Triumfa arkas tēma Rīgas arhitektūrā

The article is dedicated to the research of forms of triumphal arches in Riga’s architecture. It gives a quick look at the history of triumphal arch and analyses the cases where the forms of the triumphal arch have been used in historical buildings of Riga. It is well known that during the 18th–19th centuries several triumphal arches were built in Riga, from which only one, the so called Alexander’s Gate, has survived till nowadays. The article shows that the concept of triumphal arch has been used in the city building in three more cases at the end of the 17th century, namely, in three portals of St. Peter’s church as well as portals of the Reutern and Dannenstern houses. Importantly, in all these cases both form and concept of triumphal arch have been used, as indicated by the respective reliefs at the apertures of the arches. In all three cases the use of the forms of triumphal arch can be explained by ideological considerations, hinted at the connection between time of their building and anniversaries of the victories of Swedish army.