The Serpent Column: Constantinople's Oldest Monument

In this episode of Constantinople to Istanbul, Lucas and Luna explore the Serpent Column, a bronze monument that has stood in the Hippodrome for over 2,500 years. Originally erected at Delphi to commemorate the Greek victory over the Persians at Plataea in 479 BCE, it was moved to Constantinople by Constantine the Great in the 4th century CE. The column—a twisted pillar of three intertwined snakes, once topped with a golden tripod—survived the Nika Riots, the Fourth Crusade, and the Ottoman conquest. Lucas recounts its journey from Delphi to the Hippodrome, its near-destruction by Mehmed II's soldiers, and the mysterious disappearance of the serpent heads. He also discusses modern fragments: one head in the Istanbul Archaeology Museums, another found in a 19th-century excavation. The episode touches on the column's political symbolism, its use as a talisman against snakes, and its role as a silent witness to Constantinople's transformations. Luna asks about the missing tripod, the Mongol connection, and why the column is called 'yılanlı sütun' today. A story of resilience spanning empires, religions, and centuries.

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