Lectures on Trajan's Column And the Architect Behind It ,Apollodorus of Damascus

Book excerpt: The book is an anthology of papers written on the bas-relief sculpture, containing original observations and collected during the 1981-1988 restoration, when it was possible to examine close up all the scenes on the frieze, as never before. Curator of the work is Cinzia Conti, restorer and archaeologist, who was involved in the direction of the restoration, undertaken under Law March 23, 1981 no. 92 Urgent Measures for the Protection of the archaeological Heritage of Rome. The book is presented by the then head of the archaeology department, Adriano La Regina, who was responsible for the entire program. The splendour of the sculptured surface and vividness of the scenes are a testimony to the enduring effectiveness of the restoration. Many of the writings have already been presented at conferences and published, thus verified by the international community. Collected together in this book, they are complemented by a new concluding paper.