Trajan's Column

BACKGROUND Military architects drew detailed pictures of Trajan's conquest of Dacia Military architects drew detailed pictures of Trajan's conquest of Dacia Made of Carrara Marble Made of Carrara Marble There are 2500 figures in the frieze There are 2500 figures in the frieze The armies are shown The armies are shown Several divine figures also appear: The river Danube, and Victory. Several divine figures also appear: The river Danube, and Victory. Trajan's Column still stands in Rome, topped by a statue of Saint Peter where the original image of Trajan once stood. Trajan's Column still stands in Rome, topped by a statue of Saint Peter where the original image of Trajan once stood.

Trajan's column was built just after 100 AD the date given was 113 AD to remind people in Rome about the Roman emperor Trajan's 2 victories in a war in Dacia (DAY-see-ah) (modern Rumania). It stands in Trajan's Forum in Rome, just below Trajan's Markets, and near the old Roman Forum. Trajan's column was built just after 100 AD the date given was 113 AD to remind people in Rome about the Roman emperor Trajan's 2 victories in a war in Dacia (DAY-see-ah) (modern Rumania). It stands in Trajan's Forum in Rome, just below Trajan's Markets, and near the old Roman Forum.

All around the column, there are pictures of the Roman soldiers fighting the war. In this picture you can see Roman soldiers crossing the Danube (DAN-youb) river in boats with oars. All around the column, there are pictures of the Roman soldiers fighting the war. In this picture you can see Roman soldiers crossing the Danube (DAN-youb) river in boats with oars.

The message of the column was that the Romans were civilized and good fighters, organized and skilled (and that Trajan was a great general), while the Dacians were shaggy, messy, and confused. In this picture, you can see a ladder near the top, and some men crossing a little bridge near the bottom. The message of the column was that the Romans were civilized and good fighters, organized and skilled (and that Trajan was a great general), while the Dacians were shaggy, messy, and confused. In this picture, you can see a ladder near the top, and some men crossing a little bridge near the bottom.

Here you can see a lot of Roman soldiers with their shields over their heads in the "testudo" formation (it means "turtle"). Here you can see a lot of Roman soldiers with their shields over their heads in the "testudo" formation (it means "turtle").

Here you can see the little windows in the column, to light up the spiral staircase that goes up the inside. Here you can see the little windows in the column, to light up the spiral staircase that goes up the inside.

Function The Column must be seen initially as part of a much greater whole, which served important practical purposes in the running of the city. The Column must be seen initially as part of a much greater whole, which served important practical purposes in the running of the city. But there were also commemorative and propagandist purposes behind various elements of the Forum * in the Column itself * in the triumphal archway entrance * decreed by the Senate in Trajan's absence as a memorial to his victories * in the equestrian statue of the emperor that stood in the centre of the courtyard But there were also commemorative and propagandist purposes behind various elements of the Forum * in the Column itself * in the triumphal archway entrance * decreed by the Senate in Trajan's absence as a memorial to his victories * in the equestrian statue of the emperor that stood in the centre of the courtyard

River god Danube Light Well

SYMBOLISM The Column commemorates Trajan's successes, but it does this without making him seem superhuman in scale The Column commemorates Trajan's successes, but it does this without making him seem superhuman in scale Trajan personally led the campaigns and appears frequently in the reliefs, Trajan personally led the campaigns and appears frequently in the reliefs, He remains the human leader of the Roman army, dominating the scenes only by virtue of his continual presence. He remains the human leader of the Roman army, dominating the scenes only by virtue of his continual presence. The Column reliefs do not represent an apotheosis (deification or epitome) of the emperor in the manner that the reliefs The Column reliefs do not represent an apotheosis (deification or epitome) of the emperor in the manner that the reliefs The sculptor was interested primarily in making the essential facts of the story clear. The sculptor was interested primarily in making the essential facts of the story clear. He achieved this not only by using a series of themes for both campaigns, and by making the figure of Trajan act as a momentary focal point in the continuous narration, but also by adopting a variety of perspectives that allow him to present activities both inside and outside a camp or a town at the same time. He achieved this not only by using a series of themes for both campaigns, and by making the figure of Trajan act as a momentary focal point in the continuous narration, but also by adopting a variety of perspectives that allow him to present activities both inside and outside a camp or a town at the same time.

ANSWERS TO THE QUESTIONS AD 2. Trajans column stood 38m tall from pedestal to top. The pedestal originally housed Trajan’s ashes. It was made from marble from the island of Paros. 3. Dacian wars and Figures got larger as they went up - band height increased - colour/brightness was used 5. Throughout the column Trajan is portrayed in a realistic fashion. He is often involved in the action and dominates the scenes because he is constantly in them. He is however human sized rather than super human. 6. Roman 7. Battle with Dacians/Dacians trying to burn down city Suicide of Dacian king/ building of army camps 8. Floppy felt hats, long-haired, bearded, tunics, capes, trousers 9. Telling a story, break up the narrative. 10. Satute of Trajan/Trajans ashes/colour and metal fittings.