Susa - Arco di Augusto

Marcus Julius Cottius was king of the Ligurian tribes inhabiting the region now known as the "Cottian Alps", that became part of the Roman Empire in the 1st century BC. Segusio (= Susa) at that time was the capital of "Alpes Cottiae".

Cottius had the "Arch of Augustus" built from white marble 9/8 BC to record the renewed alliance between Emperor Augustus and him. A frieze, depicting a suovetaurilia, a ritual sacrifice. Above that is the (very long) dedicatory inscription to ".. Imperator Caesar Augustus son of a god, Pontifex Maximus.."

The wall to the right is much younger than the arch. It belongs to the "Castello della marchesa Adelaide" (= Castle of Marquise Adelaide), where Adelaide of Susa (aka Adelaide of Turin), who married Otto of Savoy in 1046, once lived. She had joined Henry IV, later her son in law, on his way to Canossa in 1077.