Pompeii. Arch of Caligula.

This has also been referred to as Arch of Tiberius or Caligula or Augustus [Gell], Arch of C. Caesar Augustus and Castellum Aquae [Fiorelli], Arch of Nero [Mau], Arch of Mercurio [after street location].

According to Katherine E. Welch, the statue on which the naming after Caligula was based was probably Marcus Tullius who donated the adjacent Temple of Fortuna.

See Welch K. E. in Dobbins, J. J. and Foss, P. W., 2008. The World of Pompeii. Oxford: Routledge. (p.551-554, fig. 36.2a-c).

Arch of Caligula, Pompeii. December 2018. 

Looking north through the Arch of Caligula into Via di Mercurio, from crossroads of Via delle Terme, on left, and Via della Fortuna, on right.

Photo courtesy of Aude Durand.

Arch of Caligula, Pompeii. September 2018.

Looking north through the Arch of Caligula into Via di Mercurio. Photo courtesy of Aude Durand.

Arch of Caligula. May 2010. Looking north from arch at the start of the Via Mercurio.

A bronze equestrian statue was found in pieces beneath the arch.

This was (arbitrarily) identified as being Caligula and may have come from the top of the arch.

Now in Naples Archaeological Museum. Inventory number 5635.

According to Welch, the statue wore a toga and senatorial sandals and was realistically portrayed as middle aged.

She suggested it was more likely to be a high-ranking civic person.

She suggested that it may have been Marcus Tullius who was tribunus militum a populus a non-military but equestrian rank.

He was also the donor of the adjacent Temple of Fortuna Augustus in the Augustan period.

See Welch K. E. in Dobbins, J. J. and Foss, P. W., 2008. The World of Pompeii. Oxford: Routledge. (p.551-554, fig. 36.2a-c).

Arch of Caligula, Pompeii. April 2023. Equestrian statue found in pieces beneath the arch and rebuilt.

On display in “Campania Romana” gallery in Naples Archaeological Museum.  Photo courtesy of Giuseppe Ciaramella.

Arch of Caligula, Pompeii. April 2023. Equestrian statue found in pieces beneath the arch and rebuilt.

On display in “Campania Romana” gallery in Naples Archaeological Museum.  Photo courtesy of Giuseppe Ciaramella.

Arch of Caligula, Pompeii. April 2023. Detail of equestrian statue found in pieces beneath the arch and rebuilt.

On display in “Campania Romana” gallery in Naples Archaeological Museum.  Photo courtesy of Giuseppe Ciaramella.

Arch of Caligula, Pompeii. April 2023.

Equestrian statue found in pieces beneath the arch and rebuilt.

On display in “Campania Romana” gallery in Naples Archaeological Museum. 

Photo courtesy of Giuseppe Ciaramella.

Arch of Caligula, Pompeii. April 2023.

Equestrian statue found in pieces beneath the arch and rebuilt.

On display in “Campania Romana” gallery in Naples Archaeological Museum.

Photo courtesy of Giuseppe Ciaramella.

Arch of Caligula, Pompeii. April 2023. Descriptive card. Photo courtesy of Giuseppe Ciaramella.

Arch of Caligula. 1895 photo of equestrian statue found in pieces beneath the arch and rebuilt.

Now in Naples Archaeological Museum. Inventory number 5635.

Photo courtesy of Brooklyn Museum Archives, William Henry Goodyear [No restrictions], via Wikimedia Commons (S03_06_01_001 image 199).

Arch of Caligula. Detail from 1895 photo of equestrian statue, found in pieces beneath the arch and rebuilt.

Now in Naples Archaeological Museum. Inventory number 5635.

Arch of Caligula, Pompeii. April 2023. Rear of equestrian statue found in pieces beneath the arch and rebuilt.

On display in “Campania Romana” gallery in Naples Archaeological Museum. Photo courtesy of Giuseppe Ciaramella.

Arch of Caligula, Pompeii. June 2019. Bronze horse found in pieces beneath the arch.

This was reconstructed and is now in Naples Archaeological Museum. Photo courtesy of Buzz Ferebee.

Arch of Caligula, Pompeii. June 2019. Detail of head of bronze horse. Now in Naples Archaeological Museum. Photo courtesy of Buzz Ferebee.

Arch of Caligula, Pompeii. June 2019. Detail of bronze horse. Now in Naples Archaeological Museum. Photo courtesy of Buzz Ferebee.

Arch of Caligula, Pompeii. June 2019. Detail of head of bronze horse. Now in Naples Archaeological Museum. Photo courtesy of Buzz Ferebee.

Arch of Caligula, Pompeii. June 2019. Detail of bronze horse. Now in Naples Archaeological Museum. Photo courtesy of Buzz Ferebee.

Arch of Caligula, on Via Mercurio, Pompeii. 1957.

Wilhelmina Jashemski and Tatiana Warscher take a break in the shade of the arch.

Photo by Stanley A. Jashemski.

Source: The Wilhelmina and Stanley A. Jashemski archive in the University of Maryland Library, Special Collections (See collection page) and made available under the Creative Commons Attribution-Non-Commercial License v.4. See Licence and use details.

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Arch of Caligula. May 2010. Looking south-west.

Arch of Caligula. June 2019.

Looking south-east through arch, from Via Mercurio. Photo courtesy of Buzz Ferebee.

Arch of Caligula. May 2010. Looking south-east.

Arch of Caligula. 1945. Looking south at north side. Photo courtesy of Rick Bauer.

Arch of Caligula. May 2010. Looking south at west side.

Arch of Caligula. May 2010. Looking south at east side.

Arch of Caligula. May 2010. Looking north at south side.

Arch of Caligula. April 2013. South side, looking north to Tower XI, the Tower of Mercurio, and Vesuvius. Photo courtesy of Klaus Heese.

Arch of Caligula. May 2010. South side, looking north to Tower XI, the Tower of Mercurio.

Arch of Caligula. October 2001.

South side, looking north along Via Mercurio towards west wall of Ins. VI.10. Photo courtesy of Peter Woods.

Arch of Caligula, Pompeii. December 2018.  

South side, looking north along Via Mercurio towards Tower XI. Photo courtesy of Aude Durand.

Arch of Caligula. October 2001.

South side, looking north along Via Mercurio towards Tower XI. Photo courtesy of Peter Woods.

Arch of Caligula, Pompeii. December 2018. Looking north to Via Mercurio. Photo courtesy of Aude Durand.

Arch of Caligula, Pompeii. January 1977. Looking north to Via Mercurio. Photo courtesy of David Hingston.

Arch of Caligula. 1945.

Looking north through Arch towards west side of Via Mercurio. Photo courtesy of Rick Bauer.

Arch of Caligula. September 1944. Looking north towards the erupting Vesuvius. Photo courtesy of Rick Bauer.

Arch of Caligula. 1943, looking north towards Vesuvius. Photo courtesy of Rick Bauer.

Arch of Caligula. About 1900. South side, looking north to Tower XI, the Tower of Mercurio. Photo courtesy of Rick Bauer.

Arch of Caligula. Late 19th century postcard. Looking north towards arch from Via del Foro.

The postcard names the arch as the Arch of Nero. Photo courtesy of Rick Bauer.

Arch of Caligula, at south end of Via Mercurio. From an album dated c.1875-1885. Looking north. Photo courtesy of Rick Bauer.

Arch of Caligula, at south end of Via Mercurio. Looking north from junction with Via della Fortuna.

Album by M. Amodio, c.1880, entitled “Pompei, destroyed on 23 November 79, discovered in 1748”.

Photo courtesy of Rick Bauer.

Arch of Caligula. c.1880-1890. G. Sommer no. 1255.

Looking north from Via del Foro through the Arch of Caligula towards Via di Mercurio. Photo courtesy of Rick Bauer.

Arch of Caligula. About 1870. Looking north from arch at the start of the Via Mercurio. Photo courtesy of Rick Bauer.

Arch of Caligula. March 2009. Looking south along Via di Mercurio to arch.

Arch of Caligula. March 2010. Looking north along the east side of the Forum through three arches in line.

Looking through the site of the Arch of Nero, the arch at the north-east end of the Forum and the Arch of Caligula.

Photo courtesy of Rick Bauer.

Arch of Caligula. May 2010. Looking north through arch at north-east end of the Forum, to the Arch of Caligula.

Arch of Caligula. May 2010. Looking north from Via Foro.

Arch of Caligula. June 2019. Looking south from Via Mercurio. Photo courtesy of Buzz Ferebee.