Second Memorial Arch Discovered Celebrating Titus’ Destruction of the Jews in 70AD

In Rome, another monument is found which commemorates how nearly 2000 years ago, Titus and the Roman armies surrounded and conquered Jerusalem:

It wasn’t enough for the Romans to enslave the Jews, plunder Judea, conquer Jerusalem, destroy the Temple and then erect a massive triumphal arch to commemorate those feats of war for millennia to come: They had to build a second, even larger monument to celebrate their victory.

Archaeologists in Rome have uncovered the remains of a second triumphal arch dedicated to the emperor Titus and his success in putting down the Great Revolt of the Jews in the first century C.E.

The building was nestled between the bleachers of the Circus Maximus, the sprawling arena where chariot races and other competitions were held. It is less than one kilometer away from the famous Arch of Titus on the Palatine hill, which famously depicts the menorah and other holy objects from the Temple being carried in a triumphal procession following the fall of Jerusalem to the Romans in 70 C.E.

The discovery of the second arch offers insight into the political climate of the late first century and the workings of the imperial propaganda machine, says Marialetizia Buonfiglio, the archaeologist in charge of the dig.

While Roman leaders and generals loved to boast about their successes in battle, the archaeologist could not recall another case of two arches being built to celebrate the same victory.

…As much is confirmed by the arch’s dedicatory inscription, which has not survived, but was transcribed into the account of an anonymous ninth-century pilgrim. The text bombastically proclaimed how Titus, “following the advice and direction of his father, subdued the Jewish people and destroyed Jerusalem, something which all other generals, kings and peoples before him had not even attempted or had failed to accomplish.

The destruction of the Jews in 70AD was not only a great victory for Titus and Rome, but for all of mankind, and it was surely worthy of more than one memorial to honor it.

Of course, besides Jesus and Hitler, the Roman emperor Titus is the man they hate the most, and the discovery of this second arch must have irked many Jews to no end.

No other Roman victory was commemorated with two monuments, which indicates just how troublesome and hated they were, and how happy the Romans were to be rid of them as an organized opposition once and for all.

This episode should be a lesson to us all that firmly entrenched jewish power is not invincible.