Column of Marcus Aurelius

A 30-metre Doric column erected around 193 AD, modeled directly on Trajan's, and depicting Marcus Aurelius's German and Sarmatian wars in continuous spiral relief. The reliefs are deeper-cut and more emotionally charged than Trajan's — reflecting the harder, more anxious tone of the late 2nd century — and include the famous 'Rain Miracle' scene that early Christians later claimed as divine intervention. The bronze emperor on top was replaced by a statue of Saint Paul in 1589 by Pope Sixtus V.