Trajan's Column

A 30-metre marble column (113 AD) carved with a continuous spiral relief of 155 scenes narrating Trajan's two campaigns against the Dacians (modern Romania) — ancient Rome's supreme work of documentary sculpture. Originally topped by a bronze statue of Trajan; that was replaced by a statue of Saint Peter in 1588. The column also functioned as Trajan's tomb — his ashes were placed in a chamber at the base — and is best viewed at sunset when the carvings catch the light.