Depicting barbarism on fire: architectural destruction on the Columns of Trajan and Marcus Aurelius

Abstract

This article explores the depictions of architecture on the Columns of Trajan and Marcus Aurelius. Trajan's Column alone features depictions of over 300 architectural structures, the vast majority of which can be clearly associated with either Roman or Dacian culture, and which project a clear disparity between those cultures. 1 On both columns, destruction plays a crucial rôle in the contrast between Roman and indigenous architecture and cultures. On Trajan's, fully one-fourth of Dacian architectural structures are either on fire or threatened by fire. Both Roman soldiers and Dacian warriors participate in this destruction, filling 7 separate sequences that illustrate the annihilation and erasure of Dacian culture in the face of the Roman advance. The theme of architectural destruction as a metaphor for cultural erasure is echoed on the Column of Marcus Aurelius, but with important modifications that speak to differences in how the two monuments portray war, victory, and aggressive imperialism. 2 8 Hanoune 2000. Architectural depictions are mentioned briefly within the context of a broader discussion of the column as a whole:

Columna Traiani. Traianssäule - Siegesmonument und Kriegsbericht in Bildern

“…Die Daker sind in ihrer Handlung eingeschränkt und haben nur Rahmen-4 Z.B. : Settis (1988) ;Coarelli (1999);Beckmann (2005); Seelentag (2006) ; ;Wolfram Thill (2011); [137][138][139][140][141][142][143][144][145][146][147][148]1;202,1. 9 Vgl.…”

“…299;Hölscher (1991b) 290-291; 19;Koeppel (2002) 250; 79;Galinier (2007) 85-88. 11 For the importance of destruction in the portrayal of Dacian architecture on the frieze, see Wolfram Thill (2011). 12 Wolfram Thill (2011) n. 38.…”

“…11 For the importance of destruction in the portrayal of Dacian architecture on the frieze, see Wolfram Thill (2011). 12 Wolfram Thill (2011) n. 38. 13 The other depiction of Dacians besieging Romans (Scene XXXII) falls generally along the northwest Victory axis.…”

“…Nowhere on the column do similar interior timber features appear on Roman fortifications, despite the implied inclusion of these features (in the form of roundels) on the exteriors. 23 For the inclusion of architectural depictions in triumphs and triumphal painting, see Torelli (1982) 119-125;Coulston (1988) 165;Hölscher (1991b) 293-294; (2006) 37, 39;Holliday (1997) 129-130, 134-137;La Rocca (2000) 63; 75-77;Favro (2006) 25-26;Lusnia (2006) 286;Wolfram Thill (2011) 309. For the influence of triumphal paintings on the Column of Trajan in particular, see Lehmann-Hartleben (1926) 2, 29;Torelli (1982) 119-125;Coulston (1988) 124, 131-132; (1990b) 295; (2003) 420-421;Settis (1988) 94-96;Hölscher (1991b) 293-294; Koeppel (2002) 248;Beckmann (2003) 111-113;Wolfram Thill (2011) 309.…”

“…36 Complex indigenous architecture and massive fortifications highlighted the accomplishments of the Roman army, and justified the time and cost spent in the wars. The Dacian buildings that do appear are almost always specifically timber, and are more often than not bizarre -but they are still complex buildings, not on par with but 29 For the identification of the walls in Scenes XCV-XCVI as Dacian architecture, see Wolfram Thill (2011) n. 38. 30 The straight wall that meets the curving wall at an angle may represent a Roman fortification within the Dacian stronghold.…”