The column was built between 180 CE, the year the Roman philosopher-emperor Marcus Aurelius died, and 193 CE. They have also found that unsuitable materials used in 19th-century restorations compromised the fragile Carrara marble. Marcus Aurelius appears repeatedly. In 1589, the original statue of Marcus Aurelius on top of the column was replaced with a bronze statue of St. Paul. The laser restoration is scheduled for completion in early 2026.

Source: CNN December 28, 2025 02:24 UTC