Trajan's Column

046 Conrad Cichorius, Die Reliefs der Traianssäule, Tafel XLVI (Ausschnitt 01)

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Trajan's column dupondius

032 Conrad Cichorius, Die Reliefs der Traianssäule, Tafel XXXII

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001 Conrad Cichorius, Die Reliefs der Traianssäule, Tafel I

Trajan inscription duotone

002 Conrad Cichorius, Die Reliefs der Traianssäule, Tafel II

Trajan's Column

Colonna Traiana
Location	Rome, Italy
Designer	Apollodorus of Damascus
Type	Triumphal column
Material	Luna marble
Height	38.4 meters (126 ft)
Completion date	113 AD
Dedicated to	Emperor Trajan

Trajan's Column (

) is a Roman triumphal column in Rome, Italy, that commemorates Emperor Trajan's victory in the Dacian Wars. It was completed in 113 AD and stands in Trajan's Forum, north of the Roman Forum. The column is famous for its spiral bas relief, which artistically depicts the epic wars between the Romans and Dacians (101–102 and 105–106 AD).

Design and Construction

The column was designed by the architect Apollodorus of Damascus at the order of the Roman Senate. It is approximately 30 meters (98 ft) in height, 38.4 meters (126 ft) including its large pedestal. The shaft is made from a series of 20 colossal Luna marble drums, each weighing about 32 tons, with a diameter of 3.7 meters (12 ft). Inside the column, a spiral staircase of 185 steps provides access to a viewing platform at the top.

Relief and Inscriptions

The column's reliefs wind around the shaft 23 times and depict 155 scenes of the Dacian Wars, with over 2,500 individual figures. The scenes are a valuable source of information on the Roman military and the Dacian people. The base of the column is inscribed with a dedication to Trajan, and originally, a bronze statue of Trajan stood at the top, which was later replaced by a statue of Saint Peter in 1587 by Pope Sixtus V.

Historical Significance

Trajan's Column is considered one of the great masterpieces of Roman art and architecture. It serves not only as a monument to Trajan's military achievements but also as a propaganda tool, emphasizing the might and benevolence of the Roman Empire. The column has influenced numerous other monuments and is a key source for understanding Roman art, military history, and engineering.

Preservation

The column has survived the fall of the Roman Empire and remains in excellent condition. It has been the subject of various preservation efforts over the centuries to protect it from environmental damage and pollution.

Related Pages

• Trajan
• Dacian Wars
• Roman Forum
• Apollodorus of Damascus
• Roman architecture
• Triumphal column