Maps • Istanbul • Landmarks, attractions

Column of Constantine

Rating 5.0
203 ratings
Istanbul, Fatih, Yenicheriler Avenue, 2/1

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Istanbul, Fatih, Yenicheriler Avenue, 2/1
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Panorama
Rating 5.0
203 ratings
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Level 20 Local Expert
March 11
An outwardly unremarkable fragment of antiquity: it's scary to even imagine how much this column has survived. The Column of Constantine, also known as the Porphyry Column or Conchesme. This is an ancient monument of the Byzantine era, which was erected in honor of Emperor Constantine the Great in the IV century AD. The column was erected in 330 AD, when Constantine the Great proclaimed Byzantium the new capital of the Roman Empire, renaming the city Constantinople. This monument symbolized the greatness of the new city and the power of the emperor. Initially, the column was decorated with a statue of Constantine himself, depicted as Apollo holding the globe. The statue was destroyed. The column is made of porphyry, a rare purple stone that was used in Roman and Byzantine times to build important structures. Its height was about 50 meters, but now it is only 35 meters. There are several legends associated with the column. According to one of them, sacred relics such as parts of the Holy Cross and nails with which Jesus Christ was crucified were kept inside the column. Another legend says that if a person walks around the column three times counterclockwise, then his wish will come true. Istanbul's main attractions are nearby: Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace, Cistern Basilica…
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4
Level 10 Local Expert
April 27
Column of Constantine on Hippodrome Square. It was built at the behest of Emperor Constantine VII, who had the nickname Porphyrogennet (Porphyrogenitus), in honor of the memory of his grandfather Emperor Basil I. It stood in the very center of the Hippodrome and was originally covered with copper. In 1204, after the Crusaders invaded and created the Latin Empire, the copper coating of the column was destroyed, and coins were minted from it. In 1894, Constantine's column was severely damaged by an earthquake.
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Level 11 Local Expert
October 13, 2024
The column impresses with its durability. Of course, it was restored many times, even rebuilt in the end, the namesake statue left the pedestal. But this did not diminish the coolness, I like coming to chamberlitash, to stand for a while and think about human deeds and about the future fate. And the column is also a good location for meeting waifs.
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3