The Column of Marcus Aurelius

In AD 176 Marcus Aurelius ordered the construction of a column to commemorate his victories over the Germans and Dacians. At the top of the column stood a statue of the emperor which was removed by the pope Sixtus V and replaced with the statue of St. Paul which stands there today. The column is hollow and contains 203 steps with 56 loopholes that look out. The loopholes have led to some instability and the column has had to undergo restoration in the past.

Aurelian Column.jpg