Trajan expanded the Roman Empire to its greatest extent, celebrating his victories with this monumental column.
c. 753 B.C.E. – 400 C.E.
Nothing was more important to a Roman emperor than his image.
Augustus of Primaporta
Augustus is said to have found Rome a city of brick and left it a city of marble—this altar symbolizes his golden age.
Ara Pacis Augustae
Built using new technologies, this building is overwhelming and unprecedented—displaying Roman imperial power.
Basilica of Maxentius and Constantine
Explore Hadrian’s Villa in 3D and learn about Hadrian from the emperor himself.
A virtual tour of Hadrian’s Villa
Due to a fortunate case of mistaken identity, this commanding statue was saved from destruction.
Equestrian Sculpture of Marcus Aurelius
Trajan tasked his architect with moving an entire hill to make room for this extravagant public space.
The Forum and Markets of Trajan
Wrinkled, toothless, and sagging: why would the Romans emphasize these features in a portrait?
Head of a Roman Patrician
Death, memory, and funerary rituals—monumental tombs lined the streets leading into ancient Roman cities.
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