The Never-Ending Column

Words cannot describe how truly blessed I feel to have been able to experience the city of Rome with such wonderful company. There is such natural beauty and wonder to be found amongst the ruins of Ancient Rome. There is so much to see and so much to do, but unfortunately so little time. Although we were able to spend only two weeks in the heart of Ancient Rome, I am more than impressed by the amount of knowledge I have gained about both ancient and current Roman culture. From the tufa rock that lines the bottom of ancient structures to the highest marble drum of Trajan’s Column, Rome is a city of never-ending history and extraordinary beauty.

It is actually this very famous structure about which this post will report. Although its title may be relatively short, the incredible height and historical depth of Trajan’s Column is exactly the opposite.

Trajan’s Column, Tuscan in form, sits upon a rectangular block as its base. To give and idea of the column’s great size, the diameter of its base is roughly 3.83 meters, and nearly 3.66 meters at the summit. The seventeen drums of Luna marble showcase the military endeavors of the Emperor Trajan, specifically his military campaigns in Dacia from 101-106 C.E.

In addition to the military carvings on the seventeen drums, there is a door at the base of the column, which allows for an opening into the column. Yes, surprisingly there are stairs inside this massive structure on which people could walk to the column’s summit and overlook the city. From the summit of the column, one would have been able to see the Markets of Trajan, Trajan’s forum, the Basilica Ulpia, the Campus Martius, and of course, the Colosseum. 

Given that this column is such an incredible structure, one might think that Trajan was quite vein for creating this column for himself. However, this column was actually a gift for the emperor Trajan from the senate and the Roman people. It was dedicated on May 18, 113 C.E. Although the carvings are somewhat difficult to decipher from ground level due to its great height, Trajan’s Column was a revolutionary example of architecture. There was even a similar column carved in honor of Marcus Aurelias merely seventy years later, the architect of which learned from the illegible nature of Trajan’s Column that the marble should be carved deeper.

One of the most interesting and slightly shocking facts about Trajan’s Column happens to be that somewhere deep inside the column, Trajan’s ashes are said to have been housed in a golden urn. Although his ashes have undoubtedly been moved since the column was excavated, I cannot help but think that I was standing next to and staring at the structure that once housed the remains of the man who is considered to have been the best emperor of ancient Rome. Now that is not just a feeling that comes everyday is it?

I cannot think of a better way to sum up how I feel about everything I got to see in Rome those two weeks. The food is delicious, the sights are spectacular, but most of all, I cannot get over the feeling of knowing that I was standing amongst ancient ruins in the Roman forum, that I walked around inside an ancient port city, and that I walked into the catacombs beneath Saint Sebastian’s Church. What an incredible experience I had in Rome. I cannot thank our wonderful fearless leader for thinking up this trip and being willing to brave it with the six of us girls. All I can say now is that I hope one day to return to this beautiful city, and once again bask in its historical presence and beautiful scenery!