Serpentine Column and the Constantine Column
The Serpentine Column, also known as Plataean Tripod, is one of the most ancient columns made of bronze. Constantine the Great brought to Istanbul from the temple of Apollo (Delphi), Greece where it was originally erected way back in 479 B.C. This 8 m high column with serpent heads was quite intact till the 17th century.
Serpintine Column in Sultanahmet (Hippodrome) istanbul old city
This ancient piece of Greek antiquity is believed to have the longest literary history, probably more than 2.487 years old. Originally, this ancient column was an offering or a trophy made in 478 BC to the Apollo at Delphi comprising of a golden bowl and a golden tripod. The offering was made following the victory of the Greeks over the Persians in the Battle of Plataea to pay respect to Apollo for this stupendous win.
The original bronze column has names of 31 Greek cities inscribed on its base. These were the cities that took part in the battle against the Persians. There column also had a gold pot on the heads of the snakes. Although, originally, the Serpent Column was nearly 8 m in height, now, just 5.30 m survives. The Serpent Column was brought in the 4th century AD to the city of Constantinople (now Istanbul) by Constantine the Great for decorating the Hippodrome. It was placed at Delphi just near the Altar
Herodotus had stated in his Histories that in 479 B.C.E., following the end of the Battle of Plataea, “...when all the treasure had been collected, they reserved a tenth of it for the god of Delphi, a tenth for the god of Olympia, and a tenth for the god of the Isthmus. From the first tenth was dedicated a golden tripod which sits on the bronze three-headed serpent very close to the altar..." 4.
The Serpent Column happens to be not just the most ancient but also the most referenced artifacts of the history. Some of the prominent writers who referred to this great artifact include Herodotus, Edward Gibbon, Thucydides and Pausania the traveler.
There are a number of stories revealing the story of how actually the heads of this Serpent Column were broken from the column with one of the stories saying that it was Mehmed II who broke the column as he entered the city. According to yet another story, the Latin crusaders took away the golden tripod along with numerous works of art along with them following the sacking of the city of Constantinople. Meanwhile, one can still see one of the heads of the serpent preserved in the Archeological Museum of Sultanahmet.
Constantine Column (Cemberlitas Column) was also brought by Constantinus I from the Temple of Apollo between the period 325-328 AD. Erected just in the centre of Forum Constantini and located on a hill in the city, this column is a symbol of the end of the tradition of Pagans on the lands of Byzantine.
Although, originally this column was nearly 35 m in height. However, following its devastation due to extreme weather and fires over the years, this column was re-enforced with iron rings by Sultan Mustafa II. The restoration work of this column is underway with the Metropolitan Municipality.