The Arch of Constantine, one of the most popular tourist attractions in Rome, was struck by lightning on Wednesday, September 4. The storm took the city by surprise and shook stone fragments loose from the ancient triumphal monument, which dates back to the 4th century.
Arch of Constantine Damaged in Storm
When a catastrophic storm suddenly hit Rome on Wednesday, September 4, a bolt of lightning struck the ancient Arch of Constantine. The Colosseum Archaeological Park confirmed the lightning strike, which blew large chunks of stone off of the 4th-century monument, to Reuters. “The recovery work by technicians was timely. Our workers arrived immediately after the lightning strike. All of the fragments were recovered and secured,” the Colosseum Archaeological Park told The Guardian shortly after the storm.
“Damage assessments have already begun and the analyses will continue tomorrow morning,” they continued. During Wednesday’s storm, nearly two and a half feet of rain fell on Rome in less than an hour—the amount the city ordinarily gets in a month. The Trevi Fountain and lower levels of the Colosseum were flooded, and the Circus Maximus track was closed after two large trees fell.
Arch Was Already Undergoing Maintenance
Fortunately, no one was injured when lightning struck the Arch of Constantine, and all the debris has since been collected. Several tourists reportedly helped gather loose pieces of stone found near the arch, in case they were fragments of the ancient monument. At the time of the lightning strike, the Arch of Constantine was undergoing restoration.
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In a statement, the superintendent of the Colosseum Archaeological Park explained, “It seems important to us to underscore that just two days ago the restoration site of the southern front of the Arch of Constantine began and therefore we can confirm that it is a case that combines scheduled maintenance (relative to the restoration already planned) and emergency protection promptly carried out.”
What Is the Arch of Constantine?
The Arch of Constantine was built in 315 AD to commemorate Emperor Constantine’s victory over Maxentius at the Battle of the Milvian Bridge. It is the largest Roman triumphal arch and a popular tourist destination, towering over 80 feet inside Rome’s Colosseum Archaeological Compound. The monument is comprised of brick-faced concrete covered in marble. The sculptural decoration on the Arch of Constantine’s facade includes reliefs and statues removed from earlier Roman monuments dedicated to Trojan, Hadrian, and Marcus Aurelius. The portrait heads on the older monuments were replaced with Constantine’s likeness. Emperor Constantine, who ruled from 306 to 337 CE, is remembered as one of the most influential rulers of the Roman Empire.
