La Columna de Trajano

Colonial Latin American society in the Seventeenth Century was undergoing a tremendous amount of changes. Society was transforming from a conquering phase into a colonizing phase. New institutions were forming and new people and ideas flooded into the new lands freshly claimed for the Spanish Empire. Two remarkable women, radically different from each other, who lived during this period of change are a lenses through which many of the new institutions and changes can be viewed. Sor Juana and Catalina de Erauso are exceptional women who in no way represent the norm but through their extraordinary tales and by discovering what makes them so extraordinary we can deduce what was the norm and how society functioned during this era of Colonial

From the beginnings of human existence art has been used to depict, glorify, and eternize the cultures of a society. Though the ages of time none have become more world renown than the workings of the Roman civilization; an art form which incorporated the customs of the Etruscans and Greeks to create an individualistic style that appealed to the cultural aesthetics of the time period. Of the various forms of art used by the Romans, the one which most clearly illustrates this is the Roman's architecture, arguably the most influential and impressive use of artistic ideals. By using innovative new materials, establishing new building methods, and absorbing surrounding and past cultural ideologies the Romans were

Marcus Ulpius Trajanus, notoriously known as the Roman Emperor Trajan was born September 18, most likely in the year 52 AD of Spanish origin. He was an educated man with a powerful, masculine figure. A bronze sculpture at Harvard University showcases his physique in ceremonial armor standing as if addressing his troops. He possessed a true sense of dignity and humbleness which to the Romans made him an emperor of true virtue. He was an emperor who truly enjoyed war; his passion for war came from the fact that he was very good at it. He was a brilliant general, as shown by his military achievements. He was naturally very popular with the troops, especially due to his willingness to share in the hardships alongside his soldiers.

In this essay, I will compare and contrast two different sculptures from two different contexts of art. The first being an Olmec Colossal head (monument 1), from the context of “Art of the Americas,” and the second sculpture being ahead from Rafin Kura. The head from Rafin Kura comes from the context of “Art of Africa.” Both sculptures come from two different time periods and parts of the world. They also are both made with natural materials and have their own symbolic meaning.

And just as Gutzon set out to build a great feat, so will this paper and its interpretation and story-telling of the past. The history behind this monument, the artistry that is and was displayed, and the basic skills of location, environment, and factors that influence geography will also be discussed here. This work by Gutzon was not just mere sensationalism or commercialism, as has normally been the angle of reporters, but instead this will take on the historic aspect as it was originally intended to bring out.

The Roman Empire was one of the largest and most influential empires in all of history. By 476 AD, it had completely fallen apart, why? The Roman Empire began in 27 BC with the first emperor, Augustus, overseeing it. At the empires greatest extent, it held control of nearly all Europe including areas such as modern day France, Britain, Mesopotamia and North Africa. Its existence inspired a future of empires that would aspire to be just like the Roman Empire. The empire was the economic and religious center of Europe and helped the religion of Christianity grow massively. However, by the year 476 AD, Germanic tribes now controlled Rome. The once dominant empire had been losing its authority due to a number of internal and external pressures.

Trajan is considered by many historians as one of the greatest Roman emperors. He conquered Parthia and Dacia, expanding Rome’s borders. He was also the first non-Roman emperor in Rome’s history. Trajan was born in Italica, Baetica (modern-day Spain) on September 15th, 53 CE, and he died on either August 8th or August 9th, 117 CE in Selinus, Cilicia (modern-day Turkey). Trajan started his career as a legionary staff tribune in Syria, where his father was governor. After that, he became a praetor, which qualified him for command of a legion in Spain in 89 CE. One day, he was ordered to march his troops to Rome to help a revolt against emperor Domitian, but the revolt was suppressed by the time he arrived. In 91 CE, Domitian allowed him

Many centuries before the birth of Christ, the city of Rome grew, prospered, and developed into a thriving Republic. As in most cultures, Rome's buildings became more elaborate and impressive. They developed fantastic building technologies and ideas. The feats of Roman engineers were groundbreaking, and many structures built by this culture still stand today. With knowledge borrowed from the Greeks, Rome made impressive architectural achievements, these were namely major attributes of buildings, colossal structures, and a legacy that would influence later buildings (Cornell and Matthews 11).

The elaborate triumph following Trajan’s conquering of Dacia took place over the course of two days. In the early morning, the procession started with musicians leading the way through the porta triumphalis, located at the porta carmentalis (Coarelli), singing ballads of Trajan’s victory. This excited the crowd and readied them for the procession, as well these ballads played a role in commemorating this triumph for years to come.

Tacitus tells us in the introduction to his Annales that his intent is to “relate a little about Augustus, Tiberius, et cetera” and to in fact do so “sine ira et studio” -- without bitterness or bias.1 Experience, however, tells us that this aim is rarely executed, and that we must be all the more suspicious when it is stated outright. Throughout the Annales, Tacitus rather gives the impression that his lack of bias is evidenced by his evenhanded application of bitterness to all his subjects. But is this really the case? While Tacitus tends to apply his sarcastic wit universally – to barbarian and Roman alike – this is not necessarily evidence of lack of bias. Taking the destruction of Mona and Boudicca's revolt (roughly 14.28-37) as a

The story of Trajan began nearly 2000 years ago. Roman Emperor Trajan defeated the Dacians in back-to-back wars fought in 101 and 106 AD. To commemorate his victory in the Dacian Wars, Emperor Trajan commissioned a forum that included a spacious plaza surrounded by colonnades, two libraries, a grand civic space known as the Basilica Ulpia, and possibly even a temple. Towering over the forum was a stone column, which came to be known as Trajan’s Column.

The first example of the warfare art is 'Column of Trajan' which was constructed by the architect Apollodorus of Damascus in Rome, Italy to commemorate Roman emperor Trajan's victory of the Dacian wars and built in between AD 107 and AD 113. It is located in the Forum of Trajan and the only part preserved in anything approaching its original form. It was constructed to celebrate the success of in Dacia so that it has to glorify the victory by incorporate a pictorial record of the emperor's victorious military campaigns against Dacia. To portray Trajan's military campaigns, the architect Apollodorus to adopt new artistic mode which is a 625-foot frieze winding 23 times from base to capital. It was kind of an architectural innovation in

The Column of Trajan is a very interesting piece of Art and drew my attention right away with the commentary of the picture on pg. 141. Apollodorus of Damascus, who was also the creator of the Pantheon, designed the column and it was built from 106 C.E to 113 C.E. by the emperor Trajan in the Forum of Trajan, Rome. It is very interesting to learn that columns were mainly constructed to celebrate military victories, with reliefs starting from the bottom and wrapping around the structure ending at the top. It seems odd to me since, there was no really way to read or see the stories from the ground without a scaffolding or structure built around it because it stood 125 feet tall with a base that was probably 15 feet. The Column of Trajan does

Three hundred ninety nine, four hundred, four hundred and one . . . I cannot remember ever counting this high before. I sit on a magnificently carved chair, surrounded by opulence and some of the finest minds of the empire and yet I find myself counting the tiles in the mosaic at my feet. “Optimus princeps,” yet another session spent defining a title for our Emperor Trajan. Is he the best ruler ever? Perhaps; most would agree without question, but that this is the task set before the great senate of Rome saddens me beyond belief. Our empire is without question expanding in size and influence, yet I long for the time of my grandfather when a senator was actually a participant and not just a nodding head for the emperor. The purple of my toga

The Roman Colosseum, a colossal amphitheater, was built in the first century under Flavian's rule. Many events such as gladiator games, beast fights, naval battles, and much more took place inside the huge elliptical arena. People of all ages and classes attended these well-known spectacles. The Colosseum is a huge Roman architectural achievement and the fact that it is still standing today only amplifies the importance of this structure. Hundred of thousands of people attended the ancient games, and even more continue to visit the arena today.