Presidential libraries in the United States today follow the same principle: They become monuments to the former presidents, ...

The column was deeply influential, the inspiration for later monuments in Rome and across the empire. Over the centuries, as the city’s landmarks crumbled, the column continued to fascinate and awe.

The victory of the Roman emperor Trajan over the Dacians in back-to-back wars is carved in numerous scenes that spiral around a 126-foot marble pillar in Rome known as Trajan’s Column.

For centuries, Rome's sites have directly influenced architecture and visual culture. From Raphael to Michelangelo, artists have visited Rome and studied its structures, monuments, and traditions. The ...

The spiral bas relief on the column commemorates Trajan’s victory in the Dacian Wars. The Monument to Victor Emmanuel II (official website) is one of the most prominent landmarks in Rome.