Serpent Column
Serpent Column in Sultanahmet Square, Istanbul, Turkey
The Serpent Column is located in Sultanahmet Square, in the historic center of Istanbul, where the Hippodrome of Constantinople stood during the Byzantine era. Today, it is one of the few ancient monuments in the square that can be seen directly in the urban setting, next to other well-known attractions of the district.
The monument is connected with the events of the Greco-Persian Wars. It was made in the 5th century BC as part of a dedication at the sanctuary of Apollo in Delphi after the victory of the Greek city-states at Plataea. The column consisted of three intertwined bronze serpents, and an inscription with the names of the cities that took part in the alliance against Persia was carved on its surface.
Later, the column was transported to Constantinople and installed on the central axis of the Hippodrome. The original top of the monument has not survived, nor have almost all of the serpent heads, so today visitors mainly see the twisted bronze shaft. One fragment of a head is kept in the Istanbul Archaeological Museums.
The Serpent Column is of particular interest because it connects ancient Greece, Roman-Byzantine Constantinople, and modern Istanbul in one small monument. It is usually viewed during a walk around Sultanahmet Square together with the Obelisk of Theodosius, the German Fountain, and the Blue Mosque.
Serpent Column on the map
The Serpent Column in Sultanahmet: history and visit
A short stop on the route through the monuments of Sultanahmet.
An ancient bronze monument on the axis of the former Hippodrome
Today, the Serpent Column looks more modest than it did in antiquity, but that is precisely what makes it especially interesting for a careful look. The monument has preserved its spiral bronze base, formed by the bodies of three serpents. If you come closer, you can examine the shape of the coils and imagine how tall the original composition with its lost upper part once was.
The column stands in the open air, so it is easy to include in a short walk around Sultanahmet. Visitors usually stop here briefly to view the ancient monuments of the former Hippodrome and compare them with the later architecture around the square. This place is especially interesting for those who want to see not a museum exhibit, but an authentic ancient object in its historic urban setting.
Nearby are the Obelisk of Theodosius, the Column of Constantine, the Blue Mosque, and Hagia Sophia, so viewing the column can easily be combined with visiting the main sights of the district. A fragment of one of the serpent heads can be seen separately in the Istanbul Archaeological Museums.
The easiest way to get there is by T1 tram to the “Sultanahmet” stop, from where the monument is a few minutes away on foot. The square is open for free access, and the column can be viewed at any time during a walk through the city center.
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