Column of Arcadius

Why did the triumphal Column of Arcadius celebrate a joint victory with his brother, when the battle was fought solely in the East? The Column of Arcadius, a towering monument in ancient Constantinople, held a fascinating story carved into its very stone. Erected in the Forum of Arcadius on the Seventh Hill of Constantinople, this column was meant to immortalize Emperor Arcadius’s victory over the Goths led by Gainas. Construction began after 401, intending to showcase the emperor’s might. However, fate had other plans. Arcadius died in 408, yet the column wasn’t completed until 421. This delay led to the forum and its majestic column sometimes being referred to by the name of Arcadius’s son and successor, Theodosius II. The Column of Arcadius was a marvel, inspired by the earlier Column of Constantine. Its shaft, decorated with a spiralling frieze, depicted the events of the Gothic war. Atop stood a colossal statue of Arcadius, likely made of bronze. Interestingly, the pedestal reliefs depict a joint triumph with Arcadius’s brother and co-emperor, Honorius, even though the victory over Gainas was achieved in Arcadius’s eastern domain. This artistic choice highlights the intended unity of the Roman Empire, despite its administrative division. Inside the pedestal, a spiral staircase led to the summit, offering a panoramic view of the city. Sadly, time and the elements took their toll. The statue tumbled down in 740, and an earthquake in 1719 led to the column’s demolition, leaving only its base. Today, only a fragment of the Column of Arcadius remains, nestled among modern buildings in Istanbul’s Fatih district. It stands as a testament to a forgotten emperor, a vanished empire, and a victory shared in stone, even if not in reality.