The Column of Shame

On the northwestern side of the forum there were two monumental columns erected in the last quarter of the 1st century,of which only one has been preserved.In medieval times it served as a «column of shame».From that time there are chains and a relief plate decorated with stone interlace,as well as a stone griffin (eagle-lion) on top of the column.

The relief which was made from Proconese marble (a quarry on the shores of the Sea of Marmara near todays Istanbul),belonged to the front part of an ancient sarcophagus with a series of arcades from the 3rd or 4th century,and afterwards in the 9th century a cross was made in low relief with two small trees and a six-pointed star which was framed by a three-ply plait.On its surface written sentences were attached to those who served their punishment on the column.

* More information in the audio guide