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Trajan's Column and Forum: Immortality and Memory |
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written
by shivali / 09.06.2005 |
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| http://www.honors.umaine.edu/images/hon111/forum/Trajan's%20Forum.jpg |
| The Glory of Trajan's Forum |
| When the Forum was orginally built, it functioned as the center of commerce and politics for the Roman Empire. |
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Trajan's intentions were clear: he wanted to be remembered for his contribution to the Roman Empire. In all its glory, the Forum was richly decorated with the spoils of the Dacian Wars. By offering the Roman people the Forum, Trajan displayed sympathy for their needs, because it was the people who used the Forum regularly. In addition, the opulence and richness of the Forum was used to remind the Romans of Trajan's might and valor as an Emperor and solidier. The Forum glittered with both subtle and more obvious reminders of Trajan and the Dacian conquest. Therefore, a major function of the Forum was propaganda for the Dacian Wars. The statues of the Dacians and reminders of the War were incorporated into the design of the Forum and acted to commemorate the Roman success. Even by current standards, the largeness of the marble floors and grandness of the Basilica's interior would be awe-inspiring. A Roman entering the Basilica would feel physically small in comparison to the vastness of the space, reinforcing the grandness of Trajan's contribution to the Empire. If there were any skeptics at the onset of the Wars, the grandeur of the Forum would have removed any doubts.
For years, scholars have debated other possible functions of the Column of Trajan. When experiencing the Column from the inside, the viewer must first climb the steep, helical staircase. The inside of the shaft is dim; only a few small windows line its height. Before the viewer enters the bright light of the viewing station at the top of the Column, most people are thoroughly disorientated. From the viewing station, one would observe the glittering bronze roof of the Basilica Ulpia, the Capitol, and Campus Martius. If any viewer doubted the merit of the Wars against the Dacians, their fear about the costs and loss of human life would be quickly subdued by the magnificent sight. The Column's interior reinforced the Trajan's themes of propaganda for the Dacian Wars and commemoratation the Roman Empire under his reign.
How would an average Roman experience the exterior of the Column of Trajan? The detailed frieze, which covers the entirety of the Column, recounts each phase of the war from building forts and Trajan addressing the troops to battle scenes with the Dacians. The Column has been a source of military history and topographical information about the Roman Empire. Because the Column served as military propaganda, there is no blood-shed or other gruesome realities of war depicted. Also, Trajan and his soldiers are shown as brave and triumphant in their conquest of Dacian. The exterior of the Column, then, also emphasizes Roman superiority and Trajan's military successes.
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