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Scene 46 This webpage reproduces a section of A Description of the Trajan Column by John Hungerford Pollen printed by George E. Eyre and William Spottiswoode, printers to Queen Victoria London, 1874 Text and engravings are in the public domain. Any color photographs are © William P. Thayer 1997- Scene 48

SCENES OF THE SPIRAL BAND RUNNING UP THE SHAFT

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XLVII. Trajan advances his troops

The emperor, attended by his two lieutenants, is standing on a bank or shelf of rock. Three guards, with oval shields, wearing the linen cuirass, are in attendance. Behind are the signiferi and the columns of legionaries. In advance of the emperor is a body of Mauritanian cavalry. The riders are without covering on the head or feet and wear only a long mantle wrapper, part of which forms a skirt, the ends are clasped over the shoulders by brooches, and hang loose before and behind, leaving the arms free. Their horses have neither saddles nor bridles distinguishable, but a double rope passes round the necks over the shoulders, perhaps to use in tethering. They have long tails and flowing manes. The men have large round shields, no arms are represented in the sculpture, but the action of the hands shows that they all carry a lance. One man, an officer, holds up his right hand to encourage his men.

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