Trajan’s column A.D. 113

If you were allowed a column to be covered in relief, all about you… What images would you have on it? What images would a leader or an Emperor want to have on their column it for the purposes of Propaganda? What stuff from the Arch of Constantine comes from Trajan’s period…this may help us figure out what his column shows.

What it looks like

p.51 of your workbooks Location: Rome – formed part of the forum built by Emperor Trajan (north of main forum) Architectural type: Relief sculpture Purpose: Commemorates Trajan’s victories over the Dacians and propaganda to remind Romans of Trajan’s success as military leader Subject matter of sculptural reliefs: Success of Trajan against the Dacians Dates of construction: find in Paul Artus Dimensions: find in Paul Artus

p.53 of your workbooks Date of the structure: Where was it to be found: Trajan’s forum, Rome Who built it: Trajan What is the total height? What is the length of the frieze? Find in Paul Artus p.50 What does the structure commemorate? Trajan fought 2 campaigns in Dacia in AD101-102 & 105-106 & booty of these financed the forum’s construction. What is the structure made of? Carrara marble How is emperor Trajan depicted? See Paul Artus p.53 under ‘Portrayal of Trajan’ What problems did the structure face? The uppermost bands would be hardest to see.

P .53 of workbooks What were 3 way that were used to help the viewer see the column? Find in Paul Artus, p.52 under ‘Problems to Overcome’ 3 ways the column was to commemorate the achievements of Trajan: Find in Paul Artus, p.50

p. 52 Workbook In what ways was the original appearance of the column different to what we see today? See, Paul Artus p.50 ‘Things lost from the original’ What image is seen of Trajan in the reliefs? In what ways is this different or similar to that of Titus in the reliefs on the arch of Titus? Think about how trajan is shown as different to Titus

What image of Trajan is seen in the reliefs What image of Trajan is seen in the reliefs? In what ways is this different from or similar to that of Titus in the reliefs in the Arch of Titus? Trajan shown in realistic manner, as soldier among other soldiers In contrast, Titus shown as superhuman & godlike. Trajan is human sized not superhuman Trajan personally involved in action Trajan dominates actions because he is in all scenes Trajan is shown in action, during actual events of campaign Titus is shown on an eagle, ascending to heaven in his apotheosis, he is attended by divine personifictions & crowned by winged victory

p. 54 workbooks Answer the questions using Paul Artus book to help you 7. Other figures gaze towards him 8. The barbarians are shown wearing heavy clothing including pants, shaggy hair and caps 9. They help tell the narrative of the story by breaking up the narrative into meaningful bits, while at the same time continuing the flow of the story

Trajan’s Column Starts in lower Dacia, roughly made houses and boats. Army setting out (carrying supplies). River god Danube (river Danube defined region of Dacia’s border) river god depicted links back to hellenistic Greece e.g. shaggy hair and beard. Easy mix of human and imaginary figures. Close attention to detail, designer of reliefs drew from official records e.g some soldiers have badge of their battalions Trajan and soldiers are walking over a pontoon (bridge over boats)

Troops attack in a testudo or Tortoise formation, shields locked above their heads Legions of soldiers performing military manouvers. Dacians have shaggy hair, floppy caps and beards tunic capes and trousers. Capture of Dacian King Perspectives are everywhere (mixed up) different ground lines, higher, lower, facing different ways. High and low relief>> life and vitality, action, movement, variation.

Continuous narrative focussed on Rome as a ‘military machine’ Continuity provided by friezes which change in height from bottom to top. Human figures grow in size. 2500 human figures, 155 separate scenes wind 23 times around the column. Trajan can be identified by being a little bigger than the others, a low brow, heavy fringe across forehead, pointed nose, wide thin lips. He is the only individual who is recognisable.