Page:Three Years in Europe.djvu/370

328 of single pieces of granite 5 feet in diameter and 46 feet in height. The interior is a perfect circle, 142 feet in diameter. It was converted into a Christian church under Emperor Phocas in the seventh century, and to this fact it owes its complete preservation. Raphael, the prince of painters, is buried here. The last interment in the Pantheon of Rome was of King Victor Emanuel II.

Trajan's column stands in the place known as Trajan's Forum, strewn with nameless pillars and shapeless ruins. The column stands however entire and uninjured, probably because it was taken under the protection of the church, and Trajan's figure on the top has been supplanted by a figure of St. Peter! The column is 141 feet high and consists of 23 blocks of Carrara marble with a series of bas reliefs spirally arranged and representing the wars of Trajan against the Dacians, and comprising about 2,500 human figures, all in the dresses and costumes then in vogue. Antonine's column is a similar one, consisting of 28 blocks of marble, and is of the same height as Trajan's. Though known as Antonine's Column it is proved by an inscription found near it to have been erected by Aurelius. The statue on the top is now supplanted by that of St. Peter. Napoleon's column Vendome in Paris, constructed out of the metal of 1,200 pieces of cannon captured by him in battles, is in imitation of these ancient Roman pillars, as Napoleon's triumphal arches are imitations of the Roman arches.