In this article we are going to delve into the topic of Column of Marcian, which has generated great interest in recent years. _Var1 is a concept that has been the subject of debate and discussion in different areas, from politics to science. Throughout history, Column of Marcian has played a fundamental role in society, shaping the way people interact with each other and the environment around them. In this sense, it is essential to understand in depth the different aspects that encompass Column of Marcian, as well as its influence on decision-making and the configuration of the reality that surrounds us. Therefore, throughout this article we will explore the different approaches and perspectives related to Column of Marcian, with the aim of shedding light on a topic that continues to arouse great interest and curiosity today.
Column of Marcian | |
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Location | Fatih, Istanbul, Turkey. |
Coordinates | 41°00′56″N 28°57′01″E / 41.01543°N 28.95030°E |
The Column of Marcian (Greek: Στήλη του Μαρκιανού, Turkish: Kıztaşı) is a Roman honorific column erected in Constantinople by the praefectus urbi Tatianus (450 – c. 452) and dedicated to the Emperor Marcian (450–57). It is located in the present-day Fatih district of Istanbul. The column is not documented in any late Roman or Byzantine source and its history has to be inferred from its location, style and dedicatory inscription.
The column is carved from red-grey Egyptian granite, in two sections. The quadrilateral basis is encased by four slabs of white marble. Three faces are decorated with IX monograms within medallions, and the fourth with two genii supporting a globe. The column is topped by a Corinthian capital, decorated with aquilae. The inscription confirms that the capital was originally surmounted by a statue of Marcian, in continuation of an imperial architectural tradition initiated by the Column of Trajan and the Column of Marcus Aurelius in Rome. The basis of the column is orientated northwest/southeast, while its capital is aligned north/south, possibly so that the statue could look towards the nearby Church of the Holy Apostles.
A Latin dedicatory inscription is engraved on the northern side of the basis. Its lettering was originally filled with bronze, which has since been removed. The inscription reads:
INCIPIS HANC STATUAM MARCIANI | CERNE TORUMQUE |
FECTUS VOVIT QUOD TATIANUS | OPUS
(Behold this statue of the princeps Marcian and its base,
a work dedicated by the prefect Tatianus.)
The Turkish name Kıztaşı, "the column of the girl" (kız: "girl" + taş: "stone"), apparently derives from the genii on the basis, which during the Ottoman period were the column's most distinguishing features (after the loss of Marcian's statue).