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The
Column of Phocas was the last monument to be built in the Forum (dedicated
on the 1st of August AD 608), and even then, the column itself was already
standing, and only a statue of Phocas was placed at the top with a new
inscription below. The inscription reads "Zmaragdus has placed
a gilt statue of his emperor on the top of this sublime column"
(taken
from Lanciani, p262). The
column itself therefore belonged to an earlier construction possibly
from the 2nd century AD. It does provide us with a good example of the
appearance of the honourific columns that had filled the Forum from
the time of Gaius Maenius in 338 BC. Phocas was a Byzantine Emperor
who assassinated his way to the top. Unfortunately for him, so did his
successor.
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