Database: Colonna Traiana

Another of Trajan's landmarks that still stands today; the Colonna Traiana was erected in memoriam of his victory in the Dacian Wars and was likely designed by Apollodorus, the most gifted architect in all of Rome. The column is most famous for its spiral bas relief encompassing the entire pillar, which meticulously depicts the epic battles between Romans and Dacians.

A spiral staircase within the structure leads to a platform that would have given a visitor of the time a magnificent view of the surrounding forum. Spiral staircases, which had been rare previously, became a symbol of imperial power after that, leading to all kinds of suggestive comments like: "let me see your staircase".