Apollodorus of Damascus

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Apollodorus of Damascus was a Greek or Syrian engineer, architect, designer and sculptor who flourished during the 2nd century AD. He was born in Damascus, Roman Syria, and was a favourite of Trajan, for whom he constructed Trajan's Bridge over the Danube for the 104 campaign in Dacia. He also designed the Forum Trajanum and Trajan's Column within the city of Rome, beside several smaller projects. Apollodorus also designed the triumphal arches of Trajan at Beneventum and Ancona. He is also widely credited as the architect of the Pantheon, and cited as the builder of the Alconétar Bridge in Spain.

Trajan's Column, in the centre of the Forum, is celebrated as being the first triumphal monument of its kind. On the accession of Hadrian, whom he had offended by ridiculing his performances as architect and artist, Apollodorus was banished and, shortly afterwards, being charged with imaginary crimes, put to death (Dio Cassius lxix. 4). He also wrote a treatise on Siege Engines (Πολιορκητικά), which was dedicated to Hadrian.

Notes

References

• James Grout: 'Apollodorus of Damascus,' part of the Encyclopædia Romana

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