Serpent Column

The Serpent Column is an ancient bronze monument originally dedicated by the Greek city-states in 478 BC after the Persian Wars and first erected at Delphi. A portion of the original column - formed of three entwined serpents - survives in Istanbul, where it was brought to Constantinople in the late Roman and early Byzantine periods.

Once topped by a golden tripod and inscriptions listing the Greek victors, the monument was moved to the Hippodrome of Constantinople and later suffered damage and loss of parts over the centuries. The remaining bronze section preserves the intertwined serpent bodies and fragments of the original inscriptions.

The column was created by the Greek allies to commemorate victory at Plataea and other Persian War engagements; it was relocated to Constantinople after the city’s founding and remained a landmark through Byzantine and Ottoman eras, undergoing various episodes of alteration and partial loss.

The surviving portion stands on the grounds of the old Hippodrome in Istanbul’s Sultanahmet district, surrounded by other monuments and close to the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia, making it easy to visit as part of the historic core of the city.

• Origins and current condition: Originally erected at Delphi in 478 BC and moved to Constantinople in the 4th century AD; today only the lower portion survives in Istanbul's historic Hippodrome area.
• Viewing note: Look for the surviving intertwined snake bodies and the inscribed base fragments near the other monuments on Sultanahmet Square for the best close-up views.