The Column of Marcus Aurelius

The Column of Marcus Aurelius   was built to commemorate the Emperor Marcus Aurelius's wars (2nd century A.D.) against various Germanic tribes. The column is similar to Trajan's column which predates it.  The Aurelian column has a hollow core with stairs leading to the top.  It is covered with reliefs showing  scenes from the wars.  These scenes spiral to the top of the column.  The statue of Marcus Aurelius that once topped the spire was replaced with that of St. Paul during renovations in the 16th century.

The column is the centerpiece of the Piazza Colonna.

Marcus Aurelius is remembered as leading Rome in what has been called its 'Golden Age".  While the king was a fierce warrior, he was also a noted philosopher. He was eventually killed during a military expedition and the monument was commissioned in his honor by his son, Commodus. 

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