A magnificent marble pillar, the pedestal of which concealed the
chamber where the ashes of the emperor were deposited. The bas-reliefs
on the basement are among the most beautiful decorations of ancient or
modern times; they represent the arms taken from the Dacians, against
whom Trajan had made several campaigns. It marks the height of the
Quirinal Hill, cut away to make the open space for the Forum of Trajan
in which it stands. A series of bas-reliefs, representing the Dacian
war, forms a spiral round the shaft of the pillar. Erected A.D. 114.
It is 127 feet high, including the base, and is surmounted by a statue
of S. Peter, 11 feet high, placed there by Sixtus V. in the sixteenth
century.
The pillar is composed of thirty-four blocks of white marble. The
reliefs are two feet high at the bottom, and gradually increase in
size as they go upwards, thus making the figures at the top and bottom
seem of equal size. There are two thousand five hundred figures,
besides animals and other details.
Dion Cassius (Xiphilin, Trajan) says: "He erected in the forum that
bears his name a vast pillar, as well to serve as a receptacle for his
bones as to be a monument of his magnificence to posterity. In good
earnest, it was a piece of work that could not be finished without
extraordinary expense, because it was necessary to cut through a
mountain as high as the pillar, to make the level for the forum."
[Illustration: PLAN OF THE FORUM OF TRAJAN.]
"The bones of Trajan were put into the pillar we have mentioned; and,
to reverence his memory, sports were celebrated for several years
after, which were called Parthica" (Dion Cassius, "Hadrian").
"Trajan, of all the emperors, was buried within the city. His bones,
being put up in a golden urn, lie in the forum which he built, under a
pillar, whose height is 144 feet, Roman" (Eutropius).
_Going down the_ VIA ALESSANDRINA, _which commences at the left-hand
corner of the above forum, as we come into it, take the first turning
on the left_, VIA CAMPO CARLEO. _The gate on the left leads to the_
double row of shops that surrounded the Forum of Trajan. _Custodi at
the Forum. Following this street, we pass the_ medieval Torre del
Grillo _on our left. On our right_ are massive remains of the SECOND
WALL OF ROME. (See page xviii.) _Turning to the right under the arch,
we are within_