Trajan - London, England, UK
Posted by: 
Metro2
N 51° 31.131 W 000° 07.573
30U E 699375 N 5711441
This bust of the Roman Emperor Trajan is located in the British Museum.
Waymark Code: WMDJF5
Location: London, United Kingdom
Date Posted: 01/20/2012
Views: 7
The British Museum does not charge an admission fee and does allow non-flash photography.
The Museum's webpage (
visit link) for this life-sized piece informs us:
"Marble bust of Trajan
Roman, made in Italy about AD 108-117
In the style of a Hellenistic ruler
The bust, one of many issued to commemorate the emperor Trajan's Decennalia (tenth anniversary of his accession - he reigned AD 98-117), shows him in the style of a Hellenistic ruler, with his upper body bared and his head slightly turned. Trajan was born at Italica near Seville in modern Spain, and was the first non-Italian emperor, reflecting the political and economic shifts taking place within the Roman empire.
Under Trajan the empire reached its greatest extent, with the conquests of Mesopotamia (modern Iraq), and Dacia (modern Romania). The latter was celebrated on Trajan's Column in Rome, which carries the history of the two Dacian wars in a 200 metre long frieze spiralling up the shaft. The column was only one element of an immense complex of forum, basilica (law-court), libraries, shops, and housing built with the proceeds of his conquests. Trajan, however, was not only a very capable commander, but was also renowned for his fairness, good government and wisdom. Elements of these are preserved in his correspondence with the younger Pliny, one of his ablest provincial governors, notably on the subject of early Christian communities. This reputation endured for centuries, and it is this perceived piety which earned Trajan, rather than Augustus, Hadrian or Constantine, a place in the Paradiso of Dante Alighieri (1265-1321)."
Trajan was born in A.D. 53 and is considered one of the five good Roman Emperors, known for his large public building projects. He had been a loyal ally of the Emperor Domitian and the Praetorian Guard forced Domitian's successor, Nerva, to adopt Trajan as his successor. After Nerva's death, Trajan became Emperor and was very popular. He also expanded the Empire by conquering Dacia and Nabataea. He was succeeded by his adopted son, Hadrian, when he died from an illness in 117. He was deified after his death. Read more about him at (
visit link)