Overview:

The Marcus Aurelius Column is a Roman monument in the Piazza Colonna in Rome, Italy. The column is approximately 28 m (92 ft) high and is made of marble. It was commissioned by Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius in 180 AD, to honor his campaigns in Germania, Sarmatia, and Dacia. The column has had a turbulent history since its construction due to damage, theft and destruction. Today, it is one of the few monuments in Rome that predates the Middle Ages and serves as a symbol of Roman imperial power. It is one of the most beautiful monuments in Italy
Prominent Features:

The iconic Marcus Aurelius Column in Rome is a remarkable monument that stands as a symbol of the legacy of the Roman Empire. It is a spiral column which is made of beautifully carved, polished red granite and stands 30 metres high. This column is a representation of the emperor Marcus Aurelius's victory over the Germanic army in the Marcomannic Wars of 180 to 185 AD. It commemorates all the battles Marcus Aurelius fought and links together his two most influential works - Meditations and the Antonine Constitution. The design of the entire column was modeled after Trajan’s Column, and it contains over fifteen hundred reliefs which illustrate scenes from the campaign of Marcus Aurelius in addition to a bronze statue of the emperor himself. This monument is a tribute to the emperor's ambition, success, and leadership. You can learn history, culture, and heritage through these magnificent monuments in Italy.

History:

The Marcus Aurelius Column is a Roman victory monument in Rome, Italy, located in the Piazza Colonna. The column was built between A.D 180-192 in honor of the Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius to commemorate his campaigns against the Germanic tribes. It is made from 19 drums of Carrara marble and is 30 meters tall. It is the oldest existing free-standing Roman triumphal column. The original column was sculpted with reliefs of Marcus Aurelius’ victorious campaigns, however much of these were destroyed during the Middle Ages. In 1701 Pope Innocent XII commissioned an Italian artist, Piranesi, to create copies of the reliefs using ancient models. The column is topped with a statue of the emperor in his armor and a horse-drawn chariot. The Marcus Aurelius Column has been used as a symbol of Roman dominance for centuries. After Mussolini's March on Rome in 1922, it was adopted by the Fascist Italian government as a symbol of their power and resurgence. It was used in propaganda posters and on banners and was featured prominently in the annual celebration of Roman Day, Festa de-Roma. Despite its iconography in Fascist Italy, today the Marcus Aurelius Column symbolizes peace and strength. It is considered a symbol of the continuity of Rome throughout its history and is a popular tourist attraction with thousands of visitors every year. It is also seen as a reminder of the transience of time and of human life. Visit one of the famous monuments of Italy with your friends and family.

Interesting facts:

1. The Marcus Aurelius Column stands as one of the greatest monuments of Ancient Rome. It was erected in honour of Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius, in c. 180AD, to celebrate his victory over the Germanic Marcomanni and Quadi tribes. 2. The reliefs that wrap around the column depict the wars that Marcus Aurelius fought in. These scenes include a number of different soldiers in different positions, as well as mythical figures such as Hercules and Mars. 3. The column stands at 24m tall, and Marcus Aurelius is portrayed at the very top. He is surrounded by seven shields and six golden stars. 4. The column is made of 19 slabs of red granite, quarried from the Aswan region of modern-day Egypt. It is thought that over 400 slaves may have worked on the construction of the column. 5. In 1588, Pope Sixtus V commissioned the famous Italian sculptor, Domenico Fontana, to restore the column. Fontana added a spiral staircase at the base that allows visitors to climb to the top. 6. The column is located in the Piazza Colonna, near the Palazzo Chigi in Rome, Italy. One of the historical monuments of Italy, it tells the story of a bygone era