05-06 S Trajan`s Forum EDIT*

Rome’s Emperor Trajan:
His Forum and Markets
By: Nayer Hoseini, Guntur Kurniawan,
John Nguyen, Pruthvi Trivedi and Stacy Kye
Historical Context:
By John Nguyen
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Trajan was the second of the five great emperors of the Roman Empire. Reigning
as emperor from 98-117 AD, Trajan was highly known for his admirable military leadership in
his efforts to expand the empire through most parts of Eastern Europe. He devoted much of
his energy to aggressive wars that extended Roman rule across the Danube River to Dacia
(present-day Romania) and into Mesopotamia. Conquering Dacia was important economically,
since its rich gold mines accounted for much of Roman wealth in the second century. However,
Trajan s next attempt to invade the east was less successful. Although he conquered Arabia,
Armenia and Parthia (now part of Iran and Afghanistan) on his way to the Persian Gulf, the
recently conquered Parthians rebelled and forced Trajan to withdraw.
Though highly-known for his military status, Trajan, as the emperor to his people, has
made other contributions which demonstrated his common sense, administrative skill, and
genuine human compassion. As emperor, Trajan managed to build several new buildings,
monuments and roads in Italia (Italian Peninsula region) and his native Hispania (Iberian
Peninsula region). His magnificent complex in Rome were raised to commemorate his victories
in Dacia, consisting of a forum, Trajan's Column, and a Trajan Market ‒ which still stands in
Rome today. He was also a prolific builder of triumphal arches, many of which survive. One not
able act of Trajan was the hosting of a three-month gladiatorial festival in the great Colosseum
in Rome. Combining chariot racing, beast fights and close-quarters gladiatorial bloodshed, this
gory spectacle reputedly left thousands dead and attracted a total of five million spectators
over the course of the festival. Trajan was a man with few personal pretensions who treated
senators as equals, which earned himself the title of Optimus Princeps; or in other words,
Best of Emperors.
Cultural Influence
By Guntur Kurniwan
Emperor Trajan was the first non-Italian to rule
the Roman Empire and was able to expand its
territory. The major buildings at that time were
Trajan s forum and market place.
These constructions were influenced by Greek
Hellenistic architecture and were used as places
for business and politics. Hellenistic design was
actually the mixture of oriental and Greek
architecture. When the Romans defeated the
Greek people, they brought the Aegean culture
to Rome. Trajan s Forum, for instance, used
Ionic and Corinthian orders for the columns that
functioned as foundations around the structure.
Furthermore, Trajan s Market employed arches in
the construction. Some scholars think that the
Romans learned how to produce the arches from
the Etruscans, but it is generally understood that
The arch was originally the invention of the
Mesopotamians.
Subject and Style
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By Nayer Hoseini
Trajan was the first Roman ruler who was not Italian. He was born in Spain. He was
a popular general and people loved him so much that gave him the
title of Optimus means the best.
Trajan s Forum was the largest and newest forum in Rome. It celebrated two
victories by Trajan over Dacians. It was built by the architect, Apollo-Dorus of
Damascus, Trajan s chief military engineer during Dacians wars. It has conservative
style with Hellenistic influence. Apollodorus built this forum twice the size of the
forum Augustus built a century before. He used the main shape and appearance of
earliest forums such as Pompeii s forum, using the temple of Jupiter in his plan.
Looking at the arrangement of complex buildings and association of spaces, one can
see that it presents the power of Rome during the early second century.
Trajan s forum contains:
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Monumental Entrance with the Triumphal Arch
Equestrian Statue of Trajan
The Basilica Ulpia
Trajan s Markets with over 150 spaces for shops
Two Libraries / Latin and Greek
Trajan Column celebrating both victorious campaigns against the Dacians
Temple of Trajan
Materials and Processes
By:Pruthvi Trivedi
Carving- To create Trajan s column was a monumental task. The materials used to create such a
column were 8 solid marble blocks for the base, 20 massive marble drums measuring three and a
half meters in diameter for the column shaft and capital. Once the base had been assembled the
work on the column drums could begin. These column drums were shipped from the coast and
up the Tiber River, and than dragged to the site of construction. Each drum likely arrived in a
roughly cylindrical shape from the quarry. Before putting it into place the column drums it would
be necessary for them to shape it into the final desired shape, and to cut the internal stairway.
Doing this entire task required precise measuring and very careful carving. After doing measuring
and craving each drum would be put into place, and it would be secured by metal dowels that
were fitted and secured into the upper and lower faces of the drums with lead. The lead was
poured through a channel cut into the upper face of the lower drum. The spiral carvings found on
the columns were done after the drums had been put into place. Some scholars believe that the
carving was begun before the column drums were raised.
Tools and Technique- Carving the roughest work would have been done with large, heavy picks. The
hand-held chisels would have been used, first large ones, including a point chisel (a carving tool
with a single point), and then finer tools such as tooth chisels (with multiple small points). In
some cases, particularly at edges and angles, a flat chisel (with a sharp straight blade at its end)
was used to bring the stone to a fine, accurate finish. No evidence of point chisel marks remains
on the column. The exterior part of column was carved with finer tools, mainly flat and roundheaded chisels, scrapers and rasps.
Basilica Ulpia
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By: Pruthvi Trivedi
The Basilica Ulpia stood south of the Trajan s Column and the two libraries. The Basilica Ulpia was named
after the family name Marcus Ulpius Trajan. It was an oblong building that stood perpendicular to the
central axle of the Forum.
The central hall is surrounded by a double gallery of columns . The north wall leads to a set of doors that
lead to Trajan s Column and the two libraries. On the south side the basilica was open, people could enter
the square of the Trajan Forum.
East and west stood two exedrae: exedrae are hemicircles that stood out of the building. The Basilica Ulpia
served many purposes. It was a place were the Roman citizens could meet and talk, a marked place were
people could trade, bank and judge, and last but not least it was meant to impress visitors and convince the
visitors of the glory and the strength of the Roman Empire. The Basilica Ulpia is set transversely to the axis
of the forum and enclosed by two ambulatory colonnades. At the ends of the basilica were two semicircular
apses and at the center of the façade is a tetra style porch. The main space is roofed with wood. A semicircular apse at one or more of the ends was often vaulted with a half-dome and often was the location of
an altar or dais (raised platform). The seat of a magistrate who would hear cases in this location.
The interiors were elaborately decorated on all surfaces with marbles and woodwork, as well as featuring
statues of notable Roman personalities.
Building materials: marble, wood, brick, stone, concrete. Brick was often used for vaults, due to its lighter
weight, and was made in various shapes, almost always longer and thinner than modern counterparts. In
some medieval contexts, brick was used in alternation or combination with stone for polychrome effects; in
some places where stone is of poor quality or rare, brick is used throughout a structure and then sheathed,
as it was in Roman times, with an imported veneer.
Trajan s column
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By: Guntur Kurniawan
Emperor Trajan commanded Apollodorus of Damascus
to design and build Trajan s Column. The function of
this artwork is to commemorate Trajan s victory over
the Dacians. Its height is approximately thirty meters.
On the top of the column, it had an eagle s statue. It
was replaced by Trajan s statue. Finally, it was then
substituted with St. Peter s statue.
The relief represents the two triumphant wars against
the Dacians. The narrative is read by the viewer from
the bottom to the top in a spiral direction. From the
bottom to the middle of the column, it depicts the
first war (101-102). From the middle to the top of the
column, it illustrates the second war (105-106). Basic
ally, the carvings represent the soldiers, sailors,
priests and statesmen. The Emperor Trajan appears
59 times among his troops. This monument is mainly
to show the glorious and prosperous time when
Emperor Trajan ruled the Roman Empire. After
Emperor Trajan died, the Roman Senate decided to
place his ashes in the golden urn inside the base of
the column. However, the ashes have since been
removed.
Trajan s Market
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By John Nguyen
The Trajan's Market is a large complex of ruins in the city of Rome located at the
opposite end to the Colosseum. Built sometime between 107-110AD by Greek
architect Apollodorus of Damascus, the buildings and structures present a living
model of life in the Roman capital and a glimpse at the continuing restoration in
the city which reveals insights about Ancient Roman architecture. It represents
the ancient equivalent of the modern shopping center, housing no less than 150
shops and offices. The entrance leads into a shopping area, disposed on two
different sides, where free wheat was once distributed to the people of Rome. Th
e main hall provides a spacious vaulted chamber on which shops line the walls on
two floors. At the end of this hall a large balcony offers a beautiful view on the
markets and Trajan s Forum.
The upper levels of the market were used for offices while the lower part, in front
of Trajan's Forum, had shops selling items such as oil, wines, seafood, groceries,
vegetables and fruit. The shops varied in size, though most were rather small. A
typical customer (at that period of time) would most likely approach the shop
keeper at the door and then be served there, rather than actually
entering the room. The market is roofed by a concrete vault raised
on piers, both covering and allowing air and light into the central
space. The market itself is constructed primarily out of brick
and concrete.
Photos of Trajan’s Market
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File: trajans-market-09.jpg
Equestrian Statue of Trajan
By Nayer Hoseini
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Trajan s forum is the greatest and largest forum in Rome. Apollodorus,
Trajan s chief military engineer during the Dacian Wars built this forum for
worship on 112 CE and contains: Trajan sTemple, Trajan s Column, two
Libraries, Basilica Ulpia, Equestrian statue of Trajan, Entrance with
Triumphal Arch and Trajan s Markets.
The equestrian statue of Trajan is monumental, larger than life size. It is
made of bronze and plated with gold. The statue is iconographical and is
an overt symbol of his powerful leadership skills. In the composition,
Emperor Trajan is depicted in his uniform and boots which shows military
valor, skill and power. This statue shows that he is strong, successful and a
proud Emperor. Trajan s statue was originally located in the middle of
the Forum s courtyard and it exhibits conservative style with Greek
Hellenistic influence.
Trajan s Temple
On the acropolis of Pergamon, there stands the
marvelously attractive, damaged Trajan s
Temple on the west side of the library. It
was built during the Trajan s reign.
The temple was constructed by Emperor Trajan,
but due to his death his successor Emperor
Hadrian completed the temple in the name of
Trajan.
In addition, the purpose of Trajan s Temple was
to worship in the cult of Emperor Trajan and
Emperor Hadrian, and for the evidence;
inside the temple, the two statues of each
emperor were found. The peripteral temple is
made of white marble, and originally
contained all 30 Corinthian styled columns.
Moreover, the column tops were wrapped with
the patterns of acanthus leaves, showing the
ornate style of the building. However, due to
the earthquake, the beautiful Temple of
Trajan has been severely damaged.
Even today, this badly damaged Temple still
grabs viewer s attention through its monume
ntal presence.
By: Stacy Kye
Works Cited: Sources
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Markets of Trajan Apollodorus of Damascus :
http://www.greatbuildings.com/buildings/Markets_of_Trajan.html
Trajan’s Market in Rome, Italy:
http://www.inrometoday.it/phototour/romanforum/trajansmarket/trajansmarket.htm
“Trajan’s Forum.” www.wikipedia.org. 26 April 2006. <www.wikipedia.org>
“Trajan’s column.”www.wikipedia.org. 5 May 2006. <www.wikipedia.org>
Slavin, Charlie. “An Honors Journey.” The Honors College at the University of Maine.
www.honors.umaine.edu/. ../111/forum-b.htm
Basilican Ulpia
http://penelope.uchicago.edu/~grout/encyclopaedia_romana/imperialfora/trajan/basilica.html
Materials and Processes http://www.stoa.org/trajan/introductory_essay.html#carving
Powerpoint Lecture Slides, Forum &, Markets Emperor Trajan, AD 98-117
All about Turkey.http://www.allaboutturkey.com/pergamum.htm
Temple of Trajan <http://www.trekearth.com/gallery/Middle_East/Turkey/photo218001.htm>
Temple of Trajan<http://www.planetware.com/pergamon/temple-of-trajan-tr-iz-pett.htm>
http://www.roman-empire.net/highpoint/trajan.html
http://www.flickr.com/photos/antydiluvian/89348299/in/set-72057594051680237/