Trajan’s Column

Trajan was declared as optimus princeps which

means “best emperor”. He was a successful soldier emperor who
presided over the greatest military expansion in Roman History
leading the empire to achieve it’s maximum territorial extent by
the time of his death.

Trajan’s Column
 Trajan’s Column
• 123 feet/ 38 meters high (including
base).
• Was dedicated in 113 AD.
• Is part of Trajan’s forum.
• Celebrates his triumph over the Dacians
(Dacia is where modern day Romania is).
• The booty from the campaigns (101- 102
AD and 105- 106 AD) funded the
construction of the forum.
• The column was originally
located behind the Basilica
Ulpia and between a Greek
and a Latin library.
• It used to have a statue of
Trajan at the top which
has now vanished. A 16th
century statue of St Peters
now stands at the top.
 The Column shaft
• Is made of Carrara
marble.
• Is made up of a series
of colossal drums.
• The interior is fitted out
with a spiral staircase;
there are 185 steps.
Small windows in the
column provide light.
 The relief band of the exterior:
• 200 metres long.
• Winds around the column 23 times.
• The bottom base width is 0.9
meters. The top of the column is
1.25 metres. This counteracts the
effects of height and distance. This
way the reliefs at the top of the
column are more visible.
• 2500 figures in 155 scenes.
• Shows the Roman campaigns
against Dacia, as led by Trajan.
 Figures
• In lowrelief.
• Trajan is larger than
everyone else.
• Dacians :
– in barbarian clothing
– Long haired
– Bearded
– Tunics, capes, trousers
– Floppy felt hat
– Some scenes of pathos- eg
Decebalus’ (the leader’s) suicide. Decebalus, king of Dacia
 The Roman Military Machine:
• Soldiers march in formation.
• Uniforms and standards are various legions are
visible.
• Military maneuvers are shown:
– Testudo (tortoise) maneuver.
– Marching over the Pontoon bridge in Danube.
• The Castrum (fort) is shown.
• Everyday duties is depicted:
– Carrying and collecting supplies.
– Doing guard duty.
Tortoise Maneuver
The Roman military army is shown as a
• Collective body…
Trajan is the
hero
• Is idealised. Trajan
• Is the only readily
identifiable person.
• Depicted bigger.
• Often surrounded by
soldiers.
• Usually raised- on a
podium or on higher
ground.
• The relief celebrates his
autoritas (authority) and
dignatas (honour).
 Stock Scenes:

• The emperor making

a sacrifice before leaving
for the expedition.
• Adlocutio: addressing
the soldiers.
• Emperor accepting the
submission of enemy chieftains.
 o n
ti a
ifi c
o n • The river Danube is a bearded god.
er s
P • The goddess Victory stands writing
on a shield.
 Originally
• The column would have been painted in
bright colours.
• The weapons would have been made from
metal and then attached to the stone of the
column.
• The column was originally intended as a
commemorative statue. But after Trajan died,
the Senate voted to place Trajan’s ashes at
the base of the column.
Picture Dictation
• Trajan invades Dacia