Column of Marcus Aurelius

monument, Rome, Italy

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June 30, 2026

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The Column of Marcus Aurelius is a monument located in Rome, Italy. It is a Roman Doric order column, standing 125 feet (38 meters) high, including its pedestal. The column is adorned with a continuous spiral band of low-relief sculpture that depicts Emperor Marcus Aurelius's campaigns against Danubian tribes. Inside the column, a spiral staircase winds its way up. Originally, a statue of Marcus Aurelius topped the column, which was later replaced by a statue of St. Peter. This monument is a significant example of Roman narrative art, showcasing detailed scenes of warfare and imperial achievements.123

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Rome
Churches and palaces
The column of Marcus Aurelius, with reliefs showing his victory over Danubian tribes, was preserved from the assorted Christian looters of Rome because it was the property of a religious order. In the square around the column, the Piazza Colonna, are the Palazzo Chigi (1562), for…
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The column of Marcus Aurelius, with reliefs showing his victory over Danubian tribes, was preserved from the assorted Christian looters of Rome because it was the property of a religious order. In the square around the column, the Piazza Colonna, are the Palazzo Chigi (1562), for…
Read More

Western sculpture
Antonine and Severan periods
…about 20 years later on Marcus Aurelius’s Column. Eleven rectangular sculptured panels—similar to those on the Arch of Trajan at Beneventum but displaying greater crowding of figures, livelier movement, and a pronounced effect of atmosphere and depth—depict official occasions and ceremonies in the career of Marcus. Three of these are…
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…about 20 years later on Marcus Aurelius’s Column. Eleven rectangular sculptured panels—similar to those on the Arch of Trajan at Beneventum but displaying greater crowding of figures, livelier movement, and a pronounced effect of atmosphere and depth—depict official occasions and ceremonies in the career of Marcus. Three of these are…
Read More