MYSTERY PHOTO: Warned in advance: take care in this identification

Sometimes things are not what they see. Perhaps you can identify this Mystery Photo, but we warn you, be careful. Once you make identification, send your answer to a new email: click here. And be sure to list your hometown.

A computer problem may have slowed responses to the recent mystery, as GwinnettForum received only four responses, that from Stew Ogilvie of Lawrenceville; George Graf of Palmyra, Va.; Susan McBrayer of Sugar Hill; and Allan Peel of San Antonio, Tex.  The photo came from Carol Bachrach of Milton, Ga.

Ogilvie wrote: “The Triumphal Arch of Orange is a triumphal arch located in the town of Orange, southeast France. There is debate about when the arch was built, but current research that accepts the inscription as evidence favors a date during the reign of emperor Augustus.”

Peel wrote: Today’s mystery photo is of the Triumphal Arch of Orange, located in the town of Orange, France, approximately 13-miles north of Avignon in the Rhône Valley of southeastern France. It is an ancient Roman monumental gate that was positioned at the northern entrance to the walled city. Historians believe it was built during the reign of Emperor Augustus (born Gaius Octavius, 63 BC – AD 14), the founder and first Roman emperor who reigned between 27 BC – AD 14).

“The original arch was constructed using large unmortared limestone blocks and decorated with low reliefs commemorating the establishment of the PAX ROMANA (“Roman Peace”), a term used to describe the period between 27-BC and AD-180 during which Roman rule was relatively stable and war less frequent as a result of many reforms enacted by Augustus and his successors. It is the oldest surviving triple-arched Roman triumphal and in AD-27, an inscription was added to dedicate the arch to the victories of Tiberius (42 BC – AD 37), the 2nd Roman emperor who reigned from AD 14 – 37. Despite the fact that the arch was first erected to commemorate Pax Romana, it is nevertheless decorated with Corinthian columns, and embellished with reliefs depicting military scenes of battle, including a Roman battle against the Germanics and Gauls.” 

  • SHARE A MYSTERY PHOTO:  If you have a photo that you believe will stump readers, send it along (but  make sure to tell us what it is because it may stump us too!)  Send it to ebrack2@gmail.com and mark it as a photo submission.  Thanks.
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