The Arch of Constantine, as much a Roman landmark as the Colosseum, was built nearly 200 years earlier than previously thought, Italy's Central Restoration Institute said Tuesday.

The triumphal arch was built in the fourth century A.D. to celebrate the victory of Constantine — the first Roman emperor to convert to Christianity — over his rival, Maxentius.

The Arch of Constantine, a giant ancient Roman arch next to the Colosseum, was damaged after a violent storm hit Rome, conservation authorities said on Tuesday. Skip to main content.

A lightning strike knocked a chunk of stone off Rome’s ancient Arch of Constantine, just meters from the Colosseum, amid a sudden violent storm that struck the Italian capital late Tuesday ...

Pieces of the Arch of Constantine came loose during a thunderstorm on September 3. Alberto Lingria / Xinhua via Getty Images. During a storm on September 3, lightning struck Rome’s Arch of ...

Fragments of Constantine's Arch lie on the ground after lightning struck it during a storm in Rome, Italy September 3, 2024. REUTERS/Alberto Lingria.