Bravură sau „război psihologic”? Romanii și „vânătoarea de capete” reflectată pe columna lui Traian
Bravery or “Psychological Warfare”? The Romans and the “Headhunting” Represented on the Trajan’s Columnn

Summary/Abstract: Often presented in the Romantic historiography as a “politically correct” army, the Romans had shown several times that in terms of cruelty had elevated themselves to the level of those populations considered as “barbarians”. The Trajan’s Column presents seven of this kind of scenes. The image of headhunting Roman army, especially legionaries (who were Roman citizens) was hardly accepted by the 19th and 20th century historiography: many authors considered that this kind of excesses were committed especially by auxiliary units (who were not so civilized) and, just in some extreme instances by legionaries who were enraged by the killing of their comrades. The headhunting scenes from the Column may represent three aspects: personal bravery honoured by the emperor, “psychological warfare” or an institutionalized element from a class of warriors although Romans by uniforms still “barbarians” by behaviour: the auxiliaries. However, it may be the scenes are presented with realism and a certain pride as an aspect of a gruesome war.

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