The column of Marcus Aurelius is one of several triumphal columns in Rome. Located in Piazza Colonna. It is a Doric column with a spiral relief – it was built in honour of Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius. But since the original dedicatory inscription has not been preserved, the unknown column was created during the reign of the Emperor, or after his death in 180. We only know that in 193 year she was already in existence.

The column of Marcus Aurelius once stood in the center of the square in the Northern part of the field of Mars. This square was located either between the temples of Hadrian and Marcus Aurelius (from the last nothing left), either within the Church of the past. Nearby is the place where the ceremony of cremation of the Emperor.

The shaft of a column reaches 29, 62 m in height and stands on a base height of slightly more than 10 m. the base is in turn initially rested on another platform height of 3 m (after restoration 1589 this platform was buried under the ground). The column itself consists of 27 or 28 blocks of Carrara marble. Inside it is hollow. Spiral relief illustrates the history Marcomannic wars in which Marcus Aurelius was involved with 166 years until his death. The story begins with the transition of the army across the Danube. The exact chronology of these events is unknown. Here you can see the plot of the so-called "miracle rain" when the gods in answer to the prayer of the Emperor of the salvation army sent a terrible storm. In the Middle ages attempts to climb the column was so popular that it even took money. However, today do that anymore.

In 1589, by order of Pope Sixtus V was carried out the restoration of the column in which it was placed a bronze statue of the Apostle Paul. During the same restoration were removed damaged relief images. Now the column of Marcus Aurelius is a Central element of the square in front of Palazzo Chigi.