Colona Traiana eretta del Senato
Colona Traiana eretta dal Senato or in English The Trajan’s Column erected by the Senate tells us alone with the title and the first page what the book is about. Trajan’s Column was erected by the Roman Senate and people in honor of the Emperor Trajan Augustus on the Roman Forum. Carved into it is the story of the Dacian War, the first and second campaigns and the victory over King Decebalus. The book thus serves to record this event and inform the people about it.
At the beginning of the book there is a short description of what the book will be about, then there is a dedication to the king and some paiges which present the Trajan’s Column. After it continues with the beginning of the story. In the last pages of the book there are coins with Roman gods, emperors and temples on them and even two paiges with the armors of the warriors are carved.
The book is fully illustrated. The story is pictorially depicted with the warriors, animals, etc. Each picture takes up a whole page and is described only in small and short below. The book is approximately 5cm thick which is not much considering the length of the story. And just about 360x460cm, which allows a good display and viewing of the images.
Pietro Santi Bartolini, the author of the book was an italian painter, engraver, etcher and antiquarian who was born in 1635 and died in 1700. He can be considered the main representative of the archaeological direction of Roman engraving. He made numerous drawings from antiquity, which were engraved or compiled into books. With his engravings as in Colona Traiana dal Senato he wanted to spread the knowledge of the given story.