Clearly you do not grasp that Rome didn’t actually ever fall and still rules to this day.
It's to commemorate the French victory at austerlitz so it is a triumphal arch. BTW the Colosseum is actually the amphitheatre of Titus or the flavian amphitheatre
Is this because the French don't have enough military victories?
The biggest roundabout in the world
Really 😂are you not pretending to be a expert 😂😂😂ar least you are the first américain who does not confuse France for the capital of Paris 🤭😁🇨🇵🇨🇵🇨🇵
Barcelona has an Arc de Triompf. Nothing it's commemorating, it was just something they built for the 1888 World's Fair. My guidebook says it was the triumph of the city getting rid of the military citadel on that site (a hated symbol of military oppression), by building the park with arch, but that isn't on Wikipedia and seems a bit just-so story.
So many people not contributing any interesting facts to society saying this is useless. Where’s your channel? Where’s your shorts? Where’s your views? I thought this was lovely.
Go do something with your life 🤗
Didn’t Hitler march under that thing? And wasn’t Hitler trying to bring back Roman culture, as it was the first reich, making him an extension of the Roman Empire, as his reich was the second successor.
Making this triumph, an actual Triumph.
History sucks sometimes.
It's not sparkling wine 🤦 It's CAVA from Catalonia!
Flavian Amphitheater.
Technically the US made it legal to call champagne a sparkling wine that’s not made in the region Champagne….😅
Are you telling me that the Romans racially locked building a celebratory arch?
Our narrator is wow-way adorable.
Napoleon commissioned it as a triumph of Austerlitz. He named himself Roman Emperor and was crowned as such by the Pope. So it very much WAS meant to be a Roman triumphal arc. It is not an homage, it was quite literal.
A whole short that said a grand total of nothing.
Fun fact. If you walk in a straight line North, then south, you get to my city.
So youre saying something French is nothing like something Greek? Imagine gatekeeping for the romans on what a word means…….
Is no one gonna mension how the swedish athlete hitbthe yusus dikec pose
WOW, what's the purpose of this false information?
But everyone still calls sparkling wine champagne. Even if it's not from Champagne.
Diverting us from the truth… 🧲
What a lot of bull….history fact from cookie wrapper
Not sure France has ever actually triumphed since that was built.
Wishful thinking by the architect.
Now I understand why the English build a Station instead of an Arch buta after the defeat of Napoleon in Waterloo
Its not a triumph, its a sparkling arch
I’ve heard that generals weren’t allowed to step foot in Rome without giving up their title unless they were being given a triumph
Like the US is a homage to actual culture
This kind of análisis shows the structure of the u.s.a mind, and thats explain why they play football with the hands
What about Arch Stanton?
This is stupid
Is content really so dry you now have to make these nothing-burguers of videos to keep afloat? Channels like yours are a mistake…
Sometimes it is more fun to read the comments on these shorts, as everyone either corrects what he said or goes full snark mode.
Sooooô false
Just like the current administration in the us.