Photos of the Serpent Column
Serpent Column
Serpent Column - Istanbul, Turkey
The Serpent Column - one of Istanbul's oldest monuments. It stands in Sultanahmet Square, on the site of the former Hippodrome of Constantinople, in the historic center of the city. It is a rare example of a Greek trophy monument preserved outside Greece.
In 479 BC, after the Battle of Plataea, the Greeks dedicated a bronze sacrificial tripod to the god Apollo at Delphi, cast from melted-down Persian weapons. Its shaft is formed by three intertwined serpents whose heads once supported a bowl. The names of 31 coalition cities were once inscribed on the coils.
In the 4th century AD, by order of Emperor Constantine I, the column was moved to Constantinople and placed on the longitudinal axis of the Hippodrome. Over time the upper part was lost, leaving the spiral shaft; a fragment of one serpent head is kept in the Istanbul Archaeological Museum. Today the monument is accessible outdoors around the clock, with a visible height of about 5 m - part of the shaft is hidden below the level of the modern pavement; please observe protection rules and do not touch the bronze.
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The Serpent Column - one of Istanbul's oldest monuments. It stands in Sultanahmet Square, on the site of the former Hippodrome of Constantinople, in the historic center of the city. It is a rare example of a Greek trophy monument preserved outside Greece.
In 479 BC, after the Battle of Plataea, the Greeks dedicated a bronze sacrificial tripod to the god Apollo at Delphi, cast from melted-down Persian weapons. Its shaft is formed by three intertwined serpents whose heads once supported a bowl. The names of 31 coalition cities were once inscribed on the coils.
In the 4th century AD, by order of Emperor Constantine I, the column was moved to Constantinople and placed on the longitudinal axis of the Hippodrome. Over time the upper part was lost, leaving the spiral shaft; a fragment of one serpent head is kept in the Istanbul Archaeological Museum. Today the monument is accessible outdoors around the clock, with a visible height of about 5 m - part of the shaft is hidden below the level of the modern pavement; please observe protection rules and do not touch the bronze.
A rare bronze trophy of antiquity.
An ancient trophy in Sultanahmet Square
The column is also known by its Turkish name Yılanlı Sütun. It is a bronze pillar with a spiral relief; the original height including the lost upper part reached about 8 m. Today the monument stands in a low fenced recess, so the lower coils and the casting structure are clearly visible; a short information plaque is installed nearby.
At the column you can spot traces of ancient inscriptions and photograph the spiral in detail - best in soft morning or evening light. A few steps away are the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, the German Fountain and the Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts - convenient to combine into a walk around the whole square.
The easiest way to get there is by tram T1 to the Sultanahmet stop, then a 2-3 minute walk.
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