Trajan's Column
The Colonna Traiana (English: Trajan's Column) was an ancient Roman landmark that was created to celebrate Rome's victory over the Dacians. The structure was erected in 113 BC.
History
The Colonna Traiana was built in memoriam of Rome's victory in the Dacian Wars and was most likely designed by Apollodorus, who was said to be the most gifted architect in all of Rome. The column is most famous for its spiral base relief encompassing the entire pillar, which meticulously depicts the epic battles between the Romans and the 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 from then on.