Column of Marcus Aurelius: Rome's Triumphal Monument to the Marcomannic Wars

The Column of Marcus Aurelius, a Doric structure located in Rome's Campus Martius, honors the emperor's triumphs during the Marcomannic Wars. Construction is believed to have initiated after his passing in AD 180, under the reign of his son Commodus, and may have reached completion post-AD 193 under Septimius Severus. Rising nearly 30 meters above a 10-meter base, the column is crafted from 27-28 blocks of Carrara marble, each approximately four meters in diameter, featuring a hollow staircase within. While it originally showcased a statue of Marcus Aurelius, it now displays a 16th-century statue of St Paul. The helical frieze illustrates the military campaigns, starting with the army's crossing of the Danube and highlighting the Rain Miracle of AD 173. The frieze's artistic style indicates a shift in 2nd-century Roman art, showcasing greater emphasis on battle and violence compared to Trajan's Column. In 1589, Pope Sixtus V tasked Domenico Fontana with restoring the monument, which involved excavation and statue replacement. Presently, it stands in Piazza Colonna, adjacent to the Palazzo Chigi, the Italian government's headquarters.