Trajan's Column is a Roman triumphal column in Rome, Italy, that commemorates Roman emperor Trajan's victory in the Dacian Wars. Built under the supervision of the architect Apollodorus of Damascus around 113 AD, the column stands at 35 meters in height, with a total height of 37.2 meters including its base. Its shaft consists of 20 colossal marble drums, each weighing around 32 tons, and a spiral bas relief that covers the entire column's surface 23 times. The column originally had a gold-plated surface, but this has since worn away. Its dog-like capital block, with a weight of 53.3 tons, was raised to a height of 34 meters, topping the structure.
The Dacian Wars consisted of two conflicts fought between 101 and 106 AD, as Trajan expanded the Roman Empire into Dacia, a region in present-day Romania. The wars were instrumental in establishing the empire's eastern border.
Today, Trajan's Column is a popular tourist attraction and a valuable archaeological relic. Despite being isolated from its original setting in Trajan's Forum, it continues to serve as a symbol of Roman power and artistry.
Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons
Written by Nicolo Ciampini
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