During my walks around Istanbul, I constantly came across monuments of long-gone eras. One of such sights was the Column of Marcian; I saw this structure several times while exploring the area around my hotel. The column is an architectural monument of the 5th century; it was erected more than a millennium and a half ago.
History of the column
The Column of Marcian is the official name of the object. The landmark is also known as the "Maiden's Stone" (Kıztaşı). The street passing here and the square where the column stands today bear the same name.
The column was erected in honor of Emperor Marcian, with prefect Tatianus acting as the patron. The structure was built in 455. The Latin inscription on the column reads: "Behold this statue of the emperor (first citizen) Marcian, and this work, which the prefect Tatianus dedicated."
For a long time, the column was located in the garden of one of the Janissary guilds. The monument was discovered during restoration works after the fire of 1908.
The pedestal of the Column of Marcian is made of white marble; on it, you can find an image of the goddess Nike. The column's capital is of the Corinthian order. It is believed that a bronze statue of Emperor Marcian was previously installed on top, but it was likely taken to Italy in the 13th century.
Because of its name (Kıztaşı), the column was sometimes confused with the lost Column of Venus. In reality, the name came from the image of Nike. The Column of Marcian is one of four such Byzantine columns preserved in Istanbul; the others are the Column of Constantine, the Gothic Column in Gülhane Park, and the Column of Arcadius (they say on the internet that only the pedestal of the latter remains).
How to get there by subway
You can walk to the column from the "Aksaray" and "Vezneciler" metro stations. Walking routes around the city can be conveniently planned using "Google Maps". A map of many interesting places in Istanbul can be found on my website.
If you plan to add the column to your itinerary for this area, you can include the Fatih Mosque, the Valens Aqueduct, the Pantokrator Monastery, and, for example, the Şehzade Mosque in this plan.
Happy walks!
