Walk inside and ascend Trajan's Column

Take a unique walk inside one of the best preserved monuments of ancient Rome: Trajan's Column. Ascend the spiral staircase- rarely open to the public- to the top viewing platform for a one-of-a-kind view of Ancient Rome, and learn about the construction and meaning of this funerary monument that narrates the battles against the Dacians (modern Romania).
Keep up with the adventures of Darius Arya, the archaeologist with access. Ancient history in real life!
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Learn more about the ancient world of Rome on www.ancientrome...

[@hanspeterpluss1338]

In 1955, I was one of the very rare persons who got the permission, from the ministery of education, to visit the inside and the top of the Column of Trajan, because I was a student of Ancient Rome's History. Just one word: Amazing.

[@rezamotori5709]

you were around in 1955 ???.......and a student as well back then......wowsers!.....and i thought George from George & Mildred had left us decades ago, but he is still alive and kicking in 2023.

[@gully8029]

I’m so happy you got to experience this. What an honor ❤ My head and heart would have exploded with excitement

[@DeneF]

I am astonished. I had no idea it was so wide that it had an internal stairway. All these years I never knew. Amazing! Thanks Darius.

[@DariusArya]

Glad you liked it! More AMAZING one of a kind content coming up... just getting started...

[@bill9989]

I was there 3 months ago. Standing right there and it just doesn't seem wide enough for an internal stairway.

[@marciaspiegel5280]

Never knew about this. Thank you.

[@juliusnepos6013]

Same

[@edwalker598]

i was shocked when I saw the size of its plaster cast at the V&A, its truly enormous

[@m.dewylde5287]

A plaster cast replica of the column's bas-reliefs exists in Romania at the National Museum of Romanian History in Bucharest. The sections are not assembled and they are exhibited at eye level. This is because Romanians consider the event of Dacia being conquered by the Romans as the birth of what later became the Romanian people.

[@DariusArya]

Yes- and there are other copies- ours is in EUR (but the museum is currently closed).

[@DonariaRegia]

@@DariusArya If you wanted to take a camera inside the Arch of Septimius Severus or any of the other arches I'd watch that too.

[@Nighthawk799]

plaster copies are at the museum of roman civilization at EUR.

[@theoroosevelt4849]

Whats EUR?@@Nighthawk799

[@risatedarte5366]

​@@DariusAryait'years that the wonderful Museo Della Civiltà Romana it'closed 😔

[@JiveTrkey]

Pretty amazing for you to ascend the very same staircase that so many notable characters throughout history surely did too. And because it's so narrow, you can be sure your footsteps fell in the same spot.

[@CTCDetroit]

Extremely thrilling experience, that you could never do as an actual tourist in Rome.

[@gregorymcdpachsa]

Thank you so much. I have wondered about the interior for decades.

[@paulaiello2071]

My daughter and I sat down on a step right across from Trajan’s column and admired it’s beauty when we visited room for the first time in April 2023. Thanks for showing the inside. Breathtakingly, magnificent view!

[@edgarsnake2857]

I stood outside it years ago and imagined what your video presents beautifully. Thanks.

[@DariusArya]

thank you- that's exactly what I wanted to share- the experience!

[@monicacall7532]

Darius, back in 2000 my family and I had the opportunity to take a hard hat tour of Trajan’s forum which ended at his column. Being up close to the column and being able to see the magnificent carvings was truly awe inspiring. It’s exciting to see how much work has been done on the forum since then. Unfortunately, our tour didn’t include walking up the interior to the top. Seeing what you saw at the top brought back so many happy memories of the times I’ve visited Rome, and frankly, I envy you working in Rome and the rest of Italy (except for the wild drivers, especially the carabiniere [spelling?] who are the worst drivers of all!)

[@hanspeterpluss1338]

monicacall: spelling of "carabiniere"? this is singular; the correct plural is "carabinieri". Tanti saluti da un mezzo Italiano!

[@MMijdus]

Very special treat! Thank you! 🙏 Let me also add that I think a statue of Trajan should be re-erected on top. He deserves this. It is HIS monument. It is he who should be honoured on top.

[@hanspeterpluss1338]

Yes indeed, a briliant idea! Thanks

[@orestesrafaelbetancourt4237]

What an AMAZING video. Thank you for taking us there!

[@larsrons7937]

Thank you for this rare tour. I was in Rome in 1977 and 2014 and both times I wished to ascend the staircase inside the column. I'm glad I at least got to see it on video.

[@DariusArya]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@garywheeler7039]

There is a plaster replica in England that is even more exact than the original that has eroded due to exposure to the elements. It preserves more details than the original.

[@chumleyk]

There's a reason why the original is in worse shape, it's because everyone made plaster casts of it which started to degrade it.

[@garywheeler7039]

@@chumleyk : No it was acid rain from pollution dissolving the stone. Coal burning especially.

[@johnberry3824]

Fascinating! Thank you. The one thing you didn't mention is the most important aspect of Trajan's column for typographers, printers, and lettering artists: the inscription at the bottom has been considered for centuries the epitome of the classical Roman letters.

[@jozefkrnc3753]

I had no idea that it was actually made out of solid marble blocks of that size. Truly boggles the mind how creative the Roman engineers had to be to construct such marvels without the modern technology. I hope that someday some billionaire will invest some money in something as monumental and longstanding as this so that the generations in 2000 years will see it and marvel at our society as much as we do at the Roman one...

[@ciprianmoldovanu6264]

Bravo Darius! Amazing presentation! The world should thank you much 👍 Thank you!

[@DariusArya]

Many thanks!

[@samparkerSAM]

AWE INSPIRING, Thank You, SPQR remembers

[@69waveydavey]

There's a copy in the British museum, I saw it as a child on a school trip to London, It always fascinated me, I eventually saw it for real a couple of years ago. Had no idea it had steps in.

[@vladtepes6690]

I had the pleasure of viewing the column Marcus Aurelius a couple of weeks ago, an amazing monument that doesn't get many visitors or attention these days.

[@hanspeterpluss1338]

Rome is full of amazing aspects! And Italy is the beauty itself.

[@RemseyYT]

I find it stunning that the column survived when most buildings around it did not.

[@libertycowboy2495]

Ive been to Roma once...got to see the column ( cant see the soldiers well over 10 to 20 ft up). Still it was awe inspiring. Wish they would have left the original statue on it. Would be amazing to see this restored to original condition

[@mikeifyouplease]

If it had not been for the statue of St Peter, the column probably would have been knocked down. The transformation of many buildings in Rome into Christain related connections, is what saved a lot of the Ancient Roman architecture that we still see today.

[@Deyan_B_Travels]

I was in Rome last week. I didn't know you could go inside and on top of Trajan's column. On my list for the next time in Rome! Thank you!

[@fredpierce6097]

Amazing structure…..amazing views…….amazing video!

[@victoriafilippova8927]

What a stunning view from the top of the Column! It''s amazing that there'"s a staircase inside it. Thank you Darius for this wonderful video! 😍

[@DariusArya]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@Redhand1949]

I knew it had to have an interior because of the platform and railing at the top. BUT accessibility? No way! Thanks, Darius, for sharing an opportunity few of us will ever have! I'm pretty sure your access was a function of your expertise and reputation in Rome. Again, thanks for sharing. This is now burned in my memory, and I won't be able to "unsee" your steps the next time (I pray) I'm able to visit Rome.

[@DariusArya]

My pleasure!

[@Anna-ky7ix]

Thank you for the tour inside Trajan’s column! Beautiful and astounding engineering!

[@DariusArya]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@senseis1]

WOW, great video.😀

[@wenliu5051]

this has to be a wonder of the ancient world, simply mind boggling to think it's nearly 2000 years old, and still standing, and you can climb all the way to the top as well, I never knew you can climb the column.

[@alvanrigby6361]

Breathtaking. Thank you!

[@DariusArya]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@TA-dg6tf]

This is such a wonderful experience. Thank you so much Darius. I would never be able to see this without your video!

[@DariusArya]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@Ryan-vl2nn]

As a huge nerd regarding Roman history, I absolutely love your channel. As I’ve learned so much in regards to Roman structures that survive to this day. Not to mention I had no idea that the column was originally painted. That’s amazing! Also I had no idea that there was an interior staircase. So cool!

[@DariusArya]

Awesome, thank you!

[@stephensears7483]

Hey Darius-It's Great to see you! Congratulations on your channel. I didn't know the column had an inside!! It's been a long time since our days on Via A. Masina in 99-00...

[@cyndy338]

Darius, so happy to see you again! Your knowledge and enthusiasm of Rome is amazing🤩 Thanks so much! Have always enjoyed your presentations! This video is thrilling👏👏👏👍👊😊

[@DariusArya]

Thank you

[@Chuck8541]

That's so amazing. As a tourist, I'd never be able to see that view from above! Thanks! I do wonder, sorry if this is a stupid question, but are their ashes still in the base somewhere? If not, what happened to them?

[@DariusArya]

The urns are long gone- Trajan and Plotina.

[@Chuck8541]

@@DariusArya ahh, ok I see. Thank you! Was just curious.

[@douglaswilkinson5700]

Darius, thank you! I never thought I'd see the inside of the column@

[@DariusArya]

You bet! More incredible experiences on the way!

[@mushymagazineonlocation7328]

Thanks for taking us up. Amazing construction, amazing history.

[@Sassari2930]

Wonderful video... Thanks!!

[@Suz-e-K]

Wow, Darius. Lucky you. Thanks for sharing.

[@DariusArya]

My pleasure!

[@michelaperito6994]

Wow! I miss Rome so much.. thank you for your precious video! Love all that you do!

[@DariusArya]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@saveriocannata3447]

Thank you to bring the camera inside the column and on the top. Fantastic!

[@DariusArya]

Glad you liked it!

[@cerracarmine]

Belissima! This is amazing Was not aware of the incredible engineering

[@danielc45]

Wow! Must take special permission to climb up the column. What an incredible construction 200 years ago. Thanks for sharing.

[@stevenrunyon170]

2,000 years ago

[@danielc45]

Left out a zero!@@stevenrunyon170

[@bullfrommull]

Absolutely wonderful. I wish I could do that.

[@davidolien2828]

Thank you. I appreciate your vid’s very much.

[@bangbangninergang7573]

As always, great content. Thanks for sharing this.

[@DariusArya]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@Eddict1989]

Amazing video. Thank you for lettings us see Trajan's collumn on the inside.

[@koganinja100]

Great video I was there a few weeks ago on a bus tour - stood where you stood in intro didn’t have time to go inside- now I know I must go back. I would love to see it checked by electron microscope to check original colours as some of the Greek monuments have been And then restored to its original colours and glory and Trajans statue put back and restored would be fantastic. Whilst on my tour, one of the highlights for me was to leave a coin on the site where Julius Caesar’s ashes were said to be scattered. Love Italy, people, food, culture and history extraordinary country. Thank you for your video. All the best from down under Lewis Sydney Australia 🇦🇺

[@JamesAdams-ev6fc]

Excellent video. Darius, very good to see you back in this effective new format. Thanks very much.

[@DariusArya]

Glad you liked it!

[@JamesAdams-ev6fc]

@@DariusArya Darius your videos about Roman artifacts are among the best. I hope that you will write a book or do a documentary on this. One thing that I am curious about: ancient Roman education. There must have been something to do besides visiting the Colosseum.

[@mademoiselledusfonctionell1609]

Thank you for letting us all into this monument! I am beginning to realise that your channel is an absolute treasure trove for people interested in the Roman empire.

[@spankflaps1365]

Amazing it survived almost intact, when most other buildings around it were destroyed by vandals or earthquakes. Originally it was surrounded by temple libraries, with viewing platforms to observe the column’s freeze.

[@glenncordova4027]

Most of those surrounding buildings were lost because they were used as quarries for later buildings.

[@suzannetucci7310]

Wow! I am always amazed at Roman engineering! Thank you for sharing this video and special opportunity to see the inside climb and view from the top. Outstanding!

[@paoloviti6156]

Again I'm writing late but not only Trajan's column was built this way Lego like but also the The Colosseum and many important buildings... Good job because I never visited inside the stairs...

[@slemire58]

Thanks for this! Great overview....was there last October and visiting the Forum there never gets old

[@monicabattaglia2436]

Thank you for the wonderful experience and video 😊

[@DariusArya]

Thank you too!

[@fredyair1]

Thank you! Are there any visits for the public that can be scheduled? The idea of stepping on those stairs and see what so many prestigious citizens of Rome saw almost 2000 years ago is just so mind boggling!

[@gregorymccoy6797]

Wonderful opportunity.

[@smashinproduction]

thank you so much for all your videos

[@dawndelvecchio5375]

What an amazing video! I had no idea how large it actually was. I didn't know there was a staircase inside that you could use to reach the top. So cool! Thank you!

[@DariusArya]

Glad you liked it! Check out ARL for a video on more rich details on how they built it- coming soon

[@xdeecee]

Wow Darius, I’m so happy you got to experience that! Amazing, thx for sharing it with us. Incredible. 👍

[@DariusArya]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@dondouglass6415]

Fantastic video... Thank you... Huzzah!! 😊

[@JoseGonzalez-nl6cf]

Ir a Roma fue mi sueno echo realidad y estar cerca de la columna al emperador Trajano una experiencia sublime

[@starkillerdude1914]

It's crazy to think trajan's column survived up until the 17 hundred when the pope decided the statue of trajan needed to go, replacing it.

[@tomnelson710]

This is amazing!

[@Insectoid_]

I’ve never seen inside it. This is exciting 😊

[@DariusArya]

Amazing experience I wanted to share!

[@brucelee3388]

Should I also point out that the column was INSIDE the Library of Trajan, so people could walk around the inside of the library at various levels and look at the carved and painted surface of the column at near eye level.

[@anna-lisagirling7424]

Oh, my! I actually never realized it had an internal staircase to the top! What I wouldn't give for a time machine to see that view shortly after it was completed! Also, have the colors of the narrative "scroll" been determined and is there a visual recreation of it somewhere? Thank you, Darius, for taking me on this visit.

[@DariusArya]

Great article on the colors in Nat Geo article.

[@klyanadkmorr]

Yeah the outside replication of the emperor warrior's exploits was like doing a picto graph of '300' on a scroll to wrap around stuff.

[@vickilindberg6336]

Amazing. Knew I enjoyed the story on the outside but had no idea it was actually his tomb or had a staircase.

[@daveowenmusic1749]

Incredible!

[@Sevenigma777]

Just caught this channel and this is the type of content im addicted too and why i havent had cable in over ten years now and this is a small channel...well for now keep this up and youll be one of the big ones in no time!

[@DariusArya]

Glad you enjoy it!

[@hildaramirez1372]

Has hecho realidad mi sueño de muchos años: ver las escenas talladas en la columna tan cerca de mis ojos. Y mirar el interior y conocer cómo esta construida me hizo lanzar un pequeño grito de alegría..... Has alegrado mi día. Gracias, muchas gracias

[@nascarbryant]

What a privilege to visit such restricted places! I remeber visiting Trajans markets …..not many people in the „museum“……it was magic….like being in old Rome……. Please keep also posting on linkedin! Thx for sharing your incredible experience….

[@DariusArya]

Yes I will keep up with LinkedIn

[@valeriesarthou9355]

Wonderful ! Thanks for the view of the most beautiful city, Roma Aeterna!

[@DariusArya]

Thank you!

[@TriviRocks]

Wow! It's like a lighthouse inside. I had never imagined that!

[@annagattellari85]

Thank you shering tha With us ❤👏👏👏👏👍🏻

[@robbillington1982]

Good to see the Basilica Ulpia getting some rebuild treatment lately!

[@tony8074]

Time to put Trajan’s statue back on the top of that monument. It’s his not St. peter.

[@kaalraam]

2:56 That gelato place on the right side is AMAZING. top tier mango smoothie too :)

[@lesliewatson-cq8mb]

Always wanted to know what it was like inside!! Thanks so much! Leslie

[@DariusArya]

My pleasure!

[@pile333]

Amazing!

[@BoomVang]

I think I requested a video on this interior years ago, so hurray 😁 P.S. tourists may want to visit the museum in Rome's EUR suburb that has castings of all the carvings viewable at ground level. Or just google around for images or videos of the reliefs unrolled (and sometimes colored).

[@DariusArya]

Yes! EUR museum della civilta'' romana is still closed for restoration.

[@jamesclayton3388]

Astonishing!.. thanks for sharing this with all of us. It is something I and many of your subscribers probably have never seen before. Is the statue of Trajen in the Vatican museum?..

[@johnrogers8836]

a secondary (if not primary) function of the internal void / stair access would have been a (significant) reduction in weight.

[@hildaramirez1372]

Simplemente creo que eres el mejor en este trabajo🤩

[@zgomote]

This is awesome.

[@daveweiss5647]

I had no idea! Thanks!

[@dima97]

Fun fact, it was a mediveal tourist destination. It had so many people lined up, they started to sell tickets to get in

[@DariusArya]

Yup

[@teleopinions1367]

Thank you for that for all that history and for giving us the opportunity to go inside Trajan's Column. Qué lujo! Trajan was from Spain, right? Was he born in what today is Extremadura? Maybe I am wrong.

[@DariusArya]

Italica!

[@bluowl148]

Bravissimo,come al solito spieghi molto bene 👏👏

[@lumenpraetorius4592]

Remarkable. Great video.

[@whothefluff]

I didn't know they let people inside, that's an awesome experience. What's the process? I found a page to book visits to some places like the Sepolcro degli Scipioni or the Mitreo del Circo Massimo which happen a few times a year, but I can't find anything for the column

[@DariusArya]

Column is not open to public. I"ll share in the future the sites you mention..

[@brober]

Fantastico! Do we know what happened to Trajan's sarcophagus at the base chamber or the huge bronze statue at the top removed in the 16th century? Grazie Prof. Arya

[@DariusArya]

Good question! The urns are long gone. Same for Trajan's statue on top- surely recycled for the bronze.

[@lauxmyth]

Great work but so wanted to see the doors at the base to see the age of the hinges and locks. Metal it appears so not likely original. Seen photos from a distance and never noted the windows needed to light the stairs. So cool.

[@DariusArya]

Windows are key. The door today is modern...

[@timhollinsead5974]

Darius, great video, what an experience! Tim

[@DariusArya]

My pleasure!

[@andyroo9381]

WOW! You took us to a place we will never be able to go on our own. This was a privilege. What happened to the statue of Trajan? Was it made of marble or of bronze? Was it stolen or repurposed? Thank you for this.

[@Joanna-il2ur]

I imagine the Church just broke it up when they stuck St John up there.

[@ralfjansen9118]

The bronze of the statue has been molten for probably profane purposes already in the middle ages, same as the lead plugs that held the drums of the column together have been broken out by metal thieves.

[@ralfjansen9118]

​@@Joanna-il2urSt Peter, not St John

[@Joanna-il2ur]

@@ralfjansen9118 blame Claridge. She said it was St John. I did an assignment on the column for my MA.

[@DariusArya]

Melted down, repurposed, sometime in the Middle Ages- probably from locals "hungry' for metal (gilded bronze)

[@maklamukla583]

Die Trajan Säule ist beeindruckend vor allem weil sie so gut erhalten ist. Als ich vor Jahren in Rom war hatten mich die Caracalla Thermen am meisten beeindruckt, diese riesen Gebäude und Anlage. Es muss beeindruckend gewesen sein wo alles noch Komplett war. Bitte machen Sie einen Film zu den Caracalla Thermen würde mich sehr freuen. Danke

[@1028dianemarie]

Great video. Would never see this without you. 👏🏻👏🏻And what a view of the monument to Victor Emmanuel. My grandmother, who came here from Bari, was named Emmanuela after the king 👑

[@DariusArya]

Yes, best view ever! happy to share the incredible experience

[@RP-mm9ie]

Thanks

[@jimparsons6803]

Wow, indeed. I've seen on US' PBS one or another docs, the outside of this structure. A billboard for this Roman Ruler. A PBS travel log by Rick Steves once told of a museum, nearby, that had plaster casts of the outside of this Colum. So that you can view this Column's segments at eyelevel. I wasn't aware that there tomb at the base for the ashes of Trajan or his wife. Or that there was a similar Column for Marcus Aurelius? A lot going on with those Romans. Newer discoveries or points of view being published every now and then. Interesting and well done, well presented.

[@dirksawyer5667]

Unbelievable! I knew there was an internal staircase but this video has made a dream come true. Absolutely incredible. Thank you.

[@DariusArya]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@liamK1916]

Every obelisk on earth with a crown on it is aligned with Trajans column. Alignments are an amazing rabbit hole to go down 😅

[@py8554]

Oh my, I didn’t even know there’s staircase inside the column….