Summary: Inspired by the column designed for the emperor Trajan about seventy years earlier by the famous architect Apollodorus of Damascus, the Column of Marcus Aurelius remains a point of reference for visitors to the historic centre of Rome, still standing today in its original location and still fulfilling the wishes of its designers and builders. A hundred feet high and completely covered by a carved frieze in Luni marble, the column must have looked an imperious sight to those who entered Rome by the Via Flaminia, today's Via del Corso. Its clearly commemorative purpose and its style, expertly described by Ranuccio Bianchi Bandinelli as "rich in projections and chiaroscuro effects produced by deeply drilled holes", make it a valuable example of the initial phase of an artistic period called "Late Antiquity", a delicate transition phase which heralded a new historical period for the Roman Empire, open to a wealth of different influences that were no longer tied exclusively to classical traditions. The workmanship of the Antonine craftsmen and the quality of the materials and construction techniques have given us a monument that has stood the test of time, withstanding the elements and even numerous and violent earthquakes - such as those of 443 AD, 508 AD, and the terrible earthquake of 1349 - traces of which can be seen in sixteenth century prints which show deeps cracks in the structure, such as to require urgent repairs carried out by Domenico Fontana. The next round of repair work started in 1981, offering specialists and the scientific community as a whole a privileged opportunity for study and careful observation, of which this book is a qualified documentary extension. It brings together for the first time, elegantly laid out, the whole corpus of drawings made during the survey and study of the column, carried out between 1981 and 1996, thus constituting a valuable document for the analysis and scientific investigation of one of the most remarkable symbols of antiquity.

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