ARCHITECTURE. 85 
support for the statue is 13 feet high, so that the height of the whole monu- 
ment with the statue is 145 feet. In the interior there are 185 steps; the 
staircase is illuminated by holes cut in the circumference, expanding inwards. 
The lower diameter of the column is a little over 11, and the upper 
10 feet. It is constructed of huge blocks of white marble, which were 
originally united by brass clamps. Every block fills out the full circle of 
the column, and the steps are wrought into them, which form the winding 
staircase. The square foundation is composed of similar masses, with the 
door on the south side, from which the steps conveniently wind. Upon the 
flat surface of the capital is a spacious walk around the base that supports 
the statue. 
The sides of the foundation are garnished with a beautiful top cornice and 
base moulding raised flat, adorned with weapons of war; the torus or bolster 
of the Doric base forms a laurel wreath. Around the shaft of the column 
the sculptures ascend to the summit and present the wars of Trajan with the 
Dacians. In proportion to the height and its distance from the spectator, the 
upper figures are increased in size according to optical laws. Notwithstanding 
this, from the good arrangement of its reduction, the effect of the shaft is very 
pleasing. Theunpleasing partis the consideration of details. The execution, 
although skilful, is studied only with great trouble because the eye is wearied 
by the increasing distance, and the examiner, in contemplating the column, 
must constantly move round and round it. The wonder is, that the work is 
so well preserved, as in the Middle Ages the bronze clamps were torn from it. 
Of the other works of this emperor, we must mention the bridge he built 
over the Danube. It consisted of 20 piles of freestone, each one of which, 
without the foundation, was 150 feet high and 60 feet broad. The spaces 
between the piles, or the spring of the bridge arches, was about 170 feet. 
By the so-called iron gate between Servia and Wallachia, remains of astone 
bridge have been discovered, supposed to be this bridge of Trajan, but 
erroneously, for they do not correspond with the description by Dio Cassius. 
They probably belonged to the bridge built afterwards by Constantine. 
Trajan built also the road through the Pontine marshes, and the fine road 
from Beneventum to Brundusium. A Triumphal Arch erected to the 
emperor in Beneventum in the 114th year of our erais yet standing. PJ. 18, 
Jig. 11, gives a view of this ruin ; jig. 12, and pl. 17, fig. 19°, the ground plan ; 
jig. 19°, gives the elevation of this arch, which is commonly called the 
Golden Gate. It is of Parian marble, and is completely preserved. Its 
height is something over 80 feet, its breadth half as much, and its depth 19 
feet. The opening of the arch is about 17 feet, and on each side there are 
two columns of the Composite order directly against the wall. The columns 
are something over 19 feet high, and rest upon a stylobate running under 
all of them. Architrave, frieze, and cornice are in the best harmony, and 
the Attic bases of the columns are remarkably well profiled. The reliefs 
between the columns represent events from the emperor’s life. In the 
archivolts are Victories with crowns and banners. The frieze is adorned 
with a triumphal procession in half raised work; and the attic shows on 
both sides of the inscription remarkably fine bas-reliefs. 
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