Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
Acta Classica Mediterranea, sa.6, ss.11-41, 2024 (Hakemli Dergi)
Although, at first sight, “phallic” does not seem like a novel term to define Trajan’s Column, Although, at first sight, “phallic” does not seem like a novel term to define Trajan’s Column, Although, at first sight, “phallic” does not seem like a novel term to define Trajan’s Column, this paper argues that it can be associated with a number of overlooked architectural, linguistic and narrative aspects of the monument that reinforce the column’s overall message. In modern literature only one article uses the term “phallic” (and only once), and another one compares the plan of Trajan’s Forum to a phallus, curiously excluding the column itself from the discussion. “Phallic verticality”, however, is an architectural phenomenon that is observed in many ancient and modern cultures. The relationship between Augustus’ horologium (Montecitorio obelisk) and Ara Pacis, for instance, has been recently interpreted in this context. In modern times the skyscrapers too have been understood as phallic buildings by architects, feminist, and social theorists such as Henri Lefebvre. Architecturally, columnar form in general might have been inspired by animal biology (i.e. penis) and ancient writers are explicit in pointing out nature as the source of the inspiration for other architectural forms such as beehive tombs. The column is, in fact, seen as a symbol of procreation and masculine identity in the ancient sources. Com- plementing the columnar form are the depictions on the spiral frieze of the Trajan’s Column, where the actions of the Roman army on the Dacian landscape such as felling, harvesting, extracting turf from the earth etc. reflect the “rape of a female landscape.” Latin writers used female physicality and behaviour to depict the features of a landscape, which is also obvious in the writings of European explorers and geographers to this day. Thus, apart from how women are depicted, this is a theme linked to the phallic verticality of the column. this paper argues that it can be associated with a number of overlooked architectural, linguistic and narrative aspects of the monument that reinforce the column’s overall message. In modern literature only one article uses the term “phallic” (and only once), and another one compares the plan of Trajan’s Forum to a phallus, curiously excluding the column itself from the discussion. “Phallic verticality”, however, is an architectural phenomenon that is observed in many ancient and modern cultures. The relationship between Augustus’ horologium (Montecitorio obelisk) and Ara Pacis, for instance, has been recently interpreted in this context. In modern times the skyscrapers too have been understood as phallic buildings by architects, feminist, and social theorists such as Henri Lefebvre. Architecturally, columnar form in general might have been inspired by animal biology (i.e. penis) and ancient writers are explicit in pointing out nature as the source of the inspiration for other architectural forms such as beehive tombs. The column is, in fact, seen as a symbol of procreation and masculine identity in the ancient sources. Com- plementing the columnar form are the depictions on the spiral frieze of the Trajan’s Column, where the actions of the Roman army on the Dacian landscape such as felling, harvesting, extracting turf from the earth etc. reflect the “rape of a female landscape.” Latin writers used female physicality and behaviour to depict the features of a landscape, which is also obvious in the writings of European explorers and geographers to this day. Thus, apart from how women are depicted, this is a theme linked to the phallic verticality of the column. this paper argues that it can be associated with a number of overlooked architectural, linguistic and narrative aspects of the monument that reinforce the column’s overall message. In modern literature only one article uses the term “phallic” (and only once), and another one compares the plan of Trajan’s Forum to a phallus, curiously excluding the column itself from the discussion. “Phallic verticality”, however, is an architectural phenomenon that is observed in many ancient and modern cultures. The relationship between Augustus’ horologium (Montecitorio obelisk) and Ara Pacis, for instance, has been recently interpreted in this context. In modern times the skyscrapers too have been understood as phallic buildings by architects, feminist, and social theorists such as Henri Lefebvre. Architecturally, columnar form in general might have been inspired by animal biology (i.e. penis) and ancient writers are explicit in pointing out nature as the source of the inspiration for other architectural forms such as beehive tombs. The column is, in fact, seen as a symbol of procreation and masculine identity in the ancient sources. Com- plementing the columnar form are the depictions on the spiral frieze of the Trajan’s Column, where the actions of the Roman army on the Dacian landscape such as felling, harvesting, extracting turf from the earth etc. reflect the “rape of a female landscape.” Latin writers used female physicality and behaviour to depict the features of a landscape, which is also obvious in the writings of European explorers and geographers to this day. Thus, apart from how women are depicted, this is a theme linked to the phallic verticality of the column.