▁stood ▁on ▁the ▁north ▁part ▁of ▁the ▁Camp us ▁Mart ius , ▁in ▁the ▁centre ▁of ▁a ▁square . ▁ ▁This ▁square ▁was ▁either ▁between ▁the ▁temple ▁of ▁Had rian ▁( pro bably ▁the ▁Had ri ane um ) ▁and ▁the ▁temple ▁of ▁Marcus ▁A ure lius ▁( ded ic ated ▁by ▁his ▁son ▁Com mod us , ▁of ▁which ▁nothing ▁now ▁remains ▁– ▁it ▁was ▁probably ▁on ▁the ▁site ▁of ▁Pal azzo ▁Wed ek ind ), ▁or ▁within ▁the ▁latter ’ s ▁sacred ▁prec inct , ▁of ▁which ▁nothing ▁remains . ▁ ▁Near by ▁is ▁the ▁site ▁where ▁the ▁em peror ’ s ▁cre m ation ▁occurred . ▁▁▁ ▁The ▁column ’ s ▁sh aft ▁is ▁ ▁high , ▁on ▁a ▁ ▁high ▁base , ▁which ▁in ▁turn ▁originally ▁stood ▁on ▁a ▁ ▁high ▁platform ▁– ▁the ▁column ▁in ▁total ▁is ▁ ▁About ▁ 3 ▁metres ▁of ▁the ▁base ▁have ▁been ▁below ▁ground ▁level ▁since ▁the ▁ 1 5 8 9 ▁rest oration . ▁ ▁The ▁column ▁consists ▁of ▁ 2 7 ▁or ▁ 2 8 ▁blocks ▁of ▁Car r ara ▁mar ble , ▁each ▁of ▁ ▁diameter , ▁h ollow ed ▁out ▁whilst ▁still ▁at ▁the ▁quar ry ▁for ▁a ▁st air way ▁of ▁ 1 9 0 – 2 0 0 ▁steps ▁within ▁the ▁column ▁up ▁to ▁a ▁platform ▁at ▁the ▁top . ▁ ▁Just ▁as ▁with ▁Tra jan ’ s ▁Column , ▁this ▁st air way ▁is ▁ill umin ated ▁through ▁narrow ▁sl its ▁into ▁the ▁relief . ▁