Arc's in Context

For mine, things like the Arc de Triomphe, Arch of Titus etc have always seemed like a typical male ego thing - 'lets build something pointless to honour me'. While in the Trastevere area I saw an arch actually set into the 'wall' that use to protect the ancient Roman city.

All of a sudden arches make sense. Grand entrances to cities where 'traffic' could be controlled, visitors could marvel and actually have some sort of ultility value. William Morris (dead dude - writer) once commented that things need to be 'off their time' and in context. It would be like building a model T ford to compete with todays car - it was great for the time but not so much today.

At least that is my theory but gives me something to investigate further.