Overview:

The Column of Phocas is a Roman monument located in the Piazza Santa Maria in Trastevere in Rome, Italy. The monument was built from white marble and erected in 608 CE by the Byzantine Emperor Phocas in honour of Pope Boniface IV. The column is well-preserved and still stands today as a tangible reminder of the long history of Roman-Byzantine relations. The column is decorated with scenes of the Last Judgement, the Ascension of Christ and the Baptism of Christ. The top of the column is adorned with a cross, while the base is decorated with a series of bas-reliefs depicting scenes from the life, reign and death of Phocas. The column is a unique monument in Rome which was likely inspired by the ancient Column of Trajan. It is one of the most beautiful monuments in Italy
Prominent Features:

1. The main entrance, known as the Portinari Chapel. 2. The pulpit, from which orations were given on political and religious occasions. 3. The Byzantine-style towers. 4. The great central dome, with its elaborate pattern of stars and animals. 5. The crypt, where the relics of Saint Phocas were preserved. 6. The marble halls, where civic ceremonies, feasts and public events were held 7. The fresco murals of prominent figures in Italian history. 8. The high staircases leading up to the balconies, from which members of royalty and the noble class could view ceremonies in the hall. 9. The ornate ceilings and mosaics crafted by the best Italian artisans. 10. The upper galleries, where choruses would perform and lead Greek Catholic services. You can learn history, culture, and heritage through these magnificent monuments in Italy.

History:

The Column of Phocas was erected in Rome in 608 AD to commemorate a victorious military campaign of the Byzantine emperor Phocas against the Lombards. It was commissioned by Pope Boniface IV and erected above the entrance to the Basilica of St. Peter in the Vatican. The column was originally constructed of gilded bronze plates, adorned with a spiral garland at its base and topped with a gilded bronze statue of the emperor. It stood as a symbol of the Byzantine domination of Rome until it was dismantled in the 16th century. In the 18th century, the Italian patriot Giuseppe Vasi rediscovered and reconstructed it in the Piazza di San Pietro, making it into a neo-classical monument. It continues to stand there today. Visit one of the famous monuments of Italy with your friends and family.

Interesting facts:

1. Phocas was an Eastern Roman (Byzantine) Emperor from 602 to 610. 2. He was born in Syria to a family of Armenian ancestry and was a centurion in the Byzantine Army. 3. He was a successful general and it is claimed that he was called upon by the dying emperor Maurice to punish the usurpers who raised up Phocas. 4. Phocas was especially popular among the Italian provinces due to his successes in military campaigns against barbarian invaders. 5. He erected the Column of Phocas in the Roman Forum in 608 to celebrate his victory over the Lombards. 6. This was the last monument built in the Forum and is now the longest standing column in Rome. 7. The base and shaft of the Column is composed of pink and white marble and the Corinthian capital is made of gilded bronze. 8. Three different inscriptions are visible at different heights on the shaft, speaking to laud Phocas and record his many battles. One of the historical monuments of Italy, it tells the story of a bygone era