Trajan's Column is a monument in Rome, built to commemorate the emperor Trajan's victory over the Dacians in the wars waged in the early second century. It stands about thirty-five metres tall, including its base, and is covered by a continuous spiral band of sculpture which winds around the shaft and shows scenes from the campaigns, with soldiers building forts, crossing rivers and fighting. The design is credited to the architect Apollodorus of Damascus. The column was set up in the Forum of Trajan, and a chamber in its base held the emperor's ashes after his death. The statue of Trajan at the top was replaced with one of Saint Peter in the sixteenth century. Its reliefs are an important source on the Roman army.
Before and after
- 100 CEBirth of Ptolemy
- from 101 CE to 106 CETrajan's Dacian Wars
- 105 CECai Lun reports the invention of paper
- from 106 CE to 107 CETrajan conquers Dacia
- 113 CETrajan's Column
- from 115 CE to 117 CETrajan's Parthian campaign
- 117 CEThe Roman Empire reaches its greatest extent
- 7 August 117 CEDeath of Trajan
- 2nd centuryRise of Montanism
More in Art, literature & culture
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- 551 BCEBirth of Confucius
- 6th century BCEOrigins of Judaism
- c. 375 BCEWriting of the Allegory of the Cave
- 33 CEOrigins of Christianity
- 381 CEFirst Council of Constantinople
The era
This moment belongs to the Ancient civilizations (3,200 BCE to 500 CE), writing, cities and empires. You can also browse everything in the 2nd century.