Monuments

Monuments

The Romans liked to emphasise the "here and now," that is, to depict the details of actual events. Encapsulated narrative enabled the rulers to get clear messages to people through the visual arts. Monuments such as the Trajan Column were erected to commemorate victories. In an upward spiral, narrative relief depicts Trajan's Dacian campaigns. Now topped by a statue of St.Peter it originally contained a statue, urn and ashes of the emperor. [MH] {NR}