Trajan’s Column, CE, Rome, Italy

 Four contributions to architecture: Which one is represented by Trajan’s Column?  Consider: Trajan’s Column as propaganda

Trajan  Roman emperor from 98 CE until his death in 117 CE  Successful soldier-emperor  The second of the five “Good Emperors”  Presided over the greatest military expansion in Roman history, leading the empire to attain its maximum territorial extent by the time of his death  Philanthropic: implemented extensive public building programs and social welfare policies

Trajan’s Forum

The Design  17 drums of marble  Erected using a system of pulleys, ropes and capstans  Each drum 10 feet in diameter  Hollow inside – staircase 185 cramped stairs  43 small slot windows – lights stairs  700 ft of continuous narration (vs Parthenon – static frieze) Low relief and wrapped in spiral around vertical cylinder

The Frieze  Commemorates Trajan’s campaign in Dacian Wars – Danube today Army at work – killing/capturing/marching Art teaches us – uniforms, armor, weaponry  2600 figures – 60 of Trajan speaking to troops, offering sacrifices to gods, etc.  Upper sections visible from platforms on surrounding buildings

Trajan & St. Peter

Military Artillery

Changes in RE – Juvenal satirical poem  The public used to care about power and public welfare…now the public cares about 2 things: BREAD and CIRCUSES!

Influence