Arch of Titus Center for Israel Studies Contact Us Support the Center for Israel Studies Artificial Intelligence Biotechnology Computer Science Cybersecurity Data Analytics and Visualization Digital Marketing and Media Mathematics Occupational Therapy Physician Assistant Physics Speech-Language Pathology The Arch of Titus Project The Arch of Titus Project is a multi-faceted exploration of the Arch of Titus, a triumphal arch built in Rome to commemorate the victory of the Roman general, later emperor, Titus, in the Jewish War of 66-74 CE. One of the most significant Roman artifacts to have survived, the Arch of Titus has been of continuing significance for both Jews and Christians for nearly two millennia. The image of the seven-branched menorah that appears on the Arch is now a symbol of the State of Israel. The Arch of Titus: From Jerusalem to Rome-and Back The Arch of Titus (Brill 2021) assembles an international array of scholars to explore the Arch in all of its complexity. This volume celebrates an exhibition mounted at the YU Museum and is the final statement of the Yeshiva University Arch of Titus Project. See more The Arch of Titus: From Jerusalem to Rome-and Back The Arch of Titus in New York The Arch of Titus in New York The Menorah at the Met Lecture: The history of the Menorah at the Metropolitan Museum of Art The Menorah at the Met Coloring the Arch of Titus Our coloration of the Arch of Titus in Biblical Archaeology Review May/June 2017. see more Coloring the Arch of Titus Cousera Course The Arch of Titus: Rome and the Menorah explores one of the most significant Roman monuments to survive from antiquity, from the perspectives of Roman, Jewish and later Christian history and art. see more Cousera Course International Conference A symposium on the Arch hosted by YU’s Center for Israel Studies and YU Museum in 2017 Read More International Conference Menorah Myth Busters When Yeshiva University senior Ari Rosenberg signed up for a summer school course on the Arch of Titus, he was just trying to fulfill his last history requirement with what sounded like an interesting class taught by Dr. Steven Fine. see more Menorah Myth Busters The Menorah: From the Bible to Modern Israel Harvard University Press 2016 The Menorah: From the Bible to Modern Israel The Arch of Titus: From Jerusalem to Rome-and Back The Arch of Titus (Brill 2021) assembles an international array of scholars to explore the Arch in all of its complexity. This volume celebrates an exhibition mounted at the YU Museum and is the final statement of the Yeshiva University Arch of Titus Project. See more The Arch of Titus: From Jerusalem to Rome-and Back The Arch of Titus in New York The Arch of Titus in New York The Menorah at the Met Lecture: The history of the Menorah at the Metropolitan Museum of Art The Menorah at the Met Coloring the Arch of Titus Our coloration of the Arch of Titus in Biblical Archaeology Review May/June 2017. see more Coloring the Arch of Titus Cousera Course The Arch of Titus: Rome and the Menorah explores one of the most significant Roman monuments to survive from antiquity, from the perspectives of Roman, Jewish and later Christian history and art. see more Cousera Course International Conference A symposium on the Arch hosted by YU’s Center for Israel Studies and YU Museum in 2017 Read More International Conference Menorah Myth Busters When Yeshiva University senior Ari Rosenberg signed up for a summer school course on the Arch of Titus, he was just trying to fulfill his last history requirement with what sounded like an interesting class taught by Dr. Steven Fine. see more Menorah Myth Busters The Menorah: From the Bible to Modern Israel Harvard University Press 2016 The Menorah: From the Bible to Modern Israel Mikdash and Memory: A Tombstone and a Temple The Arch of Titus in the Roman Forum Constructed soon after the death of Emperor Titus Flavius Vespasianus in 81 CE, the Arch of Titus commemorates the Roman triumph awarded to Emperor Vespasian and to Titus, his son and heir, for their victory in the Jewish War (66-74 CE). The most historically important element of the Arch’s iconography is the display of spolia from the war, including such sacred vessels from the Jerusalem Temple as the seven-branched Menorah and the Table of the Showbread. The first-century CE Jewish historian Flavius Josephus describes the triumph and the deposition of these artifacts in Rome, and they are also mentioned in later Rabbinic literature. The menorah on the Arch of Titus was chosen as the symbol of the State of Israel in 1949. The Digital Restoration Project In June 2012, an international team of scholars organized by the YU Center for Israel Studies assembled at the Arch of Titus and scanned its bas reliefs for evidence of their ancient colors. Using UV-VIS Absorption Spectrometry, our team of international historians and scientists looked for traces of color on the spoils relief so as to digitally restore what the Arch would have looked like in full color. The Arch of Titus Project in the News Click here to see coverage of the Arch of Titus Digital Restoration Project in the New York Times Click here to see the coverage of the Arch of Titus Digital Restoration Project in Haaretz. To view a photo slideshow of our work in Rome, click here.
