Temple of Trajan. On the farther side of the Baislica stood a large octastyle temple dedicated to Trajan by Hadrian with a peribolus surrounded with columns; foundations of this building and some of its immense granite columns have been found at various times, while excavating for the walls or cellars of houses on the north-west of the modern piazza; it is shown on coins of Hadrian. The plan on fig. 52 shows the position of the Temple of Trajan.

The space excavated in the modern piazza includes part of the Basilica, with a small portion of one side of the Forum, the greater part of which is still buried under several adjoining blocks of houses. Most of what is visible has unhappily been much flasified by restoration; none of the stumps of the granite columns are in situ, and the whole result is thoroughly misleading.

What, however, is genuine is a great extent of the paving of the Basilica, with fine slabs of whie marble, raised about 3 feet above the level of the adjoining Forum, which was approached by a long flight of steps, leading down from the Basilica, with a row of statues on each side; some of the pedestals of these statues still exist.

A few fine Corinthian capitals of white marble, and other architectural fragments, are lying in the excavated area. There are also seven or eight much mutilated colossal statues of Dacian and other barbarian captives, similar to those which were taken hence and set on the Arch of Constantine.

John Henry Middleton, The Remains of Ancient Rome (London: Adam and Charles Black, 1892), 29.