Apollodorus Of Damascus

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Apollodorus of Damascus

As a Greek engineer, Apollodorus of Damascus designed several works which include

the Trajan’s bridge which passed over the Danube (Blyth, 127). His major works were conducted

in Trajan where he constructed the Trajan’s temple, as well as, the Trajan’s walls in Rome

(Blyth, 128). Apollodorus died as a celebrated engineer and a designer who built several works

that most people connect to, some of his major works have formed the basis of studies in

engineering, as well as, the fields of design and planning. This paper, therefore, seeks to analyze

some of the works that Apollodorus of Damascus planned and designed and some of which

formed the basis for the engineering profession and design profession.

The life of Apollodorus of Damascus is mostly related to those works that he designed

and built while working for Emperor Trajan; these have mostly been christened as the Trajan’s

buildings which represent the bridge, the temple, and the column. The construction can then be

classified as construction during the reigns of Trajan and the constructions during the reigns of

Hadrian who succeeded Trajan.

Works by Apollodorus of Damascus

The main works of Apollodorus of Damascus include Trajan’s column, Trajan’s forum,

triumphal arches of Trajan, and works at Ancona (Calcani et al. 203). Other works that are

associated with the Apollodorus of Damascus include Alconetar Bridge in Spain. The works

formed a foundation for the architecture and designs. The academic foundations of the

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Apollodorus works have been applied in many architectural designs. Most of the works by

Apollodorus of Damascus were designed in the second century, 2 A.D. He worked majorly for

the Roman emperor during the second century designs which he made.

However, Apollodorus faced banishment by Emperor Hadrian. The banishment followed

disagreement that the two had over the design which should have been followed to build the

temple. The executions which followed also reached 130 executions from the disagreements at

the time with Apollodorus surviving the execution but facing the banishment from the king.

Apollodorus had various achievements including the villa at the Tivoli which most scholars

believe was an impression of himself. The works by Apollodorus put him in direct conflict with

the emperor at the time being Emperor Hadrian.

The works by Apollodorus had some similarities in their characteristics which

distinguished them from the works of other designers. As an engineer and a designer,

Apollodorus made an outstanding impression that were virtually accepted as the benchmark in

the engineering profession and presented the best designs and built using stones that changed the

previous designs that had been developed for the same buildings. Most of the buildings and

structures by Apollodorus had a definite shape which was round in shape with a square

foundation. The columns were identical in most of the works that Apollodorus prepared. The

works of Apollodorus of Damascus appeared to lean towards the new design that was a liberal

architectural design at the time. However, some scholars argued that the works were based on the

political statements of the time.

In designing the architectural designs and coming up with the engineering details,

Apollodorus focused on both the social, economic, and political impression of the time.

Environmental impression and the landscaping was also part of the design mechanism employed

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by the architects. The works of design and architecture mostly sent the political messages. The

emperors used the architecture and designs at the time to show the superiority and to send

various messages in the end.

The specific work of Apollodorus of Damascus that will be discussed in this paper is the

Trajan’s column; this is one of the essential works that was done by Apollodorus of Damascus

given the nature of the work and the magnificence of the works (Calcani et al. 23). Today, the

work stands out as one of the most outstanding and well thought designs in the architectural

world. The works of Apollodorus of Damascus were specific, and the Trajan’s works were one

of the works that exemplified the specificity of the works of Apollodorus of Damascus. In

analyzing these works, the Trajan is an example of the magnificence that promotes political

messages and gives a socio and cultural impression (Ceccarelli et al. 83).

Characteristics of Apollodorus Designed structures

The structures that were designed and built by Apollodorus had some similarities

regarding the shape, the building techniques used, the impression created, and the interior design,

as well as, the exterior designs of the buildings (Woods, 28). Most of the buildings that were

ranged from rectangular shaped to square. However, each of the corners of the structures was

made using cylindrical columns. The columns were designed in such a way that the materials

used to develop the columns and the beams were marble. Marble remains one of the materials

that are used in the construction of most buildings at the time of Apollodorus of Damascus.

Inside the structures developed there existed various pictures and various idols that

depicted the Emperorship and the political achievements of various the Emperors. Most of the

works by Apollodorus was constructed either during the period of Emperor Trajan or at the time

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of Emperor Hadrian. This implies that the works of Apollodorus had some political connections.

They sent political statements in a manner in which various aspects were erected in the buildings

and in the way the structures faced each other and the nature of the arrangement of different

portraits in the buildings. The patterns and the textures of the buildings and the structures had the

same similarity in the form of feel and the form of arrangements of the activities and different

placements in the buildings.

The arrangement of the rooms and the floor areas exhibited similarities in the sense of the

area covered in the rooms. The paintings on the floor were made using bright colors and the

colors that are white to yellow. The colors that were being used are those colors that can easily

be recognized from a distance. Cognoscibility is one of the objectives that Apollodorus achieved

in his designs and the buildings. The buildings were mostly conspicuous compared to those

buildings that had been designed earlier on by the early architects. The new architectural works

that were being championed by Apollodorus were not only to send political messages, but they

also showed their conspicuous nature.

The structures had specific features which made them different from the other structures.

The features also made a difference with the conventional architectural designs that had been in

use in the Rome Empire for a long period (Prina, 75). Personification is one of the common

features of the works of Apollodorus of Damascus. Personification in culture and literature refers

to a situation where non-living activities are given life by descriptions to fit the living

descriptions. In the case of the buildings by Apollodorus, the role of Emperor Trajan and the role

of women and men were personified in the construction of the column. This is about the

conquest that had been made by the Trajan Emperor of the Dacia during the 2 A.D.

Trajan Works

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Apollodorus developed a penchant for Trajan where he developed and designed the most

prominent works including the Trajan’s Bridge, Trajan’s temple, and Trajan’s column all within

the city of Rome. Other works that were designed by Apollodorus include the Triumphal arches

of Trajan which was specific at Beneventum and other works at triumphal arches at Ancona.

These works are the best illustration of the Apollodorus works that has been in place since their

inception. The nature of the works is linked to Emperor Trajan hence the name Trajan works.

They were, however, designed by Apollodorus of Damascus in the 2 A.D while some of the

works were designed after the reign of the Trajan, this provides the two works to be the ones

designed during the reign of Trajan and those that were designed and built during the reign of

Hadrian who succeeded Emperor Trajan. However, some of these works were later destroyed

because of wars and other reasons that occurred in the middle ages. The designs were bridges

and temples, as well as, the market place. Trajan is derived from the Emperor who reigned at the

time and whose names were used in the building of the structures. The authorities to build these

structures were given by the senate. They wanted the buildings to honor the great Trajan for his

various conquests.

Trajan’s forum is one work which was designed by Apollodorus in the second century

A.D. The Trajan’s forum was the last of the imperial fora. Emperor Trajan ordered the building

and design of the forum after the end of the war with the Dacia; the war ended in 106. What was

obtained from the war with Dacia formed the materials that were used in building the forum in

the end. However, some excavations were made for the Trajan’s forum in the process. When the

project was being executed there were several activities that were done in the process which

included the construction of Trajan’s market, the process of renovating Caesar’s forum, as well

as, building of the temple at the point of Genetrix.

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The structure of the forum is such that there was a large portico piazza that measures

approximately 300 meters by 185 meters. The external side has other two sides known as the

exedrae. The entrance to the forum is on the north of the forum, this entrance is painted with the

white blocks but has other white marbles which form part of the decorations of the structures. In

the middle exists a huge statue of the emperor Trajan which overlooks the entrance. The

structure was continuous and presents style and elegance. The north of the structure denoted a

smaller piazza with the statue of Trajan looking the inside of the buildings. This dedication

indicates the political message that the structure presented concerning the Trajan’s influence on

the project and the works of the Apollodorus of Damascus.

The structure and the paintings of the forum also presented the modern architecture at the

2 A.D. Towards the North was also dedicated to Ulpia. The modern times present the market as

columns with different historical and economic importance. The market also presents political

news and shows political importance. The modern day structure is also of importance as it shows

the possibility of building the structures based on the benchmarks set in the fields of architecture

and design. Most of the columns which were originally built in the system have remained to

stand with some of the structures being re-erected in the modern times.

Trajan’s column was exclusively built and designed for Emperor Trajan; this was part of

the political statement that was designed and constructed under the authority of the Roman

senate. The structure is built near the hills of Quarinal. Quarinal hills are located to the north of

the Roman Forum. The hill and the forum provides a panoramic view due to the landscape which

is developed in the area. Together with the column, the design brings out what has been known

to be the most magnificent designs in the recent history of architecture and engineering design.

The structure is designed to have pedestals, and this makes it a visually appealing design.

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The height of the design, together with the pedestal, is 30 meters. This represents the

height of the column and the pedestal. The length of the same pedestal and the column is also 35

meters long. The column s also made up of a series of marbles which numbers 20 shafts. The

marble drums are the drums of Carrara. Each of the drums weighs approximately 32 tons, and

each has a diameter of 3.7 meters. There also exists a 190 meter frieze winds which expands in

its base with an estimated 1 meter at the base and 1.2 towards the top of the frieze.

The scenes presented are continuous and present different perspective of the column.

This is one of the works that remains with cultural and political significance to the Roman

emperor and remains the main reminder of the Trajan’s emperor earlier on in the second century,

2 A.D. The work shows different angles of the column and the forum presented in several ways

shows the modern design of the system and the proper development of the Trajan’s column in

the process. The perspective of the Trajan’s column indicates a victory that the Trajan obtained

from the two battles he fought with Dacia. The first half of the building portrays the victory that

was obtained by Trajan in the wars with Dacia in 101-102 A.D (Claridge, 55).

The building design and the frieze showed various activities that occurred in the conquest

and presented the ultimate objective of the Trajan which was to capture Dacia, conquer Dacia

and expand his territory an objective which Trajan achieved and an objective which he later

exemplified in his works by building the column. The other events that are portrayed by the work

include the crossing of the River Danube by the legion. The second process involves the Trajan’s

voyage crossing the river, the third event denoting the surrender of the Dacians after a pursuit by

the Trajan’s army. After the close of the first war then there is the Trajan’s sacrifice and the end

of the first war. There are developed two sections of the system that denotes the personified

victory that was obtained by Trajan over the Dacians in the two different wars. Trajan’s work by

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Apollodorus was, therefore, a political statement made to commemorate the conquest and the

expansion of the Trajan’s empire.

The objective of going to war with the Dacia was to conquer Dacia and expand Trajan’s

territory. After the conquest, the shift then turned on the Dacia to incorporate and become part of

the Roman Empire. Becoming part of the Roman Empire would imply that they submit to the

Trajan and his rules that existed at the time of the submission. Part of the integration of the Dacia

to be part of the Roman Empire would imply that Dacia pays allegiance to Trajan. The events

that proceeded are put in the form that depicts its nature in the architectural work which was

developed by the Apollodorus in the Trajan’s column.

The frieze also repeats several scenes which denote the imperial address known as the

adlocutio, the sacrifice made by different people in the fights known as lustratio, the army that

had been setting up for the military encounter and conquest known as the profectio. The scenes

where there is military encounters present a case where they are the minority of the scenes in the

Frieze and presents a scenario where they are the minimum of all the depictions made in the

frieze (Claridge, 56). The frieze also shows how the military engagements were fashioned during

the times of the war, the column is majorly on the conquest and conquer of the Dacia by the

Trajan. The conquest is considered to be one of the achievements of Emperor Trajan in the

history of the Roman Empire.

The work sets the differences that were made by men and women in the process of

promoting Trajan’s conquest objectives. The distinction is also given by the contributions that

were made by the players on the side of Trajan and the players who were on the side of Dacia.

Those who were on the side of Trajan were working with the objective of ensuring that Trajan

captures Dacia while those who were on the side of Dacia were resisting the conquest and the

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war that was mounted by Trajan. The two factions are represented in the Trajan’s column, and

that presents the opportunity for the narration of the struggle. This forms part of the

understanding of the conquest in a better way by the generations to come and also promotes the

culture of the Roman architecture.

Roman architectures are known to design most of their buildings and structures

surrounding a specific message, the message that the Apollodorus of Damascus wanted to

portray in the design of the Trajan’s work was that of the political superiority of Trajan emperor.

The planning, design and the execution of the architectures were part of the disguised political

messages that Apollodorus wanted to pass about the prominence and power of Trajan that made

him conquer the Dacia. The process was also essential to understanding the system and how the

system worked to enable people to understand what happened and the encounters that led to the

expansion of the Roman Empire under Trajan.

In work, women are put towards the margin of the buildings and columns. However,

there are also other women who are put at the center. This is due to the central role they played

during the war with the Dacia. The idea of women feminizing the warfare is also a concept that

is understood and developed in the process of understanding the foreign conquest. During the

time of the war, women did not take part in the armed struggle, most women played the roles of

subjugating and feminizing the war, thereby making the women operate from the sidelines which

are depicted in work by placing the women at the margin. Their roles were also important in the

conquest. There are also other women who are considered mortal as they had also participated in

the armed conflict in the process of the conquest.

Trajan as an emperor is depicted in a veristic style by Apollodorus of Damascus. The

presentations of the images are taken as the objective historical truth in the works. There are also

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different scenes which are full of sailors who number 2,500 figures in total. Trajan the emperor

himself makes about 59 appearances in the architectural works. The army is also portrayed as

being gentle in the Trajan’s column. Apollodorus of Damascus worked towards making the

reality be understood using his design works most of which were in praise of Emperor Trajan.

The Trajan’s column is a testament to what the design and engineering design can make and the

message that the process can bring about. The column of Trajan remains one of the most

prominent works ever done by Apollodorus of Damascus.

The column was used to further the propaganda that was championed by Emperor Trajan

in the conquest. However, the problem that the Trajan’s column has continued to experience is

the problem of visibility of some of the parts of the column. The upper parts of the column have

remained invisible over the period that the column has been in existence. The column having

been faced in the north-most point presents a challenge to the system. The system had an upper

viewing which then changed in the process that now ensures low visibility of the highest points

of the columns. Other scholars have also argued that the column has led to divisions within the

Roman Empire as it serves to remind most people of the pains and troubles that the Dacia went

through.

The column was built to serve the purpose of commemoration and to serve the purpose of

uniting people. The column has also been used as a glorifying monument for the Roman people.

People uphold Trajan as the Rome’s greatest emperor; this is because of the structures that were

built and named after Trajan. Apollodorus of Damascus designed most of these structures. He

ensured that his legacy was promoted through the design and engineering of various structures.

Trajan column as work was used for sending the political statements about the conquest that had

been made by Emperor Trajan of the Rome Empire at the time (Rossi, 50).

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Temple of Trajan

The temple of Trajan is the second Trajan work that was designed and built by

Apollodorus of Damascus. Just like the Trajan’s column the temple of Trajan was built with the

purpose of dedicating the temple to Emperor Trajan and his wife known as Plotina. The temple

was built by the successor of Emperor Trajan who was known as Emperor Hadrian. The temple

was built in the years between 125 and 138. However, the temple was later destroyed during the

middle age period. The temple was destroyed during the period that is considered as the period

of change when things were changing in the Roman Empire, and a new order was taking shape in

the Roman Empire.

In the construction and the design of the temple, there is evidence which suggests that a

granite column existed with a marble capital which is approximately 2.12 meters high. This

particular building is credited to the reigns of Hadrian and is connected to the magnificent works

that have been constructed by Apollodorus of Damascus. The temple is the only Trajan building

where Hadrian’s name was affixed according to his wishes and how he planned the structures.

The temple had dimensions which have been considered to be large. Trajan as the Emperor was

buried in the basement of the temple. The temple also depicted the works with paints and

different dimensions like the present interior finishing with cultural elements that gives the touch

of style and culture.

Most of Apollodorus designed buildings were painted white. Apollodorus designed and

constructed these buildings in two different reigns, the first construction under the reign of

Trajan and the second construction was made under the reigns of Emperor Hadrian. The two

designs and the two sets of buildings took after one another with both of them being used to

show political superiority. The sites of the two buildings were the Northern part of the Empire.

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Most scholars believe that the main objectives for constructing and design in the two different

periods were because of the two different political messages that needed to be sent by the two

Emperors.

The ultimate goal of architecture is to promote the culture of people. Culture is both

organic and supra-organic. There are also the aspects of the material culture and those aspects of

culture which are considered to be immaterial in the sense that they are not tangible. In keeping

up with the characteristic of the Roman Empire culture, the paintings and the interior finishing

was part of the cultural improvements that hit the Roman Empire during the time. The two

emperors were essential in the development of the buildings and the structures, therefore,

developed an architectural culture that is identified with the Roman people.

Most of the works of Apollodorus were designed using the marbles. The application of

the marbles is an essential part of the designs together with the white paintings that are also

identified with the works. The interior and exterior finishes of the structures that were designed

during this time. The main objective of the designs and buildings, however, remained the

political connection that involved the capture of the Dacia by Trajan and the paying of tribute to

Trajan by Emperor Hadrian; these two are considered to be the greatest Emperors in the Roman

history (Smith and Kendra, 201). The works of Apollodorus of Damascus presents the

architectural design and engineering works that are being followed as the principle of

architecture and the principle of contiguity as far as relations between the architecture and

culture is concerned.

Apollodorus has been referred to as the architect of Trajan; this is because of the works

that Apollodorus made during the time of Emperor Trajan. Apollodorus fit the function of

propaganda war chief for Trajan. He promoted the ideals of Trajan using his architectural

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drawings and the architectural designs. Apollodorus is well recognized for his role in promoting

the Roman designs and Roman culture in most of his architectural works. The works by

Apollodorus is a careful work that is considered to be an epitome of considerations of all the

aspects of architecture. The considerations include the aspects of the environment, economic and

financial considerations, culture, social and political considerations.

Most of the paintings of the Apollodorus of Damascus works were bright colored

paintings. The bright colored paintings had formed part of the identification of the designs and

the structures of the buildings (Woods, np). The use of marble with a basement of large

diameters and large lengths are some of the characteristics of the structures designed by

Apollodorus of Damascus. What has been outstanding in the structures of Apollodorus’s works

was the personification of the structures. Inside the structures depicted one r two issues with the

most common being the depiction of the war that ended up in the capture of the Dacia people.

Trajan’s Bridge

Trajan’s bridge is another structure that was designed by Apollodorus during the reign of

Emperor Trajan. Trajan’s bridge passed over the River Danube. This bridge was the segmental

arch bridge which was designed and built by Apollodorus of Danube during 105 A.D. Emperor

Trajan instructed Apollodorus to design a bridge over River Danube that would be in the shape

of an arc. This was to be completed before the second Dacian war that would lead to the capture

and conquer of Dacian Empire. This was to facilitate the movement of Roman soldiers from the

Trajan’s empire to the Dacian Empire (Smith and Kendra, 201). The main objective of the bridge

was for logistical facilitation with the movement of troops being at the center of construction of

the Bridge.

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During the time of construction, the bridge remained one of the longest bridges in the

history of bridge construction. Trajan’s bridge was located to the east of the Iron Gates. This

place is the modern day Drobeta-Turnu Severin in what is known as the modern day Romania

and the Klodovo areas which are situated in Serbia. The construction of this bridge was as a

result of an order given by Emperor Trajan during the Dracian war with the aim of facilitating

the war. The bridge was 1,135 meters in length (the Danube is currently 800 m), approximately

15 m in width, and 19 meters in its height, this is the measurement taken from the surface of the

river. Towards each of the individual ends existed a castrum, each of the castrum was built at the

entrance, such that to cross the bridge it is possible to walk from one camp to the next.

The castra were known as the Pontes and others were also called Drobeta. Towards the right

river bank, the present village known as Kostol next to Kladovo, one castrum Pontes existed

with what was a settlement; this civilian settlement was built in 103. The settlement lied on

several hectares and its design and building coincided with the design and building of the bridge

across River Danube. Today the Remnants of Castrum estimated to be 40 meters in length can

still be seen in the place where they were initially built. However, the ceramic fragments, the

markings of the bricks, as well as the coins in the area have been excavated and removed.

The bronze head that is believed to be that of Emperor Trajan has been found in one of the

Pontes. This bronze is believed to have been part of a statue placed at the entrance of the bridge,

and they have been kept at National Museum in Belgrade. The bank to the left had a Drobeta

castrum. A bronze statue of Trajan existed on the same side of the bridge. In the construction of

the Bridge Apollodorus of Damascus applied materials like the wooden arches, which spanned

at about 38 m which were also set on about twenty pillars of masonry which were also made of

mortar, bricks, and cement. The bridge was built within a record of 2 years that is the period

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between the years 103 and 105. This site employed the construction of caisson on each of the

pier, the caisson being wooden.

Apollodorus used one technique known as river flow relocation. This technology used the

basic principles that had been initially set by Thales of Miletus about six hundred years ago. In

this principle, Engineers worked by waiting for a low water level to set in for them to make a

canal. For the project, the canal was made towards the west of the modern downtown of

Kladovo. Water was then redirected to a distance of about 2 kilometers towards the downstream

just from the main construction site (Smith and Kendra, 201). This followed through one lowland

known as the Ključ region and then got directed to the location of one of the modern day village

known as Mala Vrbica. In the construction, there was a wooden pillar which was driven right

into the river bed and made to appear in a rectangular manner. The pillar then served as

the basement that supported the piers. The piers were then coated with clay materials.

In the construction there were hollow piers that were filled with stones, the piers were

then fastened together using mortar to hold the bricks and stones together. In the outside, the

buildings were built in a round shape together with Roman bricks. Today, the bricks are still

visible and can still be seen in the village of Kostol. The bricks retain similar physical

characteristics existed about 2000 years ago. The physical properties were such that the piers

were estimated to be 44.46 meters high, 17.78 meters wide, and 50.38 meters apart.

It has been assumed that the materials for the bridge construction were assembled on the

land after which the installation on the pillars was done after the assembly of the materials on

land (Woods, np). What was used as a mitigating circumstance in the same year that the

relocation of canals was completed, and the water levels went down. During the building of the

foundation, the river bed was drained, and the water level was then brought down. An

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approximated 20 pillars at an interval of 50 meters between the pillars were then used in the

erection of the pillars and building of the foundation. The oak wood was applied, and the bridge

then raised to high ground to permit the ship transport materials on the Danube.

The bricks have a value attached to them. The value is a historical value. This value is

also intrinsic value to the people who existed in the Trajan territory and the Romans. Most of

these people had participated in the construction of the bridge and the Trajan buildings. Most of

the people who participated in the construction of the bridge carved their names into the bridge

and the units of the bridge thereby forming and giving a historical attachment to the bricks used

in the process.

Constructing the Trajan’s bridge is believed to be part of the a project which consisted of

digging the sideway canals with the objectives of ensuring that the whitewater rapids are

avoided, and this then made River Danube safe and secure so that navigation could take place,

there was also the building of river fleet, as well as, putting up the defense posts, with the

development of the intelligence service at the border stations. One of the problems faced during

the transportation and construction was the problem of the Iron Gate Cataract. The cataract made

navigation impossible during the spell of low waters (Smith and Kendra, 201). There was also

rocky areas with some areas being lumpy as well. Across the Danube, the navigation was also

problematic.

There was a need for heavy equipment which was necessary for the huge lifting boulders

which were found on the river bed at the same time dragging the boulders. However, time did

not allow dragging the boulders to the bank of the River. The Roman engineers including

Apollodorus then decided to cut the canal through the stone slopes on the west bank. This

process began at the Iron Gate, moving upstream up to the point where there were rapids. This

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point appeared at a downstream in what is called Novi Sip today. The evidence of the works is

shown by the remains of the banks of the river which protected the entire area during the period

of construction of the canal indicates the magnitude of the works. The length was 3.2 kilometers.

However, the canal bypassed the problematic section of the river in an arch-like style. Former

canals were filled with sand, and empty shells are regularly found in the ground.

The works in constructing the Trajan Bridge served as the main objective of preparing for

the Dacia. This invasion ended with the Conquest of Dacia and marking the Roman victory in

106 AD. The aftermath of defeating the Dacians and capturing their ore-rich land was an

achievement so great that Roman theatrical shows celebrated the conquest for a record 123 days,

this was done with 10,000 gladiators who engaged in the fights, as well as, 11,000 wild animals

that were killed during the period of celebration (Woods, np).

Tabula Traiana

This is known as the Roman memorial plaque ("Tabula Traiana"), it is approximated that

it measures 4 meters in width and 1.75 meters in height. This memorial plaque commemorates

the process of completion of Trajan's military road which is located on the side of Serbia which

faces Romania at a point known as Ogradina. In 1972, during the construction of the Iron Gate I

Hydroelectric Power Station the plaque was moved from its original location and put at the

present place. Hadrian upon succeeding Trajan dismantled the wooden superstructure. His main

idea from dismantling the wooden superstructure was to protect the empire from any invasion

that would arise from the north. Hadrian ordered the destruction of the superstructure by fire.

Summary and Conclusion

Apollodorus of Damascus is known as the architect of Trajan since he is associated with all

the works that are connected to Emperor Trajan. He is also associated with the works of Emperor

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Hadrian. His works flourished in the 2 A.D. His notable works include the Trajan temple, Trajan

column, and the Trajan Bridge (Claridge, 55). His main works had similar characteristics

regarding the design, shape, and the color regarding impressions.

The designs made by Apollodorus include Trajan's Forum, the Temple of Trajan,

and Trajan's Column that appeared within the city of Rome (Packer, 162). There are also other

projects of smaller scopes that Apollodorus participated. Other works that were designed by

Apollodorus include the triumphal arches of Trajan which is at a place called Beneventum , as

well as, others arches which are located at Ancona (Hill, 155). Apollodorus is mostly credited as

an architect of the third iteration of the Pantheon, and he is often cited as the builder of

the Alconétar Bridge constructed in Spain (Hill, 155). In the year 106 Apollodorus restored

the Odeon of Domitian that had begun in the Campus Martius under Domitian (Hill, 155).

One of his most celebrated works is the Column. This column is celebrated as being the first

triumphal monument of its kind in the Roman Empire. After the death of Trajan Hadrian

ascended to power then banishing Apollodorus after ridiculing him. He was then charged with

other crimes after his banishment. The works of Apollodorus, however, continue to stand out in

the case of the architectural improvement. The works Apollodorus formed the benchmark for the

best architectural designs in the second century. Even though some of the works were destroyed

during the middle age, they remained the point of reference for a longer period. Apollodorus is,

therefore, celebrated in the world of architecture and design for the manner in which he built the

monumental structures and how constructed the structures under some of the most difficult

situations. Before his banishment by Hadrian Apollodorus had made a mark and left a difference

in the architectural world.

Surname 19

Works Cited

Blyth, P. H. "Apollodorus of Damascus and the Poliorcetica." Greek, Roman, and Byzantine

Studies 33.2 (1992): 127-158.

Ceccarelli, Marco, and Paolo De Paolis. "A brief account on roman machines and cultural

frames." International Symposium on History of Machines and Mechanisms. Springer,

Dordrecht, 2009.

Calcani, Giuliana, and Maamoun Abdulkarim. Apollodorus of Damascus and Trajan's column:

from tradition to project. L'Erma di Bretschneider, 2003.

Claridge, Amanda. "Hadrian's lost Temple of Trajan." Journal of Roman Archaeology 20 (2007):

55-94.

Hill, Philip V. "Some architectural types of Trajan." The Numismatic Chronicle and Journal of

the Royal Numismatic Society 5 (1965): 155-160.

Packer, James E. "Trajan's Forum again: the Column and the Temple of Trajan in the master plan

attributed to Apollodorus (?) 1." Journal of Roman Archaeology 7 (1994): 163-182.

Prina, Francesca. Architecture: Elements, materials, form. Princeton University Press, 2008.

Rossi, Lino. Trajan's column and the Dacian wars. Cornell University Press, 1971.

Smith, Albert C., and Kendra Schank Smith. Building the Architect's Character: Explorations in

Traits. Routledge, 2017.

Woods, Ann. "ART 258 Introduction to Art History I."

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