Ph.D. Shpakovsky VO

Penza State University, Russia

Is Trajan's Column a reliable historical source?

  On the period of military history of Rome from 100 to 200 BC detailed historical research, unfortunately, did not survive. So that by studying this period, historians have to rely solely on such a historical source as a column on the forum of Trajan in Rome. Dedicated on May 12-тh, AD March 11, seven years after his victorious campaigns had ended in 106 with the creation of the province of Dacia (approximately today's Romania), Trajan's Column was immediately accepted as one of ancient Rome's principal monuments. Its very form, its size, the richness of its sculpted relief's, all made it a remarkable piece of work from the outset, and it set the precedent for such later works as the column of Marcus Aurelius in about AD 180-90, and the columns erected in Constantinople by Theodosius (AD 386-94) and Arcadius (AD 404-10). Nearly two thousand years later, it was also the inspiration for the column which Napoleon had built in the Place Vendome in Paris (1806-10).Placed between the two buildings of the Rome library, which since AD 102 had bordered the Basilica Ulpia, the column was intended to be both the tomb of Trajan and an illustrated book of his campaigns. It is this second purpose which interests us, with its continuous band of illustrations of the Dacian wars having been described as a ‘documentary film’ or even as a ‘cartoon strip’ to the opinion of such historian as Michel Feugere [1,21].

The relief's are so precise that not only do they show us the arms and equipment in use during the height of the Roman Empire, but also detailed information on the conduct of a military campaign, and on ancillary works such as camps, bridges and trenches, as well as offering an insight into the defeated enemy, in this case the Dacians. An ‘official document’, the column is no less valuable as an historical document, as the illustrations must have been based eyewitness reports by people actually present at the events portrayed. But is it is really so? It is made of 20 blocks Karar’s marble and has a height of 38 m (with pedestal) and a diameter of 4 meters inside the hollow column: there is a spiral staircase with 185 steps leading to the site on the capitals. Monument weighs about 40 tons. Created by the architect Apollodorus of Damascus in 113 BC, it depicts scenes from Trajan's wars in Dacia in 101 - 102 years, and says the ‘pictures’ it means nothing to say! The fact that the tape encircles the spiral relief’s escape 23 times, and its total height, if deployed, is 190 m! Total they represented about 2,500 pieces! That's just consider them all is extremely difficult because the column is high. Emperor Trajan appeared on it exactly 59 times.

However, many purely allegorical figures to complement his triumph: the figure of the goddess of Victory, the Danube in a majestic old man, Night - woman with a veiled face, etc. However, the study of images of Trajan’s Column asks more questions than to give answers. So although this source, but a very peculiar, and everything on it is shown to take on faith just can not! Of it as it sees the famous British historian Peter Connolly, you can really learn a lot of valuable details on how it looked the Roman army during the campaign. However, you must look at the bas-reliefs of the column very carefully and not only watch, but also to understand that what you are looking for it!

For example, on it is clearly seen that the Roman legionaries clad in armor made of iron strips, and Roman auxiliaries (auxiliaries), as horsemen and foot soldiers wear armor [2,11]. Strangely, however, observe a very small length of chain mail in some auxiliaries, notched hem which is only slightly below the waist and covers almost no smell! This raises some doubts about the authenticity of the imaging, especially given the long-skirted (and the same scalloped mail) at the eastern archers with bows in the hands of [3,222]. However, judging by the oval shields, chain mail Marines in short it is the soldiers who belonged to the Roman auxiliary troops, but such a small length of this armor they still questionable. That is negligence or sculptors or they did so deliberately, say, with the aim of ‘glorification’ of the image of Roman soldier. However, the riders shown in the same relief’s as short chain mail, and maybe it was all the same purpose, it is more convenient for riders [ 3,234 ] . And if so, why not assume that the warriors here in such short chain mail ... it is dismounted or lost their horses riders? However, here we are on shaky ground of speculation, showing, incidentally, that are obvious even objects can be treated at the sight of a historic building in very different ways !It is a scaly armor plate shown auxiliaries Syrian archers - mercenaries of Rome and Sarmatian cavalry - Dacian ally.

Incidentally, among the historical sources that could confirm the widespread scaly armor in the ancient world, reliefs on Trajan's Column, could be of particular importance, because it was erected by contemporaries of those events. But here you need to be very careful, because the study of the bas-relief, which depicts the Sarmatian horsemen, shows that it is not nothing like ... fiction! Yes, it really shows the auxiliary Roman troops dressed in scaly armor, although some are warriors and armor. But the fact that the horsemen and most importantly - their horses are depicted dressed in scaly ‘clothes’, having a form of tights ... slinky , which actually could not be. According to the eminent British historian Russell Robinson, the author takes this bas-relief or literary descriptions Sarmatian horsemen, which indicated that they were from head to toe are protected scaly armor, and so they literally and reproduced, or figured out how it can be on its own taste [2,13]. Although it could be much easier, and so, as often happens, and in Russia, when the task is due to show on ‘fingers’. ‘Military advisers’ nearby while absent, that the sculptor had to rely on their own imagination and fantasy! So to refer to the image can be in this case only as a historical incident funny no more! And how to laugh at these ‘scaly Sarmatians’ the participants of the war with the Dacians, we can only imagine!

It should be noted that the scale armour from legionnaires significantly more common in the later Aurelian Column [1,99], which probably was due to the general barbarization Roman army. At the same time on the column depicts the Emperor Trajan and riders in normal chainmail with teeth on the shoulders and hem. It is noted that such chainmail while weighing about 9 kg. At the same time they were used not only the riders but also the Roman archers who wore long tunics to the ankle, and on top of them armor with scalloped sleeves and hem [4,25].

With the exception of segmental armour, Roman armour at the start of the Empire showed only minor detail developments from its Republican forbears. Senior officers continued to benefit from the ‘muscled’ cuirass, and many highly decorated examples must have been made for special occasions, if we are to believe the evidence of the Imperial statues. It is without doubt to such cuirasses that the ‘Notitia Dignitatem’ refers in its list of ‘government workshops’ of the Late Empire. It is significant that these cuirasses, so frequently appearing on statues and on some coins, must in reality have been extremely rare, as none have yet come to light ill our times [1,98].

Shields at all, without exception, of the Roman soldiers on Trajan's Column are very small, though, judging by their reconstructions on the basis of findings in the village of Dura Europos they should be much more. Legionaries marching shown in column shields, which they are, as expected on the left shoulder strap. Otherwise, just keep the shield in hand, and carry it would be hardly possible. However shields depicted open, though notes of Caesar known that usually shield tolerated in a leather case. Found some similar covers, so that their use is beyond doubt. And in their cases was a hole in the center for the convexity of the shield - a shield boss. However column - probably in order to show decorations on the shields - they all show uncovered not only in combat, but also in the campaign [3,239 ] . And so it is an obvious fiction or shortcoming on the part of the sculptor - the author of the column relief’s.

Interestingly, none of the Roman soldiers not wearing a dagger. Perhaps this indicates that the end of I century AD these weapons was out of fashion, and they remained only the sword! Interestingly, the Trajan's Column is a specific item of equipment legionaries of the Roman army as kingulum, is a set of straps trimmed with metal plates, and hung around a warrior on the front waist belt has only players in plate armor, and even then not all of them! At the same waist belt worn sword and dagger, though, it is clear that you used this particular type of protection only in the infantry. However, Trajan's Column long kingulum not wearing one. He is very short, so that probably at this time he was already out of fashion, and wore it more as a sign of belonging to the legionary class. And do swords and infantry and horsemen already worn on the shoulder sling to the right, and quite high.

At the same time the helmets with the rings as shown on the Trajan's column [1,23], were really discovered by archaeologists, that is, their appearance and the presence of the soldiers Trajan no doubt. Another interesting custom is wearing them on his chest near the right shoulder [1,44], although what is the reason remains unclear. Many legionaries on the column wear beards and again it is not clear - whether it is the former barbarians, somehow trapped in the legion, or the fashion of the time is no longer tied beard barbarism, so that later emperors even wore beards. However, the Emperor Trajan on the column shows still beardless [1,17 ]. 

 Some relief’s from Trajan's Column, show legionaries erecting stonework, and is a good illustration of the Roman army's efficiency in technical matters, with each man playing his part in a collective enterprise [1,211]. But why they all work in the armor? After all, the same is hard and uncomfortable! Also notes of Caesar are known that at the time, when one part of legionnaires worked, the other to protect them. And what for this practice was changed under Trajan? That is the image of the glorification of legionnaire in this case there is, but as a historical fact that the image can not be viewed on a relief!

 Thus, images and Trajan's Column to be taken as an interesting historical monument, bad ‘documentary film’, and with a fair amount of doubt concerning many details as they sinned not only against our historical knowledge, but also against all common sense! However, the most important riddle of Trajan's Column is still no answer, and never will. Well, in fact, today we can find out how well-known sculptor could prevent such gross and blatant error with the image of the Sarmatians in scaly armor, and why it has not been corrected?

Literature

1. Feugere M. Weapons of the Romans (translated from the French by David G.Smith) / UK, London: Tempus Publishing Ltd. 2002.

2. Robinson R. Armour of the East. History defensive weapons / Translated from English. Moscow: Tsentrpoligraf, 2006. (Russ.)

3. Konnolly P. Greece and Rome in wars. Encyclopedia of Military History / Translated from English. Moscow: Eksmo-Press, 2000. (Russ.)

4. Robinson H.R. The armour of Imperial Rome. UK, London: Arms and Armour Press, 1975.