Posted by Shazarch on 07 May 2022
Column of Marcus Aurelius
193 CE, Rome
Cultural site
The Column of Marcus Aurelius, also known as Columna Centenaria Divorum Marci et Faustinae in Latin and Colonna di Marco Aurelio in Italian, is a Doric victory column located in Piazza Colonna, Rome. Constructed from Carrara marble, it features a spiral relief and was erected in honor of Emperor Marcus Aurelius. It draws inspiration from Trajan's Column and commemorates the emperor's military campaigns during the Marcomannic Wars from 161 to 180 CE. Despite the lack of direct contemporary sources, the column's friezes provide valuable insights into Roman life and the emperor's significance. The original dedicatory inscription is lost, but evidence suggests completion by 193 CE. The column stands 29.6 meters tall on a 10.1-meter base, originally on a 3-meter platform, totaling 39.7 meters in height. It consists of 27 or 28 hollow marble blocks, each 3.7 meters in diameter, housing a 190-200 step staircase. The relief narrates non-chronological events from the Danubian wars, including the 'rain miracle in the territory of the Quadi'. The column's stylistic approach is distinct from Trajan's, emphasizing dramatic expressions and imperial authority. In the Middle Ages, climbing the column was popular, but it is no longer accessible. A restoration in 1589 by Domenico Fontana included the addition of a bronze statue of St. Paul, replacing the original of Marcus Aurelius, and new inscriptions on the base, reflecting the influence of Christianity. The column remains a central landmark in Rome, symbolizing military achievements and religious transformations.