Trajan's Column in Rome Trajan's Column in Rome
The history, archaeology and iconography of the monument
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Images of Trajan in Situ (SE)

Representations of Trajan on the southeast side of Trajan’s Column in Rome.

 

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Image Galleries

Scene 1/I: Sentries stand alongside signal towers on the Roman side of the Danube at the beginning of the Dacian War in 101 CE. A composite image from the Column in situ. The waves of the river flow below the feet of the soldiers. Woodpiles and haystacks are ready to provide light and smoke for signaling. The window on the left corresponds to the NE axis of the Column. RBU2013.2077-2080 Scene 25/XXV: In the middle band of this image, Trajan inspects the occupation of a Dacian fort, while Dacians flee on the right side of the scene. Behind the emperor, in Scene 24/XXIV, Dacian soldiers attend to their wounded. The top of Scene 20/XX is visible at the bottom of the photo, and the bottom of Scene 33/XXXIII is visible at the top. From the Column in situ. Ref. RBU2015.5467. Scene 66/LXVI: Roman legionaries in full battle dress await the order to attack. From cast #166, now in the Museo della Civiltà Romana, Rome. Compare Cichorius Pl. XLVII scene 66 and Coarelli Pl. 72. Ref: RBU2011.7155. Scene 79/LXXIX (detail): A tetrastyle temple of the Ionic (?) order is seen in three-quarter view in the harbor scene. The standing image of a female divinity (perhaps Venus?) that looks like the Louvre "Genetrix" type stands in the doorway. The cella of the shrine is illuminated by a large grated window. From cast 207, now in the Museo della Civiltà Romana, Rome. Compare Cichorius Pls. LVIII scene 79 and Coarelli Pl. 93. RBU2011.7216. Scenes 125/CXXV and 134/CXXXIV: Two scenes of Roman encampments on the southeast side of the Column. The join between Column drums is clearly visible. On the lower band we see Trajan within an undulating camp wall being greeted by his troops (perhaps a formal acclamation? Coarelli 2000: 198). The quiet of the scene contrasts with the one directly above, where Dacian attackers, holding their shields over their heads for protection, attack a Roman fort. Several of their number lie dead or wounded in the foreground. From the Column in situ, corresponding to Cichorius Scenes 125 and 134. Ref: RBU2013.2110 Parallel Stereograph of Scene 32/XXXII. RBU2012.1000108-p The visibility of Trajan's Column from distances today would have been impossible in antiquity when the Column was enclosed in a courtyard situated on the northwest side of the Basilica Ulpia. Ref: RBU1997.239 On the Column of Trajan, from left to right (profile top and side/three-quarter view bottom). 1. (Left, top and bottom): A lustration scene (part of a suovetaurilia) in a Roman camp, with Trajan as chief priest (Scene 103). Compare Cichorius Pl. LXXVI and Coarelli Pl. 124. 2. (Middle, top and bottom): Trajan presides over a sacrifice in a camp; part of a suovetaurilia scene (Scene 53). Compare Cichorius Pl. XXXVIII and Coarelli Pl. 54. 3. (Right, top and bottom): Trajan making a sacrifice in a harbor town (Scene 86). Compare Cichorius Pl. LXIII and Coarelli Pl. 101. Images from casts in the Museo della Civiltà Romana. (Photos by Ulrich; Image Grid by Z. Mei). View from modern street level of the entrance side (southeast) of the pedestal of the Column of Trajan. In the foreground are the gray granite columns of the Basilica Ulpia. RBU2011.00868 Trajan's Column scenes 29, 28, beginning of 31. Compare Cichorius Plate XXIII. From the original publication of 1865; Ref: F-D-29-31.

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