Column of the Goths

We are looking at the oldest monument that has not undergone any changes from the Roman period to the present day, the Column of the Goths.

The Column of the Goths, which is 18.5 meters high, is hidden among the tall trees surrounding it in the outer garden of Topkapı Palace, at the Sarayburnu entrance of Gülhane Park. The capital of the column, made of a single block of Prokonnessos marble, is decorated with an eagle coat of arms in the Corinthian style. This eagle coat of arms symbolizes that the state and the church are held and governed by a single body. The 6th century historian Ionnes of Lydia claims that the capital of the column was originally a statue of Tyche, the Greek Goddess of Luck and Fortune, and that since Tyche was a pagan goddess, it was removed after Christianity became the official religion.

The Latin inscription on the base of the column reads "To Fortuna, who returned after the defeat of the Goths" and its name comes from this. According to general belief, today's inscription is from the time of II. It tells the story of Claudius' victory over the Goths, while another view is that it was built to commemorate Constantine I's victories over the Gothic tribes in 331-332.

Photo Source: https://tr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gotlar_S%C3%BCtunu