Column of Marcian
The Column of Marcian (Turkish: Kıztaşı, meaning "Column of the girl") is a Roman honorific column erected in Constantinople in 455 CE dedicated to the Emperor Marcian. It is made of red-grey Egyptian granite, in two pieces. The basis is quadrilateral, formed by four slabs in white marble, decorated with Chi-Rhos inside medallions on three faces, and two genii (who account for the Turkish name of the column) holding a globe. The column is topped by a Corinthian capital (decorated with aquilas) probably a basis for a statue of Marcian in imitation of the Column of Trajan and the Column of Marcus Aurelius in Rome, which definitely were topped by statues of the emperor they commemorated.
Database entry
Another column dedicated to a forgotten Emperor – one Marcian by name, circa 455 – this fine example of a Corinthian column is still standing today, holding up nothing but the sky, a few clouds, and centuries of forgotten dreams.
Relative to other columns scattered around the city, this one is still in rather good shape.