More on Rome!

The Roman Column of Trajan, was erected in Trajan's Forum, Rome. It is constructed of 22 layers of carved marble, each  approx. 1 yd. wide. This is a column commemorating Trajan's victory over Dacia in 101 BC. This would be modern day Romania. Remember all those details were carved into marble. Can you believe someone from ancient times actually made it? I marvel at it every time I look at it! There is such detail! At the base there is a crown of oak leaves, symbolic of victory, and then on the square base there are depictions of the spoils of  war, the weaponry and bodies from the courageous enemy.

Here is another fascinating video on how stone is carved using simple traditional hand tools. Watch it HERE As you watch, think about the Roman Column of Trajan and how tall and intricate it was. We will also talk about how Greek and Roman architecture are different this week in class.