The arch of Septimius Severus stands in the Forum, on the eastern front
of the Capitol. The soil and rubbish there accumulated was fifteen feet
deep, but the ground was excavated under Napoleon, and the whole of this
fine monument was thus brought into view. It was erected A. D. 205, by
the senate and people of Rome, in honor of the emperor and his sons, on
account of their conquests of the Parthians and Persians. This is
recorded upon the monument, in an inscription which is still perfectly
legible. The monument was constructed entirely of Grecian marble. There
is a large and lofty middle arch, and there are two lateral arches. In
one of the columns is a staircase of fifty steps, leading to the top, on
which there was originally a car drawn by six horses, containing the
figures of the emperor and of his two sons, Geta and Caracalla. Geta was
murdered by his brother, and the inscription which alluded to both was
mutilated by Caracalla, so as to leave out the name of Geta; this
obliteration is obvious on inspection. There are on the panels many
figures in high relief, representing deeds of war, in which the Romans
so much delighted.