A dictionary of Greek and Roman . der Baukunst. It only remains to mention some other uses ofcolumns, besides their ordinary employment forsupporting buildings either within or without. Columns in long rows were used to conveywater in aqueducts (Crates, ap. vi. 94) ;and single pillars were fixed in harbours for moor-ing ships. (Od. xxii. 466.) Some of these arefound yet standing. Single columns were also erected to commemo-rate persons or events. Among these, some of themost remarkable were the columnae rostratae,called by that name because three ship-beaks pro-ceeded fro
A dictionary of Greek and Roman . der Baukunst. It only remains to mention some other uses ofcolumns, besides their ordinary employment forsupporting buildings either within or without. Columns in long rows were used to conveywater in aqueducts (Crates, ap. vi. 94) ;and single pillars were fixed in harbours for moor-ing ships. (Od. xxii. 466.) Some of these arefound yet standing. Single columns were also erected to commemo-rate persons or events. Among these, some of themost remarkable were the columnae rostratae,called by that name because three ship-beaks pro-ceeded from each side of them, and designed torecord successful engagements at sea (Virg. 29 ; Servius, ad loc). The most importantand celebrated of those which yet remain, is oneerected in honour of the consul C. Duillius, onoccasion of his victory over the Carthaginian fleet,B. C. 261 (see the annexed woodcut). It wasoriginally placed in the forum (Plin. H. N. xxxiv„11), and is now preserved in the museum of theY 4 323 COLUMNARIUM. capitol. The inscription upon it, in great parteffaced, is written in obsolete Latin, similar tothat of the Twelve Tables. (Quinctil. i. 7.)When statues were raised to ennoble victors atthe Olympic and other games, or to commemoratepersons who had obtained any high distinction, thetribute of public homage was rendered still morenotorious and decisive by fixing their statues uponpillars. They thus appeared, as Pliny observes(H. IV. xxxiv. 12), to be raised above othermortals. But columns were much more commonly usedto commemorate the dead. For this purpose theyvaried in size, from the plain marble pillar bearinga simple Greek inscription (Leon. Tarent. in i. 239) to those lofty and elaborate columnswhich are now among the most wonderful and in-structive monuments of ancient Rome. Thecolumn on the right hand in the last woodcutexhibits that which the senate erected to thehonour of the Emperor Trajan, and crowned withhis colossal st
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