The influence of the Column of Trajan, both in terms of its technical and artistic achievement, has occupied a significant place, it serving as a model for creating other commemorative columns, since antiquity to the present day :
Column of Antoninus Pius (Columna Antonini Pii) - in 161 AD Marcus Aurelius (Marcus Anninus Catilius Severus) (Marcus Aelius Aurelius Antoninus - after adoption by Antoninus Pius) and Lucius Verus (Lucius Ceionius Commodus Verus) (Lucius Aelius Aurelius Commodus Verus - after adoption by Antoninus Pius) decide to carry out a column in memory of Antoninus Pius (Titus Arrius Antoninus Aurelius Fulvius Boionius) (Titus Aelius Antoninus Hadrianus - after adoption) and his wife Annia Galeria Faustina (called Faustina Maior); the monument was erected on the Campus Martius1 in Rome in 161 AD in the proximity of the future Column (193 AD) of Marcus Aurelius.
The column spindle was carved in polished red granite (without carved reliefs), and in the top is the statue deified emperor. Of this monument only the base carved in white marble and a few fragments of granite columns have been preserved that currently are in the Vatican Museum. On this basis there are represented: an dedication inscription, the scene apotheosis of Antoninus Pius besides Faustina I and two identical reliefs representing a military parade.
The column diameter was 1.90 m and its height was of 14.75 m (approx.23 m with the pedestal and the emperor’s statue)2.
Column of Marcus Aurelius (161-180 AD) – a monument made of Luna marble (currently Carrara) raised in Rome in 193 AD.
Currently the Column is in the Colonna Square. Architecturally the Column of Marcus Aurelius was modeled after Trajan's Column, it having a height of 100 feet (about 29. 601 m). It was restored in the XVIth century by the architect Domenico Fontana who, by order of Pope Sixtus V (1585-1590), placed on top of the column the statue Apostle Paul; a statue representing Marcus Aurelius was placed on the column. The surface of the Column is carved in altorelief on a spindle without entasis (the thickened zone of a column curved in the middle)3. The history of the reliefs represent the emperor's military campaigns against the coalition of Germanic peoples united with the Dacians north of the Danube, narrated in 116 scenes conducted on 21 spirals. The Column pedestal height measures approx. 12 m4
Goths Column was made between 268 and 337 AD, dimensions: 15 m, in Constantinople, now Istanbul, Gülhane Park (Turkey);
Goths Column is a monument dedicated to the Roman victory in IIIrd or IVth century AD, against the Goths. Currently this Column is in Gülhane Park, Istanbul (Turkey).
It is one of the oldest columns coming from the Roman period, carved from a single block of proconnesium marble (the quaries in the island of Prokonnesos, Marmara) and is decorated with a Corinthian column head. Due to the inscriptions mentioning the celebration of victory over the Goths, this monument was called Goths Column. The Column is 15 m height and is placed on a small base.
Perhaps this monument was erected in honor of the victories of the emperors Claudius II Gothicus (268-270 AD) or Constantinus I (Constantine the Great, 306-337 AD) against the Goths.
A column called Pompey’s column (Pompeius Magnus, Cnaeus), Alexandria (Egypt), 26.85 m (in its entirety: the base, the column and the column head;
In reality, it is about a column of red Assouan granite, approx. 27 m high, erected at Alexandria in 297 AD in the honor of Emperor Diocletianus (284-305 AD), following the victory obtained in the year 296 AD against Achilleus Aurelius (a Roman usurper, 294-297 AD), after the siege of Alexandria.
In the top of the column a statue should have had to be found, since the Corinthian column head has a recess (groove).
Column of Constantinus I (Flavius Valerius Constantinus), Costantin the Great (306-337 AD;
This commemorative column was erected by Constantine I in 330 AD in his forum in Constantinople. Originally the monument was made of a base supporting a column of consisting of 8 porphyry reels. At the top of the column a socle-column head was placed, on which a statue of Constantine represented as Apollo-Helios was placed: the Emperor held in his right hand a spear and a globe in his left hand, and he has on his head a crown with seven rays; this image is represented on coins from the reign of this emperor.
The height of the column alone is of 23.40 m and the height of the entire monument, together with the contained statue, should have had approx. 37 m The base of the statue was provided with an inscription.
In 1106 the statue falls from the top of the column due to wind, and later the Emperor Manuel I Comnenos (1143-1180) will order the restoration of the monument which he will crown with a cross.
"Column" of Theodosius I (Flavius Theodosius) the Great (379-395 AD) made in Constantinople, is in fact an Egyptian obelisk of Thoutmôsis III, from the temple of Amon-Rê at Karnak, set on a base carved in the period of Theodosius I; the entire monument is located in the Hippodrome of Constantinople (now Istanbul). This obelisk was transported from Egypt to Italy during the reign of Emperor Constantius II (337 - 361 AD), together with another one that currently is placed in the Piazza di S. Giovanni in Laterano (Rome). During the reign of Theodosius I, one of the two obelisks was finally brought to Constantinople to be part of his monument, erected in 390 AD. The obelisk is made of reddish nuance granite that comes from the quarries in Aswan (in southern Egypt). The bottom of the obelisk is missing, it being broken, he currently has only 18.54 m (or 19.6 m) of its original height (about 30 m like the obelisk of the Laterano), and the whole monument with the pedestal is 25, 6 m height. The obelisk is separated, and at the same time attached to the pedestal with four bronze cubes of 0.45 m. The marble pedestal presents historical and iconographic scenes of a great interest. Various scenes can be seen: Emperor Theodosius I in the imperial box, surrounded by the members of his court, offering the laurel crown to the winner at the races, in a setting of arches and Corinthian columns. Many people are present at the ceremony accompanied by musicians and dancers. At the bottom (right) side of the scene the hydraulic organ of Ctesibios (IIIrd century BC - Alexandria) is noticed, and to the left, another instrument, more difficult to be identified, probably also a variant of this musical instrument; other scenes: races of chariots drawn by horses; the emperor assists surrounded by family and the military; various submissed, vassal peoples, bring gifts (tribute) to the emperor. Likewise, the obelisk base has two inscriptions (one in Latin and one in Byzantine Greek) that are very well preserved.
Iconographice issues: carefully considered these reliefs show some interesting aspects. The entourage of Theodosius, the many soldiers who closely protect the Roman emperor. Their faces show a close resemblance to the portraits of Geto-Dacians on Trajan's Column and the statues represented in the sculptures that were made for the Forum of Trajan in Rome, between 106 - 112 AD.
Column of Arcadius (Flavius Arcadius), 395-408 AD ;
The Column of Arcadius is a triumphal column erected in 401 AD in the Forum of Arcadius at Constantinople to commemorate the victory of this emperor against the party of the Goths of Gaïnas (a Gothic general), who died in the year 400 AD
Therefore, as the group of the Goths in Constantinople was disbanded, Arcadius celebrates this victory ordering this monument to be erected in forum that bears his name. The column reliefs represented the run and the defeat of the Goths of Gaïnas.
The scenes of the reliefs were only completed in 421 AD, long after the death of Arcadius in 408 AD, and the monument was therefore dedicated to the new emperor, his son, Theodosius II Flavius (408-450 AD).
Very much inspired by these, the Column of Arcadius continues the tradition of triumphal columns of Rome, after Trajan's Column and the column of Marcus Aurelius.
The column was destroyed in the XVIth century and only the base of the monument exists. The detail of the reliefs of the spindle of the Column was however preserved due to a series of drawings made in 1575. It was carved out in serpentine, and the socle in red granite.
Column of Marcianus (450-457 AD), Constantinople;
The column of Marcianus is a monument made (between 450 - 457 AD) in Constantinople by the prefect of the city of Tatianus and dedicated to the Byzantine Emperor Marcianus.
The spindle of the column is in red-gray granite from Egypt. The square base, consisting of four slabs of white marble of Corinthia (Korinthos, Greece), is adorned with the sign of the Greek cross in medallions on three sides, and two representations of geniuses who bear a globe on the fourth side. At the top of the column is a Corinthian head (Corinthia marble) which is placed on a pedestal which very probably supported the statue of Marcianus.
The metallic circles for supporting and strengthening the column are recent. The entire monument has a total height of about 14-15 m
The inscription carved on the northern side of the base, which initially were bronze letters inlaid in the marble block indicates:
[Pr]INCIPIS HANC STATVAM MARCIANI
CERNE TORVMQVE
[Praef]ECTVS VOVIT QVOD TATI[anus]
... OPVS
"Look at this statue of Emperor Marcianus and at the column: it is the work that was dedicated to him by prefect Tatianus".
The topography of the streets and squares of Istanbul has changed more or less because of frequent fires, but this column has remained for centuries in the garden of a large building. In 1908, after the great destruction caused by a huge fire, the topographic plan of the borough where the column is currently placed was changed so that the monument to remain in the midst of a square.
Column of Iustinianus (Flavius Petrus Iustinianus Sabbatius), or Iustinianus the Great, emperor between 527-565;
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Overthrown by the Ottomans in the sixteenth century;
The Column of Iustinianus was a monument in Constantinople, dating from the VIth century, which was destroyed by the Ottomans after the conquest of the city. Built between 543-545 in Constantinople in the closed market called Augustaion in the honor of the emperor's victory against the "barbarians", the column highlighted at its top the equestrian statue of the Byzantine Emperor Iustinianus; it was destroyed by soldiers of Mehmet II, the statue was melted and the column was demolished around 1515.
This monument has been described in detail by the Byzantine historian Procopius of Cesarea (Prokopios Kaisareús) in De Ædificiis (1.2.11-12).
Column of Phocas (Columna Phocatis); year 608;
Columna Phocatis is a column memorial located in the Forum in Rome, of the Corinthian order, with a height of about 13.6 m. It bears the name of the Byzantine Emperor Phocas (Flavius Phocas Augustus, emperor between 602-610). The Column of Phocas is built on rosta5 in 608 by the exarch (governor) of Ravenna, Smaragdus (602-611), in order to support a statue of the emperor; the Column of Phocas is the last monument built in the Forum Romanum.
Saint Bernward column; at Hildesheim (a city in Germany);
The Christ's Column (in bronze, evocations of the life of Christ after the example of the marble columns of Rome). Hildesheim is a city in Germany where the basilica of Saint-Michael is located, who is part of the monastery founded in 996 by Saint Bernward (about 960-1022). He was a great admirer of art and created a workshop in the monastery specialized in works of bronze, where high quality works were created. Among the most representative pieces, that can be still admired today, are the Christ's column, and the doors of the basilica of St.-Michael, ordered by Bernward in 1015 to decorate his church.
Médicis Column; Paris 1574;
The Médicis Column is a monument in Paris cleaved to the building of the Commerce Exchange in Paris, in the south-east side of the building, towards the “Halles” gardens. This Doric column, hollow, attributed to architect Jean Bullant was built in 1574 by the order of Catherine de Medicis in the courtyard of the queen’s building that has been built by her. If this building was demolished during the XVIIIth century, the column is the only vestige left.
Being the first isolated column built in Paris, the function of the monument has never been established although many authors believe that it served the astrological observatory. 31 m high, 3 m wide, it contains an interior staircase of 147 steps leading to a platform "dressed" with a metallic structure.
It had, probably, also a commemorative vocation, because of the wreathed initials H and C, the monograms of King Henry II and Queen Catherine de Médicis. M. Bachaumont, a historian of the XVIIIth century, saved the column from destruction in 1748, buying separately the monument and offering then the column to the city of Paris.
In 1764, the column was equipped with a sundial (now disappeared) created by the astronomer Alexandre Guy Pingré and with a fountain in 1812, of which only the ornament remained.
Monument to Great Fire, in London, 1671-1677;
The Monument of the Great Fire, in London, generally known under the name "The Monument", is a Roman-Doric style column made of Portland stone, 61 m high with a cup mounted on the top representing a fireball, erected in London , close to the London Bridge, 61 meters from the place where a terrible fire broke out in 1666.
This column was built between 1671 and 1677 in order to commemorate the Great Fire of 1666 and the subsequent reconstruction of the city. It is the highest isolated column in the world, built in the Doric style according to the plans prepared by Sir Christopher Wren and his colleague, Dr Robert Hooke. The Monument is located at the junction of Monument Street and Fisher Street Hill.
In 1669, the first law given to rebuild the city provide that, "in order to preserve the memory of this terrible event," a column of stone or bronze had to be erected on Fish Street Hill, not far from where the fire started, at the royal bakery of Thomas Farynor (or Farriner), in Pudding Lane.
One can reach on the top of the monument going up the spiral staircase of 311 steps.
Two columns of the church Karlskirche, Vienna (Austria), 1716-1737;
The Karlskirche church in Vienna is the work of Johann Bernhard Fischer von Erlach (1656-1723), a major figure of the Austrian Baroque, who professionally formed himself in Italy beside Bernini.
The building of the church continued from 1716 until 1737. The building is a votive church, commissioned in 1713 by Emperor Karl VI (emperor of Germany, 1711-1740) following an outbreak of plague, and it was dedicated to Saint Carlo Borromeo, the saint patron of the persons contamined of plague.
To achieve this impressive Baroque monument, the style of this church combines the elements inspired by the monuments in Rome, visible in the façade composition, having a portico supported by six Corinthian columns and framed by two large columns that evokes the Pantheon, Trajan's Colum and the column of Marcus Aurelius and the dome of San Pietro in Vaticano; an incomparable work of the golden age of Baroque architecture in Vienna.
The two big triumphal columns are topped by spiral reliefs illustrating the life of Saint Carlo Barromeo; on one of them is evoked the perseverance of the wise and on the other column his courage.
Column of Louis XVI, in Nantes (France), 1790;
The Louis XVI Column is a monument of the French city of Nantes, installed in the middle of Maréchal-Foch Square; the Nantes natives often call it "Place Louis XVI" for reasons of convenience. It was built in 1790, in white stone in the Doric style. It is 28 m height, its diameter is about 2 m, it is placed on a cubic pedestal, and on the top of the column a statue is placed of the king of France, Louis XVI, represented in Roman costume, bearing in one hand a commander scepter, and in the other hand his will, as a roll. The statue was created by Dominique Molknecht in 1823.
According to inscriptions on the pedestal, the monument has several dedications: to the Blessed French Revolution, for Louis XVI, the King of the Frenchmen, the restorer of Freedom, for the National Assembly, to the citizens of Nantes.
Column of "Trajan" in Méréville, Essonne (91), France, 1791-1792;
Marquis Jean-Joseph de Laborde (1724-1794) built this impressive "Trajan’s column" between 1791 and 1792, in order to adorn the romantic park of his castle, at Méréville (Essonne Department, France). About 33-35 m high, it recalls the general architectural aspect of Trajan's Column in Rome, but does not include any decorative carvings. Like that of Rome, the column of Méréville contains a spiral staircase of 199 steps that leads to the top of the monument, on a small platform-terrace, where you can admire the park, the castle, the Méréville village and the nearby landscape of the region "la Beauce".
The column was built by J.B. Pailhet (sculptor) after a drawing by Hubert Robert (painter) inspired by Trajan's Column of Rome.
The column "de la Grande Armée", 1804-1823;
The Grand Army Column or the Napoleon’s Column is a memorial column raised in Wimille (Pas-de-Calais), close to Boulogne-sur-Mer (France), between 1804 and 1823. An work of the architect Éloi Labarre, it is 50 m height and was built for the glory of the French Army, in 1810, by order of His Imperial and Royal Majesty, Napoleon the Great.
The Column "de la Grande Armée" is executed on the model of Trajan's Column in Rome.
The text of the inscription accompanying the monument can be translated as follows: “Napoléon empereur auguste, a consacré à la gloire de la grande-armée, cette colonne, monument formé de l'airain conquis sur l'ennemi pendant la guerre d'Allemagne en 1805, guerre qui, sous son commandement, fut terminée dans l'espace de trois mois".
“Napoleon Emperor Augustus, has consecrated to the glory of the grand army, this column, monument formed of bronze taken from the enemy during the war with Germany in 1805, which war, under his command, was completed in within three months”.
Nelson's Column (Montreal - Canada): construction date 1809, dimensions: 19 m;
A Monument in the memory Admiral Horatio Nelson (1758-1805), called Nelson's Column.
The Nelson's Column is placed in the north side of the Jacques-Cartier Square of Montreal, centered on the axis of the square, and it was raised in memory of Admiral Horatio Nelson, the British admiral who defeated Napoleon's fleet at the famous naval battle of Trafalgar in southern Spain, near the Strait of Gibraltar in 1805. Inspired by the model of Trajan's Column, the monument was erected in 1809 by the will of notables of British origin. It was created by architect Robert Mitchell. It is raised earlier than the Nelson's Column in London that dominates the Trafalgar Square, which will be raised later in 1840s.
The column of Doric inspiration is placed on a pedestal and on top bears the statue measuring 2.6 m and it represents the Admiral standing dressed in his uniform, holding his lunette in his left hand. The pedestal is decorated with reliefs depicting Nelson's battles and on the cornice a crocodile is represented, symbolizing the famous battle that took place on the Nile. The Column is full and it has a diameter of 1.5 m
Nelson's Column is one of the oldest historical monuments in Quebec.
Vendôme Column, 1810, Place Vendôme - Paris;
The Vendôme column is inspired by Trajan's marble Column of the Forum of Trajan in Rome and it is located in the middle of the square with the same name in Paris. It was made by order of Napoleon to commemorate the Battle of Austerlitz. Over the time, the monument has had several names, Austerlitz Column, then Victory Column Column before becoming the Great Army Column. Currently it is known as the Vendôme Column.
It is a column in bronze, 44.3 m high and about 3.60 m in diameter, placed on a pedestal and at the top a statue of Napoleon I is placed. The column consists of 98 stone cylinders, covered by a layer of bronze obtained by melting of 1200 cannons taken from the Russian and Austrian army and is decorated in antique style, with reliefs representing trophies and battle scenes. The entire frieze unfolds continuously to the top of the column, 280 m long, and consists of 425 bronze plates, being drawn by Pierre Bergeret and executed by a team composed of sculptors Jean Joseph Foucou, Louis Boizot, Bosio, Bartolini, Claude Ramey, Francois Rude, Edmee de Gaulle, Corbet, et Clodion Ruxthiel. An interior staircase allows the top of the column to be reached, where a platform-terrace stands below the statue that crowns the whole monument. The statue we see today dates from the period of the "Second Empire" (1852-1870), made by sculptor Auguste Dumont and it represents Napoleon I, as "Caesar Imperator", wearing a short robe and his glorious attributes, the sword, the winged victory and imperial laurel crown.
The base of the column is in porfyroid granite (like the porphyre) from Corsica (Algajola).
The inscription, written in ancient manner, is as follows: “Napoléon imperator auguste, a consacré à la gloire de la Grande Armée, cette colonne, monument formé de l'airain conquis sur l'ennemi pendant la guerre d'Allemagne en 1805, guerre qui, sous son commandement, fut terminée dans l'espace de trois mois"
Nelson's Column in Dublin, 1811;
Nelson's Column (Nelson pillar) of Dublin was made in 1811 in honor of Horatio Nelson (1758-1805) and to commemorate the naval victory at Trafalgar against Napoleon in 1805.
The Column was composed of a granite column about 37 m and on the top a 4 m high statue representing the British Admiral was placed.
This monument was unpopular even since the rise both among the population and among the local authorities, and it was proposed several times to be destroyed or the statue of Nelson to be replaced, and finally in 1966, an explosive charge, made by members of the IRA (Irish Republican Army), destroyed the top of the column, and the rest became dangerous for the population, and will be removed afterwards. Only the head of the statue is now kept at the city museum. In 2003, a needle-shaped sculpture, called "Monument of Light", 120 meters high, has replaced the monument to Nelson.
Alexander’s Column: Petrograd (Russia), 1830-1834;
Alexander’s Column (in Russian: Aleksandrovskaïa Kolonna) is the focal point of Palace Square in Petrograd. It was built to commemorate the victory of Russian troops against Napoleon. Alexander’s Column was designed by French architect Auguste de Montferrand. The construction began in 1830 and was completed on August 30, 1834. The Column culminates at 47.5 m above the ground, and supports the statue of an angel holding a Christian cross. The statue was designed by the Russian sculptor Boris Orlovski. The Column consists of a single piece of red granite, 25.45 m long and 3.5 m in diameter. The red granite comes from the quarries of Virolahti in Finland and it was transported to Petrograd in 1832, in a boat specially adapted to this unique piece. The column was erected without the machines, in just two hours. More than 3000 people were necessary to raise the column, which weights 661 tons. No fixing was needed; the column stands perfectly in the middle of the socket.
Duke of York Column in London, 1830-1834;
A column is dedicated in 1834 to Frederick Augustus (1763-1827), Duke of York, in London, close to Buckingham Palace, designed by Benjamin Dean Wyatt and built by Nowell of Pimlico. He was the youngest son of King George III of England and Queen Charlotte. The column is carved in Tuscan order in granite from Aberdeenshire region (north-east Scotland). A wide open gray variety was employed for the monument pedestal, a gray and blue variety for the column support and a variety of red granite of Peterhead (a city England) for the column. On the top of the Column, on a pedestal, the bronze statue of the Duke, 4.11 m high, was fixed on April 8, 1834. The total height of the monument is of 41.99 m. Inside the column a spiral staircase of 168 steps lighted by openings made in the exterior wall, leads to the panoramic platform around the base of the statue.
Column "de Juillet"6, in Paris, 1835-1840 construction date, dimension 50.52 m;
The Column "de Juillet" is a column built in the "Bastille" square in Paris, to commemorate the "Trois Glorieuses"7.
On an information on a plate in the bottom of the column, is written:
" À la gloire des citoyens français qui s'armèrent et combattirent pour la défense des libertés publiques dans les mémorables journées des 27, 28, 29 juillet 1830."
On the column the names of the victims of revolutionary days in July 1830 are listed and on the top a gilt bronze sculpture is placed, "le Genie de la Liberté", made by the artist Auguste Dumont. On July 27, 1831 the new king Louis-Philippe put the first stone of the Column. Like many other column made before in various periods and countries, this monument was also designed according to the reference (incomparable) model of the Column of Trajan in Rome; it was designed by architect Jean-Antoine Alavoine, and the works only started in 1835, when the column is cast in bronze. The decoration was made in 1839 by architect Joseph-Louis Duc and the monument was completely finished in 1840 to celebrate ten years of the revolution. For its inauguration, on July 28, 1840, the French government wanted to celebrate with a great glitter the transfer of the revolutionaries’ bodies of 1830.
The first foundation-elevation of the monument (circular) was done in red marble; the second circular elevation is in white marble, 3 m high. At the cornice level, all around, 24 heads of lions are carved through whose open mouths rain water flows.
On the square base supporting the column, made in white marble, 24circular medallions are carved representing: the "Juillet" Cross, a head of Medusa, the Constitution of 1830 and the scale of justice. The base of the column is made in bronze, and is decorated on top with 4 Gallic cock, placed at the corners. The spindle of the column is made of bronze, with a height of 23 m and consists of 21 cylindrical drums. Four circles separate the column in 3 parts symbolizing the 3 glorious days of the Revolution, and where the names of 504 victims of the revolutionary days of July 1930are engraved. In these circles-collars 16 heads of lions are represented, their open mouths allowing the light to penetrate inside the column.
The composite column head supports the statue of the little Genius, which in its turn is placed on a sphere-shaped support. The statue "le Genie de la Liberté" means: " la Liberté qui s’envole en brisant des fers et semant la lumière".He is represented naked, with his left foot put on the sphere, the right leg is rised, with unfolded wings, he holds a star on his forehead, a chain broke in his left arm and torch of civilization in his right arm. This gilt bronze sculpture was created by Auguste Dumont.
Nelson's Column, London, date of construction, 1840-1843;
In central London, the statue of Admiral Horatio Nelson put on top of a column dominates the Trafalgar Square. This column was carried out in granite and bronze, in the Corinthian style, between the years 1840 and 1843, and measures 44 m in height.
The column and memorial statue of Admiral Nelson was designed by William Railton and sculpture was made by Edward Hodges Baily.
The base column is composed of a platform adorned with four lions in bronze with symbolic destination to protect the monument. They were carved in 1867 by Sir Edwin Landseer.
Congress Column, Brussels, construction date 1850-1859, dimensions 47 m, to commemorate the "National Congress" of 1830, in Belgium;
Inspired by the model of the Trajan's Column, the monument commemorates the 1830 National Congress in Brussels, who drafted the Constitution of Belgium, and was built at the initiative of Charles Rogier (Belgian politician) between 1850-1859 according the plans of architect Joseph Poelaert.
The monument, with the total height of 47 m, has a helical staircase of 193 steps. A statue 4.70 m height is placed on the top of the column, representing the first king of Belgium, Leopold I (1831-1865), a work of sculptor Guillaume Geefs.
Astoria Column, Oregon8 – USA; completion date 1926;
The Column is located on Coxcomb Hill above the city of Astoria, a concrete monument built in 1926, after Trajan's Column appearance, giving visitors (on the top) spectacular panoramas. This monument was created with financial support from the "Great Northern Railway"9 and Vincent Astor10, the grand grandson of the American billionaire John Jacob Astor (1763-1848)11 to commemorate the city's role in the history of the family business.
The monument is 38 m high, including a spiral staircase of 164 steps leading to the top of the column. In the exterior the column provides on a painted spiral frieze a series of scenes about the events that marked the history of the region, representing a remarkable interpretation of the local history (http://www.astoriacolumn.org/pages/history2.htm); it has a length of approx. 160 m and was painted by Electus D. Litchfield and Pusterla Attilio.
This brief list of commemorative columns inspired after the model of Trajan's Column (Rome), described above, is not complete, of course; there were only given a few examples of commemorative columns that are in many cities around the world, they are certainly more . It is particularly interesting that most of these monuments were designed and sculpted after the reference incomparable model, i.e. the well known Trajan's Column, which is in the Forum of Trajan in Rome, a monument made in the zenith of the Roman art, i.e. during the reign of Emperor Trajan (98-117 AD).
- Campus Martius – was a place, a plain located near Rome, between river Tiber, Capitol, Quirinal and Pincius.
- Dumitru Tudor, Enciclopedia civilizaţiei romane, p. 210 («column of Antoninus Pius», Bucureşti, Editura ştiinţifică şi enciclopedică, 1982.
- The profile of the spindle of the column will decrease to peak according to a curve that gives the illusion that is slim, slender and straight.
- Dumitru Tudor, Enc. Civ. romane, p. 210-211 («column of Marcus Aurelius), Bucureşti 1982; John Scheid şi Valérie Huet, Autour de la Colonne Aurélienne. Geste et image sur la Colonne de Marc Aurèle à Rome, Turnhout, Brepols, 2002 (Belgium).
- Rostra, orum (lat.); rostru, rostruri (ro.) – 1.(ant. rom.) spur (spurs) at the bow of ships of war that shattered the shell of enemy ships. 2. the speakers tribune in the Roman forum, adorned with metal beaks wrested from the bow and stern of the ships captured in war. Rostra (stands) were in the Forum Romanum, between the Arch of Tiberius and the Column of Phocas. But there were in the forum two other stands which also had rostra, one in front of the temple of Dioscuri, the other before the temple of Cesar.
- Proclaimed on August 9, 1830 after the riots called "Trois Glorieuses" (which lasted for three days: 27th, 28th and 29th of July 1830), the monarchy "de Juillet" (1830-1848) succeeded in France "à la Restauration" (1814 to 1830).
- Revolution of July 1930, a French Revolution after which a new regime, the monarchy of "Juillet", succeeded to the "Second Restauration", and it took place on 27, 28 and 29 of July 1830, called the "Trois Glorieuses". These three days of the revolution of July 1830 determined the removal of King Charles X and of the absolute monarchy and the establishing of the constitutional monarchy, under the reign of Louis-Philippe I, Duke of Orleans, who became king of the Frenchmen (1830-1848).
- Oregon is a state in North-West region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, bordering to the North with Washington State, to the South with California, to the Southeast with Nevada, and Idaho to the east. Oregon is the 33rd State of the Union, admitted on February 14, 1859.
- "Great Northern Railway" is an old railway network linking the towns of St. Paul (Minnesota) to Seattle (Washington), in the United States, led by railway magnate James J. Hill (1838-1916).
- William Vincent Astor (1891-1959) is a member of the rich family Astor, a businessman and philanthropist.
- An American businessman, who became the first billionaire in the history of the United States. He founded the Astor dynasty
