Ancient site · Greece · Partial ruin

Arch of Galerius and Rotunda

The Arch of Galerius and the Rotunda are neighbouring early fourth-century monuments in Thessaloniki forming part of an imperial precinct commissioned by the tetrarch Galerius. The arch is a triple-arched octopylon with surviving marble relief-clad piers; the Rotunda is a massive cylindrical domed building later used as church and mosque and retaining important mosaics and a minaret. Both monuments stand within the modern city and are accessible to visitors.

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Photograph via Wikimedia Commons

Its prime

AD 306

Today

Partial ruin

As it stood in AD 306

What Arch of Galerius and Rotunda looked like in its prime.

A broad triple-arched gateway of exposed warm-orange brick with a taller central semicircular arch flanked by smaller arches; the two surviving western piers are faced with pale marble slabs carved in four stacked registers of narrative reliefs. The bases are fenced and set on a paved city plaza; modern brick consolidation is visible in the upper masonry. Nearby stands a massive cylindrical rotunda of thick brick walls crowned by a high flat brick dome, with a surviving minaret on its southern side.

Step inside

9 places to explore in AD 306.

The record describes 9 distinct spots at Arch of Galerius and Rotunda, including 3 interiors: west bay entrance of the rotunda, interior under the dome — cupola mosaic, wide ambulatory around the rotunda's perimeter. Create your own photoreal reconstruction and explore every one, more scenes means more photos, more angles and more of the immersive experience.

Approach along Via Egnatia toward the central archBeneath the central arch, looking east through the gatewayClose-up of the northwest pier relief registersBase of the main pier and sculpted plinthsSecondary southern arch opening and smaller pierExterior of the Rotunda from the southern side with minaretWest bay entrance of the RotundaInterior under the dome — cupola mosaicWide ambulatory around the Rotunda's perimeter

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