History What it was
Romans set up columns to honor important people and victories. The most famous is Trajan's Column, dedicated in AD 113 in the Forum of Trajan. It celebrates the emperor Trajan's two wars against the Dacians, who lived in what is now Romania.
History How it works
A band of carved pictures winds around the column from bottom to top, like a ribbon, telling the story of the wars. It shows soldiers marching, building forts and bridges, crossing rivers and fighting, with more than 2,000 carved figures. Historians study it to learn about Roman army equipment and life on campaign.
The column is made of large drums of marble stacked on top of each other. Inside is a spiral staircase lit by small slit windows, leading to a platform at the top. Trajan's ashes were placed in the base after his death.
History What you can see today
Trajan's Column still stands in Rome almost complete. A statue of Trajan originally stood on top; in 1588 it was replaced by a statue of Saint Peter. A similar column, the Column of Marcus Aurelius, stands in Rome's Piazza Colonna.
Art In this artwork
The winged figure on top is the artist's interpretation; Trajan's Column was topped by a statue of the emperor.
Look closer
- Follow the carved spiral up the column.
- What stands on top?
Think about it
- Why tell a story in pictures instead of words?
- Who could actually see the carvings near the top?
- What stories does your community tell through monuments?
Key words
- Relief
- A carving that stands out from a flat surface.
- Frieze
- A long band of carved or painted decoration.
- Dacia
- An ancient kingdom in what is now Romania.
Sources
The history on this page is a short summary based on these sources:
- Encyclopaedia Britannica, "Trajan's Column"
- UNESCO World Heritage Centre, "Historic Center of Rome"
