The Column of Trajan is a monument located in Rome, Italy, which was built in honor of the Roman emperor Trajan. It is situated in the Forum of Trajan and was erected between the years 106 and 113 AD. The column is famous for its spiral bas-relief, which depicts the story of Trajan's two military campaigns against the Dacians. The column features a personification of Victory writing down the emperor's achievements. It also combines characteristics of Roman bas-relief, such as bird's-eye views and narrative importance, with influences from Hellenistic art, such as the softness in the representation of scenes and delicate chiaroscuro effects. An interesting fact about the column is that it is said Pope Gregory the Great prayed for Trajan's soul upon seeing the scene where the emperor consoles the mother of a deceased soldier, and according to legend, God appeared to him and said that Trajan's soul was saved but advised him not to pray for pagans anymore.
