Trajan

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Trajans column

• A.D. 113

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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 Trajans victories over the
  Dacians and propaganda to remind Romans of
  Trajans 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

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p.54 of your workbooks

• Date of the structure AD 112-113
• Where was it to be found trajans 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 forums
  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.

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• 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 Trajans ashes
  after his death in AD117

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• 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

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Trajans Column

• Starts in lower Dacia, roughly made houses and
  boats. Army setting out (carrying supplies).
  River god Danube (river Danube defined region of
  Dacias 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)

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• 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 reliefgtgt life and vitality,
  action, movement, variation.

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• 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.

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• 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
• Emperors ashes

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• 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

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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

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Light Well
River god Danube
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