Trajan’s Trajan’s columncolumn

A.D. 113A.D. 113

If you were allowed a column If you were allowed a column to be covered in relief, all to be covered in relief, all

about you…about you… What images would you What images would you

have on it?have on it?

What images would a What images would a leader or an Emperor leader or an Emperor want to have on their want to have on their column it for the column it for the purposes of Propaganda?purposes of Propaganda?

What stuff from the Arch What stuff from the Arch of Constantine comes of Constantine comes from Trajan’s period…this from Trajan’s period…this may help us figure out may help us figure out what his column shows.what his column shows.

What it looks like

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

built by Emperor Trajan (north of main built by Emperor Trajan (north of main forum)forum)

Architectural type:Architectural type: Relief sculpture Relief 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: find in Paul Artusfind in Paul Artus Dimensions:Dimensions: find in Paul Artusfind in Paul Artus

Date of the structure: Date of the structure: 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? What is the length of the frieze?What is the length of the frieze? Find in Paul Artus Find in Paul Artus

p.50p.50 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 marble Carrara marble How is emperor Trajan depicted? How is emperor Trajan depicted? See Paul Artus See Paul Artus

p.53 under ‘Portrayal of Trajan’p.53 under ‘Portrayal of Trajan’ 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.53 of your p.53 of your workbooksworkbooks

What were 3 way that What were 3 way that were used to help the were used to help the viewer see the column?viewer see the column?

Find in Paul Artus, p.52 Find in Paul Artus, p.52 under ‘Problems to under ‘Problems to Overcome’Overcome’

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

Find in Paul Artus, p.50Find in Paul Artus, p.50

P .53 of workbooks

p. 52 Workbookp. 52 WorkbookIn what ways was the original In what ways was the original

appearance of the column appearance of the column different to what we see today?different to what we see today?

See, Paul Artus p.50 ‘Things lost See, Paul Artus p.50 ‘Things lost from the original’from the original’

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

Think about how trajan is shown as Think about how trajan is shown as different to Titusdifferent to Titus

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 scenesTrajan dominates actions because he is in all scenes 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

p. 54 workbooksp. 54 workbooksAnswer the questions using Paul Artus book Answer the questions using Paul Artus book

to help youto help you

7. Other figures gaze towards him7. Other figures gaze towards him8. The barbarians are shown wearing 8. The barbarians are shown wearing heavy clothing including pants, shaggy heavy clothing including pants, shaggy hair and capshair and caps

9. They help tell the narrative of the story by 9. They help tell the narrative of the story by breaking up the narrative into meaningful breaking up the narrative into meaningful bits, while at the same time continuing the bits, while at the same time continuing the flow of the storyflow of the story

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 imaginary Easy mix of human and imaginary 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 Continuous narrative focussed on Rome as a focussed on Rome as a ‘military machine’‘military machine’

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

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

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