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previous: Scene 17 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. This page has been carefully proofread and I believe it to be free of errors. If you find a mistake though, please let me know! next: Scene 19

Scenes of the spiral band running up the shaft

 p124  XVIII. Passage of a river

The Roman army is pushed forward to complete the rout of the enemy and cross the river (Tjerna?) at a ford. The banks are wooded. The legionaries headed by their signiferi are dashing across the river. Two signiferi lead bearing the standard of the manipuli. One steadies the upper part of the standard, which is raised above the head with his right hand. Both have oval shields, but no side arms. The emperor, followed immediately by the aquilifer bearing the staff of the lost eagle, has gained the opposite bank first, and awaits the passage of the legion. One soldier is stripped and carries all his arms and accoutrements in the hollow of his shield, which is held by both arms above  p125 his head. He wades through water up to his waist.​32 Two cornicines are sounding from the further side. On a rock above the ford is a small fort, on the top of which is a wooden platform supported on massive timbers carried up from the outside.

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The Author's Note:

32 Owing to the weight he carried the Roman soldier seldom could swim, Tacitus, V.14.

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