The Arch of Germanicus in Saintes

Right next to Paule's place, this ancient arch stands as a monument from the principate. Built by a rich citizen of the town, C. Julius Rufus, it was dedicated to the emperor Tiberius, his son Drusus, and his adoptive son Germanicus. While the inscription naming Tiberius and Drusus is heavily worn, the dedication to Germanicus remains well-preserved, providing the date of 18 or 19 AD.

The builder, Caius Julius Rufus, was a third-generation Roman citizen and a priest of Rome and of Augustus. His dedicatory inscription was also found on the amphitheatre at Lugdunum (Lyon), where the site was known as Confluens. Rufus was the first in his family to adopt a completely Roman name rather than a Celtic one, a choice that reflected the Romanization of Gallic noblemen. His name and his lineage are repeated on all four sides of the arch.

The structure originally stood over the terminus of the Roman road from Lyon to Saintes. During works on the river quays in 1843, it was moved fifteen metres at the proposal of Prosper Mérimée. It was later restored in 1851. Today, it remains in Saintes as a testament to Rufus's aristocratic consciousness and his family's long-standing position at the head of the city.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons