The 2nd-Century Relic: An Old Phocus in Rome's Roman Forum

This particular relic, known as the Column of Phocas, was built in the 2nd century, its purpose originally shrouded in mystery. It found itself transported and reused in 608 AD. The man responsible for its current placement was none other than Smaragdus, a former high-ranking official under the Eastern Roman Emperor Phocas. And here it stands, in its original location, a popular sight for artists and historians alike, depicted in countless vedute and engravings.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons