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Again, it should be repeated that the detail of Trajan’s Column is often considered a little vague and at odds with actual items recovered from archaeological sites. In reality, carrying poles may have looked different from what we see on the column. There is some circumstantial evidence for carrying poles from non military contexts. Occasional frescoes showing travellers with packs, not dissimilar to that on the Trajan’s Column can be cited. None that we have seen demonstrate any clear evidence of a cross pole. Similarly, there are depictions of labourers carrying loads within baskets suspended on carrying poles, again lacking cross poles. |
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Marching packs from Trajan’s Column. The horizontal element at the top has been frequently reconstructed as wooden cross bars. It should be clear from these images that they are not straight bars, and are not the same thickness as the pole. |
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A reconstruction by Leg II Avg, using leather strapping as suspension(left) |
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A fresco representing a traveller from Pompeii. The individual is clearly using a carrying pole to support a bundle over his shoulder (right) |