Thessaloniki Galerius Arch

Location: Rotonda

The Arch of Galerius (or Kamara) in Thessaloniki, Macedonia: The Arch of Galerius is certainly among the most distinctive monuments in Thessaloniki. The Roman Emperor Galerius ordered its construction so that a road running through this arch would connect it to his palace. The Arch of Galerius had a masonry symbolism with marble sculptural panels emphasizing on the power of the emperor.

Related Tour: Thessaloniki city tour, from 30.00 €

The arch was constructed to celebrate the victory of Galerius over the Sassanid Persians. Originally it was an octopylon forming a triple arch, the central arched opening was 9,7 m wide and 12,5 m high, and the second openings on the other side were 4,8 m wide and 6,5 m high. Today, only parts of the masonry symbols of the arches survive and three of the eight pillars.

The two pillars depict the wars of Galerius against the Persians, Galerius fighting with the Narses or celebrating the unity of the tetrarchy with a depiction of tetrarchs standing together. This monument today stands very close to Aristotle Square and it is like a symbol for the city of Thessaloniki.