Column of Marcian, Roman memorial column in Fatih district, Turkey
The Column of Marcian is a Roman memorial standing ten meters high, carved from grey Egyptian granite with a base set in white marble slabs and decorated medallions. The upper section features carefully positioned victory goddesses flanking a shield that bears the IX monogram, displaying the craftsmanship of a formally structured commemorative monument.
The monument was constructed between 450 and 452 CE by city prefect Tatianus to honor Emperor Marcian, who ruled the Eastern Roman Empire until 457. It was erected during a period when Constantinople was consolidating its status as the empire's principal capital.
The monument displays IX monograms within its decorative medallions and two victory goddesses holding a shield, which inspired its Turkish name Kiztas, meaning Girl Column. Local residents have long associated the structure with these female protective figures when navigating the historic urban landscape.
The monument sits within a lively neighborhood and is easily reached on foot from nearby Aksaray Square or through the adjacent streets of the old city. Visiting during daylight hours allows better viewing of the carved details and inscriptions on the stone.
The original north-south alignment of the capital allowed the now-lost statue of the emperor to face the nearby Church of the Holy Apostles. This deliberate positioning reveals how monuments were once integrated into Constantinople's sacred geography.
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