Trajan's Column

Lore & Background

Beyond its artistic merit, the column served a practical purpose as an imperial tomb. The ashes of Trajan were buried in a chamber at the base of the column. At the top of the column was a statue of Trajan; this disappeared in the Middle Ages. On December 4, 1587, the top was crowned by Pope Sixtus V with a bronze figure of Saint Peter, which remains. The column was originally flanked by two sections of the Ulpian Library, a Greek chamber and a Latin chamber, which faced each other and had walls lined with niches and wooden bookcases for scrolls. The Latin chamber likely contained Trajan's lost commentary on the Roman-Dacian Wars, the Dacica, which most scholars agree was intended to be echoed in the spiralling, sculpted narrative design of Trajan's Column.

Reader's Guide

Trajan's Column was probably constructed under the supervision of the architect Apollodorus of Damascus at the order of the Roman Senate. It is located in Trajan's Forum, north of the Roman Forum. The column was placed toward the northernmost point of the forum, acting as the focal point of the entire forum complex. It was surrounded on three sides by two flanking libraries and the Basilica Ulpia. The two libraries to the northeast and southwest of the column were for the study of scrolls written in Latin and in Greek. These libraries apparently included upper level viewing platforms for two sides of the column. By having an elevated vantage point, the figures of the scenes, carved in shallow relief and detailed with paint and metal fittings, could be seen more closely. The problem with visibility of the upper areas is further apparent when we compare Trajan's Column to the Column of Marcus Aurelius. The figures in the later Column of Marcus Aurelius are more deeply cut and even simplified over the height of the shaft because there were no surrounding buildings to serve as viewing platforms.

Did You Know?

• Inside the shaft, a spiral staircase of 185 steps provides access to a viewing deck at the top.
• The capital block of Trajan's Column had to be lifted to a height of about 34 metres (112 feet).
• Ancient coins indicate preliminary plans to top the column with a statue of a bird, probably an eagle.
• The frieze includes 48 tree-felling scenes out of 224 trees depicted on the column.