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Forum, Markets and Column of Trajan |
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written
by mcwilson / 09.05.2004 |
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Conclusion |
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| Column of Marcus Aurelius |
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It can be assured that the Forum was influential to later generations of Romans, and more recently to tourists visiting the site. The Forum was never rivaled in size, and specifically the great statue of Trajan depicted on horseback in the center of the piazza, was never replicated. It may be important to note that columns similar in construction to the column in Trajan’s Forum were constructed after his death. This is important when considering whether the column was built with disregard for visitors’ inability to properly view the entire monument. If there was some mistake, or miscalculation in the design of the column, then surely it would not have been so closely mirrored in the Column of Marcus Aurelius. The column must have proved to be a very effective monument, even without consideration of its funerary elements. It is possible that in creating a monument that was so large that it could not be viewed in entirety from the ground, that there was an implied allusion by the architect to Trajan’s, and in fact Rome’s unrivaled ascendancy.
It is no surprise that people come from across the world to view this monument, along with others erected in ancient Rome. The success of this ancient civilization is reflected in each of their monuments, and it is entirely moving to stand before an artifact of such size and history. The frieze sculpted into the column’s face allows us to gain insight into one of the more distinctive aspects of Roman society: their military success. The illustrations portrayed in the carvings allows us to visualize just how the army may have been arranged in battle, what kind of armor they wore, how the battles actually took place and how prisoners were treated. The detail contained in these illustrations allow us to investigate the qualities that made the Roman military so successful, even the way that battle camps were set up and depicted in the illustrations gives insight into their success. When one stands before the column today, it cannot be ignored that the column constructed so many years ago stands today after weathering centuries of looting, erosion, and changes in its political surroundings. When walking through the Forum’s piazza, one cannot ignore the millions of people who have walked there before them, the first venturing there almost two thousand years ago.
The column itself continues to be appreciated, both as a tribute, and as a funerary monument to Trajan. The utility of the column as a memorial will continue as long as it stands. In addition, the care taken to continue Trajan’s glory into death will also continue to be preserved within the column, as it’s function as a circumambulatory figure will continue to be powerful for ages to come. It is a wonder to modern people that a civilization, and yet a single person, could be remembered in such a glorious representation for such a long time.
Perhaps the reason the column alone is so provocative is that it evokes accolade for the people who constructed it. Those who hoisted the blocks that top the column are thought of in a different light at present, when large machines would be employed to accomplish such tasks. In modern times we have a propensity to admire those who accomplished such tasks with antiquated methods involving mostly manpower. This is all without mention of the enormous effort it must have been to carve the frieze into the entire surface of the column, depicting detailed scenes of war which are believed to have been carved at their present height on the column. Certainly the movement of these enormous blocks of marble from the numerous quarries around the ancient Roman Empire would have been a great effort. The detail that the Romans gave their monuments evokes a due respect from future generations, who as a result are able to continue the celebration of the successes of the Ancient Empire.
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