Column of Marcian

The Column of Marcian rises ten meters above the street, identifiable by its shaft of red-gray Egyptian granite topped with a Corinthian capital decorated with eagles. Erected between four hundred fifty and four hundred fifty-two by the city prefect Tatianus, this monument originally carried a bronze statue of the Emperor Marcian at its summit. While the statue disappeared centuries ago, the marble pedestal remains at the base, featuring carvings of winged victories and monograms that still catch the eye of passersby.