Column of Marcus Aurelius
The Column of Marcus Aurelius is a Roman Doric triumphal column standing in Piazza Colonna in the heart of Rome. Modelled closely on Trajan’s Column, it was erected to commemorate the emperor’s military campaigns against Germanic and Sarmatian tribes along the Danube frontier. A spiral relief frieze nearly 110 metres long winds upward around its marble shaft, making it one of the most detailed narrative monuments to survive from antiquity.
At a glance
- Type
- Roman triumphal column
- Period
- Completed c. 193 AD, during the reign of Septimius Severus; commemorates Marcus Aurelius (r. 161–180 AD)
- Style
- Roman Imperial, Doric order
- Location
- Piazza Colonna, Rome, Italy — 41.9008° N, 12.4800° E
Overview
The Column of Marcus Aurelius rises approximately 29.6 metres (97 ft) on its base, reaching a total height of about 42 metres including pedestal. It is built from Luna marble drums stacked around a hollow interior staircase of 190 steps, lit by small slits in the shaft. A bronze statue of Marcus Aurelius originally crowned the column; it was replaced in 1589 by a bronze of Saint Paul commissioned by Pope Sixtus V.
History
Construction of the column began shortly after the death of Marcus Aurelius in 180 AD and was dedicated to him and his wife Faustina the Younger. It was completed under Septimius Severus around 193 AD, when a dedicatory inscription was added. The column stood in a precinct flanked by a temple to the deified emperor and colonnaded porticos, now entirely lost. Pope Sixtus V had the column restored and re-inscribed in 1589, adding the statue of Saint Paul and replacing the worn base inscription.
What you see
The continuous spiral frieze depicts the Marcomannic Wars (166–175 AD) and the Sarmatian War (177–180 AD) in two distinct narrative sequences. The carving style is notably different from Trajan’s Column — figures are larger relative to the background, compositions more dramatic, and the handling of battle scenes more brutal and emotional, prefiguring the expressionism of late antique art. The column is visible from multiple angles across the open piazza, and the base is inscribed with the 1589 Sistine restoration text.
Cultural significance
Designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site as part of the Historic Centre of Rome, the Column of Marcus Aurelius is a key document of Roman military history and Imperial propaganda. Its relief programme, studied by scholars since the Renaissance, records unit formations, river crossings, sieges, and surrender ceremonies of campaigns that extended Roman power deep into central Europe. The monument also shaped the visual language of later Christian triumphal columns and pillar saints.
Practical information
The column stands in Piazza Colonna, an open public square in central Rome, visible at all hours. The interior staircase is not open to the general public. Nearby landmarks include the Palazzo Chigi (the Italian Prime Minister’s residence) and the Palazzo di Montecitorio. Check the Comune di Roma website for any temporary access restrictions around the piazza.
Getting there
The nearest metro station is Spagna (Line A), approximately 10 minutes on foot. Several bus lines stop on Via del Corso and Via del Tritone nearby. The column is a short walk from the Trevi Fountain and the Pantheon, making it easily incorporated into any central Rome itinerary.