Arch of Galerius — Attraction in Municipality of Thessaloniki

Situated in the center of the city, on the famous Egnatia Street (successor of the famous Via Egnatia, which connected Constantinople with Durres, on the Adriatic coast, and then continues to Rome with the more famous Via Appia; the original Egnatia road can still be seen in Thessaloniki, in the Neapolis neighborhood), this Arch deserves special attention not only from the historians but also from the tourists. Built through the years 300 after Christ to celebrate the victory of Emperor Galerius on the Persians, the Arch itself is not a special construction, meeting the standards of the time. Important is that the battle scenes on the Arch reveal the "Dacians, my compatriots," who helped him in winning the victory. But even more important is to know about Galerius that he is the author of the 311 Edict of Tolerance, through which Christianity was recognized and officialized, to know that he had insistently affirmed his Dacian origin, to know that he wanted to change the name of the Roman Empire into The Dacian Empire, treating the Romans with the severity with which they had treated the Dacians after the conquest, to know that he wanted to formalize the dacian language as an official language of the empire. Situat în centrul orașului, pe celebra stradă Egnatia (urmașa nu mai puțin celebrei căi de acces numită Via Egnatia, care unea Constantinopolul cu Durres, pe țărmul Mării Adriatice, și, apoi, continua spre Roma cu și mai celebra Via Appia; un fragment al drumului original mai poate fi văzut și acum în Salonic, în cartierul Neapolis), acest arc merită o atenție deosebită nu doar din partea istoricilor, ci și din partea turiștilor. Ridicat prin anii 300 după Cristos pentru celebrarea victoriei împăratului Galerius asupra perșilor, arcul în sine nu este o construcție deosebită, încadrându-se în standardele vremii. Importantă este redarea în scenele de luptă de pe Arc a "dacilor, compatrioții mei", care l-au ajutat în dobândirea victoriei. Dar și mai important este să știm despre Galerius că el este autorul Edictului de toleranță din 311, prin care era recunoscut și oficializat creștinismul, să știm că și-a afirmat cu insistență originea dacică, să știm că a vrut să schimbe numele Imperiului Roman în Imperiul Dacic, tratându-i pe romani cu severitatea cu care aceștia îi trataseră pe daci după cucerire, să știm că a vrut să oficializeze limba dacă drept limbă oficială...

The Arch of Galerius, also known as Kamara, is a magnificent triumphal arch located in the city of Thessaloniki, Greece. It was built in the early 4th century AD to commemorate the victory of the Roman Emperor Galerius over the Persians.

The arch is made of marble and measures approximately 15 meters in height and 24 meters in width. It consists of four main piers and a central arch, decorated with intricate carvings depicting scenes from the war between the Romans and the Persians. The carvings are remarkably well-preserved, considering their age, and provide a fascinating glimpse into the military and political history of the time.

The arch originally stood at the intersection of two important Roman roads, the Via Egnatia and the Via Diagonalis, and served as a symbol of the power and influence of the Roman Empire in the region. Over time, the arch became a popular gathering place for locals and visitors alike, and many important events, such as royal receptions and public festivals, were held in its vicinity.

During the Byzantine era, the arch was used as a defensive structure and was incorporated into the city's fortifications. Later, it fell into disrepair and was partially dismantled to provide building materials for other structures. In the 16th century, the Ottoman Turks converted the arch into a mosque, adding a minaret and other Islamic features.

Today, the Arch of Galerius is one of the most important landmarks in Thessaloniki and a popular tourist attraction. It has been restored and is open to visitors, who can explore its intricate carvings and learn about its fascinating history. The arch stands as a testament to the enduring legacy of the Roman Empire and the rich cultural...

A well known landmark located in the center of the city and part of Thessaloniki’s ancient Roman historical axis which starts from Rotunda and runs all the way through Dimitriou Gounari str.,the palatial complex, down to the Promenade. The Arch of Galerius, also know as Kamara, was built in 297/98 AD, as a symbol of Galerius’ victory over Narses, the seventh emperor in the Sassanid Persian Empire. About two-third of the arch is preserved. Four zones of relief scenes of the two preserved central pillars depict mainly episodes from Galerius confrontation with Persians (297-298AD). The zones are separated with relief leeres from beads or thorn leaves. Among the reliefs is one representing a scene where there is an altar and Emperor Dioklitianus, in civilian clothes, and Caesar Galerius,in military uniform, offer up a sacrifice. On another relief Caesar Galerius is depicted on a stand speaking to his soldiers. The second from the bottom relief (on the northeastern interior side) depicts the Tetrarchy scene. In the center the two Augusti (Dioklitianus and Maximianus) are sitting with the two Caesars (Galerius next to Dioklitianus and Constatius next to Maximianus) standing beside them. They are surrounded by deities and allegoric figures. Wild animals like elephants and tigers are recognizable among military equipments on the relief war scenes. I will recommend to start a tour visiting Rotunda, then head south to Kamara, where there are a lot of cafes and restaurants to have a snack or a coffee while enjoying the view of the Arch, and last continue walking down Dimitriou Gounari str. towards Galerius’s Palace. The Arch (Kamera) is also the most popular area to...