Column of Arcadius, Victory column in Cerrahpaşa, Turkey.
The Column of Arcadius is a monument with a massive marble base consisting of multiple stacked layers and decorated with carved relief panels. These reliefs depict military campaigns against the Goths in ancient Constantinople.
Construction of this monument began in 401 CE and was completed in 421 CE. It was built to commemorate the military victories of Emperor Arcadius against Gothic forces.
The spiral reliefs tell stories of military triumphs through detailed stone carvings that follow Roman custom in honoring emperors through grand structures. These carved scenes reflect the skill of the craftsmen who created this monumental work.
The monument stands on the seventh hill of Constantinople, known as Xerolophos, and the surviving base structure is about 11 meters (36 feet) tall. The site is located in modern Istanbul and is accessible on foot.
A bronze statue of Emperor Arcadius once crowned the 40-meter (131-foot) tall monument until an earthquake in 740 CE toppled it. Today only the massive base remains standing as a reminder of its former grandeur.
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