Column of Marcus Aurelius

The Colonna di Marco Aurelio (Column of Marcus Aurelius) is situated in Rome in front of Palazzo Chigi. It also gives its name to the square on which it rises: Piazza Colonna.

It was built between 180 and 196, after the death of Marco Aurelio, so as to celebrate his victories over the populations situated along the Danube: Sarmatians and Germans.

It took example from the Colonna di Traiano, but it was realised in the plebian style which was considered less refined and which, in those years, was substituting the noble and classical styles.

The basement carries an inscription wanted by Sisto V. It bears a wrong dedication to Antonino Pio.

The column alone is about 30 metres high and is formed of Carrara marble rocks which are hollowed out so as to form the winding staircase of 203 steps which take to the "small terrace" situated on the top and which closes the doric-style capital.

Along the column there are images of the Emperor, as well as the gatherings of soldiers around the Emperor in a semi-circle, almost a premonition of what would later happen with Christ and his Apostles.