CHAP. II. similar building.

Monument of Trajan.

When excavated in 1813, the column was found to stand on an isolated pedestal, mounted upon a broad square base forming a flight of steps on every side. The pedestal bears an inscription which shows it to have been erected A.D. 608 by the exarch Smaragdus in honour of the infamous emperor Phocas.150

Near the eastern corner of the base of the column of Phocas is one of the most interesting monuments which have been brought to light by the recent excavations in Rome. It was discovered in September, 1872, and consists of two walls of white marble, sculptured with bas-reliefs on both sides, and surmounted with a richlymoulded cornice. The sculptured spaces, when complete, were about seventeen feet in length, and five feet and a half in height; the cornices about one foot in height. Each wall is formed of several pieces of marble of unequal size; and some of the pieces have been lost. The stone bases on which they had been mounted were found in situ, placed parallel to each other, at a distance of about nine feet, and upon them the marble fragments, which had been more or less displaced, have been put together. Thus restored in position, they form a double screen with an intermediate passage, in a line crossing the open area of the Forum. Why the monument was constructed in this form, and what Nibby, Foro Romano, p. 164.

150

purpose beyond a commemorative object it CHAP. II. served, it is difficult to determine.

It seems

possible, when we look at the subject of the sculptures, especially the sacrificial animals, that it formed a sort of avenue leading to an altar and statue of the emperor in whose honour the monument may have been erected after his deification by the Senate.151

on inner

The sculptures on the two interior walls repre- Sculptures sent the three animals used in sacrifice, the boar, walls. the bull, and the ram, whose names were combined to form the title of the great lustral ceremony, Suovetaurilia. The beasts are adorned with ribbons and vittae, and move on both sculptures in the direction of the Basilica Julia.

on outer

The sculptures on the outer walls of the screens Sculptures present a far greater variety and interest, consist- walls. ing of a number of human figures in more or less

151 Mr. Burn, in an appendix to his admirable work on Rome, has done me the honour to notice the opinion suggested above, which I had expressed at Rome, but asks what has become of the altar and its substructions, some trace of which would probably remain. I answer, first, that near the end of the passage between the sculptures, in the direction towards which the sacrificial animals move, there are traces on the pavement of some structure having been removed; secondly, that such an altar would naturally be condemned to destruction in the time of Christian ascendency, and when removed would be removed entirely with its substructions; and thirdly, that, if not removed before, such substructions would certainly have been cleared away at the time of the erection of the Phocas column close by. It has been suggested that the existing monument formed the Septa of the Comitium. But there is no reason to believe that the Comitium was here; and it is not likely that it had any permanent Septa. See Chapter IV.

CHAP. II. high relief, about half life size, with a background of architectural and other objects indicating the locality of the scenes represented. The historical meaning of these reliefs has been well discussed in two learned papers by Signor Brizio and Professor Henzen in the Proceedings of the Roman Archæological Institute.152 The topographical significance of the backgrounds has not received sufficient attention in any published work.

Trajan with Italy and her children.

The screen placed nearer to the Capitol displays, to the right of the spectator, a group which has furnished a key to the probable meaning of the entire monument by its resemblance to some of the medals of the Emperor Trajan. These medals represent the emperor seated, with Italy and her children before him, and bear the inscription:

152 Annali dell' Instituto di Correspondenza Archeologica, 1872, p. 309; Bulletino dell' Instituto, 1872, p. 273. I have introduced the above engravings to make my description more easily intelligible. The enrichments of the cornices are omitted. For study, photographs of the original bas-reliefs should be procured.

ALIM. ITAL. S Р Q. R. OPTIMO. PRINCIPI. 1.153 They CHAP. II. commemorate the provision made by Trajan for the children of poor or deceased citizens, who were called pueri et puellae alimentarii. The same figures are seen in the bas-relief. The torso of an infant remains on the left arm of the female figure, and another child probably stood under her right hand. To the left a distinct group represents a personage standing on the Rostra and addressing Trajan, a crowd of persons, who evidently receive his from the words with pleasure and applause. Unfortunately the head of the principal figure in each of the groups is missing, owing to its having been in high relief, but there can be little doubt that we have here an allusion to some other public act of the same emperor.

The bas-relief on the outer side screen represents a single event.

speaking

Rostra.

of the other Burning of The principal books.

153 Cohen, vol. ii. 303, 304, 305. The first words of the epigraph in full would be read: Alimentum Italiae.

the tax

CHAP. II. figure (of which the upper part is lost) is seated on the Rostra to the right, while in front of the Rostra are a number of persons carrying parcels, looking like large tablets with a strap or band round them, to a heap which is composed of similar materials. Near the Rostra are some of higher rank, who merely watch the proceedings, and one, who bends towards the heap with his right arm extended, as if to touch it with something in his hand. This something, having been in high relief, is lost; but it is conjectured that he held a torch, and that the whole scene represents the burning of some tablets or registers by the order of the personage seated on the Rostra. It is recorded by Spartianus, that the Emperor Hadrian, when he remitted some large sums which were due to the Fiscus, caused the evidences of the obligation to be burnt in the Forum of Trajan, in order to give greater assurance to the debtors.154 But, if the other events commemorated by the monument are acts of Trajan, it is probable that this act is also his ; and it will be shown that the locality indicated by the background does not agree with that mentioned by Spartianus. There is evidence of a like

154 Infinitam pecuniam quae fisco debebatur . . . remisit, syngraphis in foro divi Traiani, quo magis securitas omnibus roboraretur, incensis. Spartian. 7.

The precedent had been set by Augustus. Tabulas veterum aerari debitorum, vel praecipuam calumniandi materiam exussit. Sueton. Aug. 32.