Trajan’s column A.D. 113. p.51 of your workbooks Location: Rome – formed part of the forum built by Emperor Trajan (north of main forum) Location: Rome.

Trajan’s Trajan’s columncolumn

A.D. 113A.D. 113

p.51 of your p.51 of your workbooksworkbooks Location:Location: Rome – Rome – formed part of the forum formed part of the forum

built by Emperor Trajan (north of main forum)built by Emperor Trajan (north of main forum) Architectural type:Architectural type: Relief sculptureRelief sculpture Purpose:Purpose: Commemorates Trajan’s victories Commemorates Trajan’s victories

over the Dacians and propaganda to remind over the Dacians and propaganda to remind Romans of Trajan’s success as military leaderRomans of Trajan’s success as military leader

Subject matter of sculptural reliefs:Subject matter of sculptural reliefs: Success Success of Trajan against the Daciansof Trajan against the Dacians

Dates of construction:Dates of construction: AD 112-113AD 112-113 Dimensions:Dimensions: 38m high including the base38m high including the base

Date of the structure: Date of the structure: AD 112-113AD 112-113 Where was it to be found: Where was it to be found: trajan’s forum, rometrajan’s forum, rome Who built it: Who built it: TrajanTrajan What is the total height?What is the total height? 38m high (including 38m high (including

base)base) What is the length of the frieze?What is the length of the frieze? 200m long200m long What does the structure commemorate?What does the structure commemorate? Trajan Trajan

fought 2 campaigns in Dacia in AD101-102 & 105-fought 2 campaigns in Dacia in AD101-102 & 105-106 & booty of these financed the forum’s 106 & booty of these financed the forum’s construction.construction.

What is the structure made of?What is the structure made of? Carrara marbleCarrara marble How is emperor Trajan depicted? How is emperor Trajan depicted? In a realistic a realistic

manner, as a solider among the other soldiers, manner, as a solider among the other soldiers, involved in the action, dominates scene by his involved in the action, dominates scene by his continual presence, slightly larger than figures continual presence, slightly larger than figures around him.around him.

What problems did the structure face? What problems did the structure face? The The uppermost bands would be hardest to see.uppermost bands would be hardest to see.

p.54 of your p.54 of your workbooksworkbooks

3 ways the column was 3 ways the column was to commemorate the to commemorate the achievements of Trajan: achievements of Trajan:

a statue of the emperor a statue of the emperor stood on top (lost in stood on top (lost in middle ages & replaced middle ages & replaced in 1588 with statue of St in 1588 with statue of St Peter)Peter)

Sculptural reliefs which Sculptural reliefs which winds 23 times around winds 23 times around column depicting military column depicting military victories in Daciavictories in Dacia

Pedestal served as a Pedestal served as a tomb for Trajan’s ashes tomb for Trajan’s ashes after his death in AD117after his death in AD117

3 ways to help the viewer 3 ways to help the viewer to see the column:to see the column:

Human figures were Human figures were progressively larger as progressively larger as they went up (0.6m-0.8m)they went up (0.6m-0.8m)

The band height gradually The band height gradually increased as it went up. increased as it went up. (0.9m-1.25 at top)(0.9m-1.25 at top)

Figures were made more Figures were made more prominent – added colour, prominent – added colour, metal accessories, metal accessories, grooving around the grooving around the contours of the figurescontours of the figures

Trajan’s Trajan’s ColumnColumn

Starts in lower Dacia, roughly made Starts in lower Dacia, roughly made houses and boats. Army setting out houses and boats. Army setting out (carrying supplies). River god Danube (carrying supplies). River god Danube (river Danube defined region of Dacia’s (river Danube defined region of Dacia’s border) river god depicted links back to border) river god depicted links back to hellenistic Greece e.g. shaggy hair and hellenistic Greece e.g. shaggy hair and beard.beard.

Easy mix of human and imaginery Easy mix of human and imaginery figures. figures.

Close attention to detail, designer of Close attention to detail, designer of reliefs drew from official records e.g reliefs drew from official records e.g some soldiers have badge of their some soldiers have badge of their battalionsbattalions

Trajan and soldiers are walking over a Trajan and soldiers are walking over a pontoon (bridge over boats)pontoon (bridge over boats)

Troops attack in a testudo or Troops attack in a testudo or Tortoise formation, shields Tortoise formation, shields locked above their headslocked above their heads

Legions of soldiers Legions of soldiers performing military performing military manouvers.manouvers.

Dacians have shaggy hair, Dacians have shaggy hair, floppy caps and beards tunic floppy caps and beards tunic capes and trousers.capes and trousers.

Capture of Dacian KingCapture of Dacian King

Perspectives are everywhere Perspectives are everywhere (mixed up) different ground (mixed up) different ground lines, higher, lower, facing lines, higher, lower, facing different ways. High and low different ways. High and low relief>> life and vitality, relief>> life and vitality, action, movement, variation.action, movement, variation.

Continuous narrative focussed on Rome as a Continuous narrative focussed on Rome as a ‘military machine’‘military machine’

Continuity provided by friezes which change in Continuity provided by friezes which change in height from bottom to top. Human figures grow in height from bottom to top. Human figures grow in size.size.

2500 human figures, 155 separate scenes wind 2500 human figures, 155 separate scenes wind 23 times around the column.23 times around the column.

Trajan can be identified by being a little bigger Trajan can be identified by being a little bigger than the others, a low brow, heavy fringe across than the others, a low brow, heavy fringe across forehead, pointed nose, wide thin lips. He is the forehead, pointed nose, wide thin lips. He is the only individual who is recognisable.only individual who is recognisable.

In what ways was the original In what ways was the original appearance of the column different appearance of the column different from what we see today?from what we see today?

Statue on top is now of St Peter, was Statue on top is now of St Peter, was formerly Trajanformerly Trajan

Frieze was coloured – now lostFrieze was coloured – now lost Metal accessories such as horses’ Metal accessories such as horses’

gear now lostgear now lost Emperor’s ashesEmperor’s ashes

What image of Trajan is seen in the reliefs? In what What image of Trajan is seen in the reliefs? In what ways is this different from or similar to that of Titus ways is this different from or similar to that of Titus in the reliefs in the Arch of Titus?in the reliefs in the Arch of Titus?

Trajan shown in realistic manner, as soldier among Trajan shown in realistic manner, as soldier among other soldiersother soldiers

In contrast, Titus shown as superhuman & godlike. In contrast, Titus shown as superhuman & godlike. Trajan is human sized not superhumanTrajan is human sized not superhuman

Trajan personally involved in actionTrajan personally involved in action Trajan dominates actions because he is in all Trajan dominates actions because he is in all

scenesscenes Trajan is shown in action, during actual events of Trajan is shown in action, during actual events of

campaigncampaign Titus is shown on an eagle, ascending to heaven in Titus is shown on an eagle, ascending to heaven in

his apotheosis, he is attended by divine his apotheosis, he is attended by divine personifictions & crowned by winged victorypersonifictions & crowned by winged victory

Using Paul Artus & WorkbookUsing Paul Artus & Workbook Work through the notes in your Work through the notes in your

workbook using Paul Artus p.49-55, & workbook using Paul Artus p.49-55, & write noteswrite notes

You need to know: You need to know: subject matter of 1subject matter of 1stst four bands four bands Themes covered and storyThemes covered and story Portrayal of TrajanPortrayal of Trajan Point of viewPoint of view

Read Johnathan CampbellRead Johnathan Campbell

Books p.25-31Books p.25-31

River god Danube

Light Well