The "Column of the Goths" and Its Place in Constantine's New Capital

Abstract:

The column monument in Istanbul's Gülhane Park, commonly known by its colloquial name "column of the Goths," bears a well-known inscription on its pedestal which states that this monument was dedicated to Fortuna Redux on the occasion of a Roman victory over the Goths. The monument, however, has not attracted much scholarly attention, probably because no consensus has yet been reached regarding its date. An inspection of the inscription in Gülhane Park and a fresh analysis of its text suggest that the emperor Constantine erected the "column of the Goths" in the context of the formal dedication of his new capital in 330 as a memorial for his victory over the Goths in 328 or 329. The monument highlights Constantinople's extraordinary political nature as more than just another imperial residence in the style of the tetrarchy. It bears witness to the emperor's efforts to give Constantinople the status of a second Rome as well as his determination, above all else, to establish his city as the home of triumphant victories. Moreover, the monument's dedication to Fortuna Redux, is another token of Constantine's at least partially ambiguous religious policy, which allowed traditional symbols to be visible in his new capital of Constantinople.