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Trajan’s column

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) Architectural type: Relief sculpture

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Trajan’s column

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  1. Trajan’s column A.D. 113

  2. p.51 of your workbooks • Location: Rome – formed part of the forum built by Emperor Trajan (north of main forum) • Architectural type:Relief sculpture • Purpose:Commemorates Trajan’s victories over the Dacians and propaganda to remind Romans of Trajan’s success as military leader • Subject matter of sculptural reliefs:Success of Trajan against the Dacians • Dates of construction:AD 112-113 • Dimensions:38m high including the base

  3. p.54 of your workbooks • Date of the structure: AD 112-113 • Where was it to be found: trajan’s forum, rome • Who built it: Trajan • What is the total height?38m high (including base) • What is the length of the frieze?200m long • What does the structure commemorate?Trajan fought 2 campaigns in Dacia in AD101-102 & 105-106 & booty of these financed the forum’s construction. • What is the structure made of?Carrara marble • How is emperor Trajan depicted? In a realistic manner, as a solider among the other soldiers, involved in the action, dominates scene by his continual presence, slightly larger than figures around him. • What problems did the structure face? The uppermost bands would be hardest to see.

  4. 3 ways the column was to commemorate the achievements of Trajan: • a statue of the emperor stood on top (lost in middle ages & replaced in 1588 with statue of St Peter) • Sculptural reliefs which winds 23 times around column depicting military victories in Dacia • Pedestal served as a tomb for Trajan’s ashes after his death in AD117

  5. 3 ways to help the viewer to see the column: • Human figures were progressively larger as they went up (0.6m-0.8m) • The band height gradually increased as it went up. (0.9m-1.25 at top) • Figures were made more prominent – added colour, metal accessories, grooving around the contours of the figures

  6. Trajan’s Column • Starts in lower Dacia, roughly made houses and boats. Army setting out (carrying supplies). River god Danube (river Danube defined region of Dacia’s border) river god depicted links back to hellenistic Greece e.g. shaggy hair and beard. • Easy mix of human and imaginery figures. • Close attention to detail, designer of reliefs drew from official records e.g some soldiers have badge of their battalions • Trajan and soldiers are walking over a pontoon (bridge over boats)

  7. Troops attack in a testudo or Tortoise formation, shields locked above their heads • Legions of soldiers performing military manouvers. • Dacians have shaggy hair, floppy caps and beards tunic capes and trousers. • Capture of Dacian King • Perspectives are everywhere (mixed up) different ground lines, higher, lower, facing different ways. High and low relief>> life and vitality, action, movement, variation.

  8. Continuous narrative focussed on Rome as a ‘military machine’ • Continuity provided by friezes which change in height from bottom to top. Human figures grow in size. • 2500 human figures, 155 separate scenes wind 23 times around the column. • Trajan can be identified by being a little bigger than the others, a low brow, heavy fringe across forehead, pointed nose, wide thin lips. He is the only individual who is recognisable.

  9. In what ways was the original appearance of the column different from what we see today? • Statue on top is now of St Peter, was formerly Trajan • Frieze was coloured – now lost • Metal accessories such as horses’ gear now lost • Emperor’s ashes

  10. What image of Trajan is seen in the reliefs? In what ways is this different from or similar to that of Titus in the reliefs in the Arch of Titus? • Trajan shown in realistic manner, as soldier among other soldiers • In contrast, Titus shown as superhuman & godlike. Trajan is human sized not superhuman • Trajan personally involved in action • Trajan dominates actions because he is in all scenes • Trajan is shown in action, during actual events of campaign • Titus is shown on an eagle, ascending to heaven in his apotheosis, he is attended by divine personifictions & crowned by winged victory

  11. Using Paul Artus & Workbook • Work through the notes in your workbook using Paul Artus p.49-55, & write notes You need to know: • subject matter of 1st four bands • Themes covered and story • Portrayal of Trajan • Point of view Read Johnathan Campbell Books p.25-31

  12. Light Well River god Danube

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