Rome 2017: (1) The Colomn of Trajan

http://www.nationalgeographic.com/trajan-column/article.html

The strength and evolution of military might is revealed through the Column of Trajan. Since Romans desired to be remembered and revealed much of their cultural landscape tells a story. Many of the cultural landscapes revealed through arches have been pillaged, but the column of Trajan is still in tack and shares a complex chaotic story. The story revealed on this column is a powerful message of the victory attained through perseverance. The majority of people through history has viewed the Roman Empire as strong and powerful, the master of militaristic victories. This column reminds scholars that the victories attained by the Romans were not easy achievements; they were brutal and vicious and cost many men their

lives. Often the influence of the Roman military is romanticized and this column, serving as a cultural landscape, revealed that the Romans desired people to remember the sacrifices made to attain the victory that the Romans are reminded of. The column does not just tell the story of triumph and victory, most of the column reveals the violence experienced at battle. Romans desire to be remembered as victors hence why they created large tall columns to celebrate their successes, but they desire historians and geographers to remember the dedication necessary to attain victory.