istanbul - C2C

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of serpents coiled over each other and
at the top each serpent’s head was
separated to form a tripod to hold
a vessel where an eternal flame
was kept burning for the memory
of the war. The vessel had long
disappeared and the serpent
heads collapsed. The reason why
Constantine brought the monument
to İstanbul is interesting. The
widespread belief of the period was
that the monument, consisting of
serpents, had a mystical power to
keep İstanbul safe from snakes
and vermin infestation. While the
serpents’ necks and heads have
not survived to our day, part
of one head was found during
excavations and can be seen
at the İstanbul Archaeological
Museums.
Obelisk
The Örme Sütun (Walled
Obelisk) is the last of the
extant monuments. It was
commissioned by the Emperor
Constantine VII in 944, and, as its
name suggests, it was made of
courses of masonry. When it was
completed it supported a bronze
sphere, and the marks of fixing
studs in the masonry indicate
that the obelisk was fully clad
with bronze plaques depicting
the wars of Emperor Basileus
I of Macedonia. During the
Latin occupation between 1204
and 1261 those plaques were
removed and melted down to
make weapons, bronze goods
and to mint money.