Drususstein, Roman funerary monument in Mainz, Germany
The Drususstein is a roughly 20-meter-high stone structure located within the Mainz citadel and dates to the first century BC. It consists of large stone blocks stacked to form a solid funerary monument with a rectangular base.
The monument was built in 9 BC as a cenotaph honoring General Drusus, the stepson of Emperor Augustus who founded the Roman legionary camp of Mogontiacum. Its construction reflects Drusus' significance in establishing Roman control along the Rhine frontier.
The monument served as a gathering place for remembrance ceremonies and formal events that linked the Roman camp to the surrounding settlement. Its location still speaks to how the ancient world marked important figures and events through dedicated spaces.
The monument is located within the Mainz citadel and can be visited as part of a tour of the fortress grounds. Access is straightforward on foot, and the site offers clear views of the surrounding Roman settlement area.
The monument is one of only two surviving funerary structures from antiquity north of the Alps still in its original location. Its presence alongside other major Roman memorial works makes it part of a rare group of ancient monuments that have remained undisturbed for nearly two millennia.
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