Obelisks and columns are two of the most iconic type of structures in Rome. Obelisks are tall, slender monuments erected in Ancient Rome. Columns are large, cylindrical structures, usually made from stone and often used as a support for a structure. Did you know that Rome has the largest collection of Egyptian Obelisks in the world? Only 28 monoliths exists in the world and Rome has 15!
- Trajan’s Column – Obelisks and columns in Rome
- The Lateran Obelisk – Obelisks and columns in Rome
- The Elephant and Obelisk – Obelisks and columns in Rome
- The Macuteo Obelisk – Obelisks and columns in Rome
- The Flaminio Obelisk
- The Agonale Obelisk – Obelisks and columns in Rome
- The Obelisk of Montecitorio – Obelisks and columns in Rome
- The Marcus Aurelius Column
- Column of the Immaculate Conception
- St. Peter Square Obelisk (Obelisco di Piazza San Pietro)
- The Sallustiano Obelisk
- Obelisk of Dogali (Obelisco di Dogali)
Trajan’s Column – Obelisks and columns in Rome

Trajan’s Column is an ancient Roman column. It was constructed between 106 and 113 AD by the Roman emperor Trajan to commemorate his victory in the Dacian Wars. The column stands at a height of 30 meters and is decorated with a spiral frieze that depicts the story of Trajan’s military campaigns. The column is topped with a statue of Trajan which has since been replaced several times over the centuries. It is considered one of the greatest works of Roman Imperial art and architecture and is a popular tourist attraction in Rome today.
The Lateran Obelisk – Obelisks and columns in Rome

The Lateran Obelisk is an ancient Egyptian obelisk. It is the tallest standing obelisk in the world, standing at 75 feet (23 meters) tall. The obelisk was originally constructed at Heliopolis around 3000 BC, and moved to Rome in the 4th century AD. It is now located in the Piazza San Giovanni in Laterano, the main square of the Lateran Palace. The Lateran Obelisk is decorated with hieroglyphic inscriptions that are dedicated to the Egyptian gods Amun-Ra, Isis, and Horus.
The Elephant and Obelisk – Obelisks and columns in Rome

The Elephant and Obelisk, also known as Minerveo Obelisk, is a 17th century Baroque fountain located in the Piazza della Minerva. It consists of an Egyptian obelisk set atop a fountain featuring an elephant with an ancient-style Egyptian obelisk on its back. The elephant is made from pink marble and is said to represent the strength and wisdom of Pope Innocent X, who commissioned the fountain. The obelisk was brought from Egypt in the 16th century and is inscribed with hieroglyphics honouring the Egyptian goddess Isis.
The Macuteo Obelisk – Obelisks and columns in Rome

The Macuteo Obelisk is an ancient Egyptian-style. It stands at a height of 8.25 meters and was erected by King Ptolemy IV Philopator in the 2nd century BC to commemorate his victory at the Battle of Raphia. The obelisk is made of red granite and has hieroglyphic inscriptions on all four sides.
The Flaminio Obelisk

The Flaminio Obelisk is a large ancient Egyptian obelisk and originally it was erected in Heliopolis in the 15th century BC and was brought to Rome in 10 BC by the Roman Emperor Augustus. The obelisk stands 33.8 meters (111 feet) tall and is made of pink granite. It is decorated with hieroglyphics and displays several images of the gods of Ancient Egypt. It is located in Piazza del Popolo, one of the most popular squares in Rome.
The Agonale Obelisk – Obelisks and columns in Rome

The Agonale Obelisk (or Agonalis / Pamphilius) is an ancient Egyptian obelisk located in the Piazza Navona. A replica that was ordered by Domitian and placed at the Temple of Serapis. Later, it was relocated to the Circus of Maxentius by Maxentius. The Earl of Arundel made a down payment and tried to transport the four sections to London in the late 1630s, but Urban VIII prohibited its export. In 1651, Bernini placed it on top of the Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi.
The Obelisk of Montecitorio – Obelisks and columns in Rome

The Obelisk of Montecitorio is an ancient Egyptian obelisk standing in Piazza di Monte in front of Palazzo Montecitorio (Government office). Originally from Heliopolis, it was transported to Rome by Augustus in 10 BC along with the Flaminio obelisk for the purpose of creating the gnomon of the Solarium Augusti in the Campus Martius. It was discovered in the 16th century but was later buried again. Eventually, it was rediscovered and erected by Pope Pius VI in front of the Palazzo Montecitorio in 1792.
The Marcus Aurelius Column

The Marcus Aurelius Column is a Roman triumphal column located in the Piazza Colonna. It was constructed in the year 180 AD by order of the Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius to commemorate his successful campaigns in Germany. The column is topped by a bronze statue of the emperor and stands 25.45 meters high. It is one of the most famous monuments in Rome and both the column and the statue are an excellent example of Roman sculpture.
Column of the Immaculate Conception

The Column of the Immaculate Conception, also known as the Colonna dell’Immacolata, is located near Spanish steps in Piazza Mignanelli. It was erected in 1857 to honor the dogma of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, which was proclaimed by Pope Pius IX in 1854. The column stands at approximately 12 meters (39 feet) tall and is made of marble.
The monument consists of a Corinthian column, placed on a round base adorned with sculptures. At the top of the column, there is a statue of the Virgin Mary, representing her immaculate conception. The Corinthian column originally was sculpted in ancient Rome and it was discovered on 17th September 1777, during the construction of the monastery for the Benedictine Order of Santa Maria della Concezione.
St. Peter Square Obelisk (Obelisco di Piazza San Pietro)

The St. Peter Square Obelisk, also known as the Obelisco di Piazza San Pietro, is a majestic ancient Egyptian obelisk located in the centre of Piazza San Pietro, Vatican. Standing at an impressive height of 25.5 meters (83 feet), it is made of red granite and dates back to the 13th century BC. The obelisk was originally erected in Heliopolis, Egypt, and was later transported to Rome in 37 AD by Emperor Caligula to decorate his circus. However, it was not until 1586 that the obelisk found its current location in St. Peter’s Square under the direction of Pope Sixtus V. Standing in the centre of the square, it serves as a significant symbol of Christianity and a focal point for visitors from all over the world. The obelisk is adorned with hieroglyphs and features various Christian symbols, such as the cross and the names of saints.
The Sallustiano Obelisk

The Sallustiano Obelisk is a granite obelisk. It was originally constructed in the ancient Egyptian city of Heliopolis during the reign of Pharaoh Nectanebo I (380–362 BC). The obelisk was brought to Rome by the Roman Emperor Augustus and erected in the gardens of his family villa, the Gardens of Sallust, in 10 BC. The obelisk stands 9.5 meters high and weighs 33 tons. It is inscribed with hieroglyphic symbols and images depicting religious ceremonies.
Obelisk of Dogali (Obelisco di Dogali)

The Monument to the Fallen of Dogali (Obelisk of Dogali) is a memorial in Rome dedicated to the Italian soldiers who died in the Battle of Dogali. This battle took place in 1887 and was a significant defeat for Italy during its colonial expansion in East Africa. The monument features an obelisk on a base, surrounded by markers with the names of the fallen soldiers. According to historical accounts, the obelisk have originated in Egypt during the 13th century BC. It is said to have been created and erected by pharaoh Ramses II and was likely situated in the ancient city of Heliopolis. Later, in the late 1st century CE, Emperor Domitian of Rome had the sculpture transported to Rome, where it was eventually buried at some point and unearthed by archaeologists in 1883. The monument was dedicated in 1887 and was initially located in front of the Termini Station before being moved to its current position near the Baths of Diocletian in 1925.
There are more obelisks (I only covered 9 out of 15!) and columns in Rome but it is difficult to see them all in one go, as some might be undergoing reconstruction. I missed Esquiline, Solare, Matteiano, Quirinale and Pinciano. I couldn’t find the name of one as according to this source there are 15.
Check out my blog post how the same Obelisks and columns in Rome look at night and please leave your thoughts, feedback or suggestions.