Paris · Architecture
The Rear Frieze: The Return of the Armies
Arc de Triomphe · Paris, France
Walk past the side of the Arc to its back, and find a spot with a good view of the whole rear façade. We will go through the main reliefs and sculptures one by one.
Start at the top frieze. The one on the front was "The Departure of the Armies"; this one is its counterpart, "The Return of the Armies," showing French troops coming home from Italy and Egypt. If it is hard to see from a distance, check the third photo.
The frieze shows the twin brothers Romulus and Remus from Rome's founding myth, an Egyptian sphinx, and the obelisk of the Luxor Temple being carried off as war trophies. This is based on historical fact: the Romulus and Remus and the sphinx are now in the Louvre, and the obelisk stands in Place de la Concorde.
