Trajan's Column in Rome Trajan's Column in Rome
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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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Scene 4/IV (detail): In 101 CE, Roman troops, carrying their kit over their shoulders, depart from the town gate (or a fortress gate) and start over a pontoon bridge as the personification of the river, Danuvius, looks on.  On the right, a legate stands and looks back towards his men.  Presumably we are looking at the south bank of the River Danube; the crossing over to the north shore marks the Roman incursion to the Dacian side.  The exact point of departure on the Danube has not been resolved.
Cast in the Museo della Civilta' Romana, Rome.
Ref: RBU2011.6915 Scene 24/XXIV: Detail of the first great battle scene. A fallen Dacian warrior.  Scene #24 represents the first images of dead or wounded Dacians.
From a cast now in the Museo della Civiltà Romana, Rome.
Compare Cichorius Pls. XVIII-XIX and Coarelli Pl. 23.  Ref: RBU 2011. 6984. Scene 51/LI: Trajan, with his retinue of reinforcement troops behind him, meets a group of auxiliaries and legionaries. He wears a cuirass and splendid fringed paludamentum. A fortified camp fills the background.
From casts 127-128, now in the Museo della Civiltà Romana, Rome. Compare Cichorius Pl. XXXVII, scene 51 and Coarelli Pl. 53.  RBU2011.7107. Scenes 81/LXXXI and 89/LXXXIX are a contrast of stasis and rapid movement.  This view is of the southeast side of the Column (the side that faced the back wall of the Basilica Ulpia). On the lower band Trajan receives citizens in front of a quadriporticus, visible in the background.  Above, Trajan (just visible to the right, on the leading horse) heads a march of other riders and men on foot (visible on the left side).
From the Column in situ. RBU 2013.2106. Scenes 132-133/CXXXII-CXXXIII: On the left, Dacians move out from a log-built enclosure and move forward to attach a Roman fort (see the following Scene 134). In the background two Romans work on building two boats.  This image is a composite of a photo by Ulrich and, on the right, (Scene 133) an image from the original Cichorius plates.
From casts 354-357, now in the Museo della Civiltà Romana, Rome. Compare Cichorius Pl. XCVIII, scenes 132-133 and Coarelli Pls. 159-160. Ref: RBU2011.8265-composite. Parallel (left, right) stereograph of the casts of the sculpted drums from the Column of Trajan in Rome (Museo della Civiltà Romana).
Museo della Civiltà Romana, EUR, Rome.
RBU2012.1000106-p View towards the Basilica Ulpia and the Column of Trajan from the Markets of Trajan.
RBU6506.2016 On the Column of Trajan, from left to right (profile top and side/three-quarter view bottom).
1. (Left, top and bottom): Trajan's first sacrifice in front of a Roman camp (Scene 8). Compare Cichorius Pl. X and Coarelli Pl. 8.
2. (Middle, top and bottom): Trajan sacrifices before a group of Romans and Dacians (Scene 91). Compare Cichorius Pl. LXVI and Coarelli Pl. 106.
3. (Right, top and bottom): Trajan makes an inaugural sacrifice in front of the bridge built over the Danube (Scene 99). Compare Cichorius Pl. LXXII and Coarelli Pl. 118.
Images from casts in the Museo della Civiltà Romana.
(Photos by Ulrich; Image Grid by Z. Mei). View of the northwest side (opposite the side with inscription and door) of the pedestal of Trajan's Column.
Compare: Cichorius Pl. IIIa. RBU2011.7803 Scene 66 (detail): Roman artillery.Compare Cichorius Plate XLVI.From the original publication of 1865; Ref: F-D-66.

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