Architecture Rome Essay
Arch of Constantine Rome, Lazio, Italy This arch is religiously significant because it commemorates the battle that led the Emperor Constantine to convert to Christianity, thereby changing the religious landscape of the western world. The Arch of Constantine was erected to commemorate Constantines victory over Maxentius at the Battle of Milvian Bridge in 312 AD. According to contemporary historians, the night before the battle Constantine had a vision.
He saw the symbol of chi-rho (the first letters of Christ in Greek) or the cross in some accounts in the sky with the words, By this sign, conquer.
Facing an army larger than his own, Constantine was happy to try anything. He had his soldiers carry the Christian symbol into battle, and he was victorious. So Constantine adopted Christianity for himself and declared the religion officially tolerated throughout the Roman Empire. With Constantines conversion, Christian persecution ended and the development of Christendom began.
