"Trajan’s Column" Top 5 Page for this destination Trajan & Imperial Forums Tip by brendareed

Standing nearly 100 feet tall at the end of what remains of Trajan’s Forum is the column in honor of the same emperor – Trajan’s Column. Imagine wrapping a 656 foot long picture around a very tall tree – that is what you basically have with this column. It is an artistic marvel as the picture is really a sculpted marble frieze that winds up the entire length of the column.

The frieze contains more than 2,500 people intricately carved in the relief along with horses, buildings, trees, and other images. It commemorates Trajan’s military victories during the Dacian campaigns in the early 2nd century. This frieze took about four years to make.

As you look at the column, you can see holes in it – that is because there are actually steps the wind up through the middle of the column, although it is closed to visitors. At the very top of the column is a statue of St. Peter, who replaced Trajan in 1588.

You can view the column for free near Trajan’s Forum – just across the street from the Victor Emmanuel Monument and near the Roman Forum and Capitoline Hill. While you can’t get really close to the column, you are close enough to see some of the details of the frieze which makes this column such a fascinating piece of Roman art.