Column of Phocas, Forum Romanum, Rome, Italy

Date

Forum: 7th century BCE-7th century CE; Column: 608 CE

Description

The Column of Phocas is located on the main square of the Forum Romanum, in front of the Rostra. It is an honorary column dedicated to the Byzantine emperor Phocas. It was erected in 608 BCE, making it the last addition to the Forum in Antiquity. The column's earlier inscription was chiseled away to make room for the dedication to Phocas. The Corinthian column is 13.6 meters high and is placed on a stepped plinth. Originally it had a gilded bronze statue of emperor Phocas on the top. The Forum Romanum was the political and economic center of Rome during the Republic_access; it held many of the central political, religious and judicial buildings in Rome. It is located in a valley between Capitoline Hill on the west, Palatine Hill on the south, the Velia on the east, and Quirinal Hill and the Esquiline Hill to the north.

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