Arch of Trajan, Roman triumphal arch in Timgad, Algeria.
The Arch of Trajan is a stone gateway with three passages that marked the western entrance to this Roman colony. The central opening is wider than the two flanking passages, and carved niches on the structure once held decorative statues.
The Arch was built when the Romans established this new colony in the late 100s AD and expanded it in the following century. It stood as the main entry point throughout the city's prosperous years under Roman rule.
The Arch honors the founding of this Roman settlement and served as a gateway where people entered the colony. Walking through it today, you can still sense its role as a threshold between the outside world and the organized city within.
The Arch stands in an open archaeological site located at high elevation in the mountains and can be reached by walking through the ancient city layout. You can view it from multiple angles and walk around it freely.
The side passages have curved pediments, a rare blend of Roman and North African construction methods working together. This mixed design shows how local builders adapted Roman ideas to their own landscape and materials.
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