<P> Veristic portrait bust of an old man, head covered (capite velato), either a priest or paterfamilias (marble, mid-1st century BC) </P> <P> Traditional Roman sculpture is divided into five categories: portraiture, historical relief, funerary reliefs, sarcophagi, and copies of ancient Greek works . Contrary to the belief of early archaeologists, many of these sculptures were large polychrome terra - cotta images, such as the Apollo of Veii (Villa Givlia, Rome), but the painted surface of many of them has worn away with time . </P> <P> While Greek sculptors traditionally illustrated military exploits through the use of mythological allegory, the Romans used a more documentary style . Roman reliefs of battle scenes, like those on the Column of Trajan, were created for the glorification of Roman might, but also provide first - hand representation of military costumes and military equipment . Trajan's column records the various Dacian wars conducted by Trajan in what is modern day Romania . It is the foremost example of Roman historical relief and one of the great artistic treasures of the ancient world . This unprecedented achievement, over 650 foot of spiraling length, presents not just realistically rendered individuals (over 2,500 of them), but landscapes, animals, ships, and other elements in a continuous visual history--in effect an ancient precursor of a documentary movie . It survived destruction when it was adapted as a base for Christian sculpture . During the Christian era after 300 AD, the decoration of door panels and sarcophagi continued but full - sized sculpture died out and did not appear to be an important element in early churches . </P> <P> The Romans inherited a tradition of art in a wide range of the so - called "minor arts" or decorative art . Most of these flourished most impressively at the luxury level, but large numbers of terracotta figurines, both religious and secular, continued to be produced cheaply, as well as some larger Campana reliefs in terracotta . Roman art did not use vase - painting in the way of the ancient Greeks, but vessels in Ancient Roman pottery were often stylishly decorated in moulded relief . Producers of the millions of small oil lamps sold seem to have relied on attractive decoration to beat competitors and every subject of Roman art except landscape and portraiture is found on them in miniature . </P>

One of romes most famous narrative art monuments is