What did Pope Sixtus V do to Trajan's Column?

Pope Sixtus V placed a bronze figure of Saint Peter on top of Trajan's Column on December 4, 1587. This modification crowned the ancient Roman triumphal monument as part of his broader rebuilding and counter-reformation efforts in Rome. The original statue of Emperor Trajan had disappeared during the Middle Ages.

What we know

• On December 4, 1587, Pope Sixtus V crowned the top of Trajan's Column with a bronze figure of Saint Peter. [2]
• The original statue of Emperor Trajan that once stood on the column disappeared during the Middle Ages. [2]
• Pope Sixtus V ruled the Papal States and launched a far-sighted rebuilding program across Rome that involved the destruction of antiquities. [3] · medium confidence

Where to go next

• whoWho was Pope Sixtus V?
• the bigger pictureWhat is the history of Trajan's Column?
• how it workedHow was Trajan's Column constructed?
• compared withWhat does the Column of Marcus Aurelius share with Trajan's Column?
• a case in pointWhat is inside St. Peter's Basilica?
• an unexpected connectionHow did an ancient Roman war monument end up crowned with a Christian saint?Pope Sixtus V actively Christianized pagan Roman victory columns by placing statues of saints on top of them during his papacy.

Sources

• [1]Trajan's Column (Wikidata Q192784) · CC0 1.0
• [2]Trajan's Column · CC BY-SA 4.0
• [3]Pope Sixtus V · CC BY-SA 4.0
• [4]Column of Marcus Aurelius · CC BY-SA 4.0
• [5]St. Peter's Basilica · CC BY-SA 4.0