05-25-2010, 08:25 AM
Did the Greek erect (triumphal, victory, honorific) columns in the same manner the Romans did so later beginning with Trajan's Column?
From the top of my memory, only the serpent column in Byzantium which celebrates the Greek victories of the Persian wars would come close. But this, as much as the little known Heliodorus pillar in India, seems to be devoted to the Gods while I find the Roman victory columns to be, in terms of political symbolism, much more secular structures, rather comparable to triumphal arches.
To make the point blunt, I believe the practice of erecting victory columns which is still with us was first introduced by the Romans (in the Trajan's Column) with no real precedent in older civilizations. Any dissent?
From the top of my memory, only the serpent column in Byzantium which celebrates the Greek victories of the Persian wars would come close. But this, as much as the little known Heliodorus pillar in India, seems to be devoted to the Gods while I find the Roman victory columns to be, in terms of political symbolism, much more secular structures, rather comparable to triumphal arches.
To make the point blunt, I believe the practice of erecting victory columns which is still with us was first introduced by the Romans (in the Trajan's Column) with no real precedent in older civilizations. Any dissent?
Stefan (Literary references to the discussed topics are always appreciated.)
![[Image: -side-1.gif]](http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o118/kadoglou_gr/-side-1.gif)
