Column of Marcus Aurelius, Victory column in Piazza Colonna, Rome, Italy
The Column of Marcus Aurelius is a marble victory monument standing in Piazza Colonna in the historic center of Rome. The structure rises about 30 meters high (roughly 100 feet) and features continuous spiral reliefs carved with military campaigns across more than 100 scenes.
Emperor Commodus commissioned the monument between 180 and 193 CE to honor his father's victories against Germanic tribes and Sarmatian peoples. The work likely began shortly after the death of Marcus Aurelius and served to legitimize the new rule.
The relief bands show scenes of soldiers crossing the Danube River and fighting northern tribes. Visitors can also spot the depiction of a rain that saved the Roman army from thirst and was interpreted as divine intervention.
Access to the interior spiral staircase with 203 steps is generally not available to the public, but the reliefs can be viewed closely from outside. The best time to visit is early morning or late afternoon, when daylight brings out the details in the carved scenes.
Domenico Fontana replaced the original bronze figure of the emperor with a statue of Saint Paul in 1589, which still stands on top today. The head of Marcus Aurelius was discovered under a nearby church in the 16th century and later moved to a museum.
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