Historians agree that these two beautiful columns are stolen property but don’t agree about who the Venetians took them from. They are called the Pillars of Acre (pili acritani) because for centuries, it was believed that the Venetians stole them in 1256 from the church of St. Saba in the port city of St. John of Acre in what is now Syria. They reside in front of what used to be the ceremonial entrance to the Basilica di San Marco, and most books describe them as exquisite examples of 6th century Syrian carving.
But recently, scholars have decided that they were really stolen from Constantinople in 1204 as part of the vast looting of the Fourth Crusade, and that they came to the Basilica in the same batch of plunder that included the Four Horses and the Madonna Nikopeia.
Who knows? They are certainly gorgeous. Those Venetian crusaders had quite an eye for beauty.
View from above, in a flooded Piazzetta
Vintage postcard
Comments (9)
They make me think of a grown up version of building block creations.
Posted by Alice Audrey | March 15, 2010 1:40 PM
Posted on March 15, 2010 13:40
Those really are so beautiful, Annie. And bless the Venetians -- they didn't pinch junk, they always seem to go for the good stuff!
What an interesting angle on the high water, I did NOT enjoy trying to walk on the "boards" -- those things are really quite high, hard to scramble on and off from!
Posted by sandrac | March 15, 2010 2:03 PM
Posted on March 15, 2010 14:03
These are pretty Annie, and lovely photos. It is always interesting comparing the vintage postcard with photos from today.
Posted by Candi | March 15, 2010 8:38 PM
Posted on March 15, 2010 20:38
Those are very cool! I don't know that I noticed those or not!
Posted by LB | March 15, 2010 11:26 PM
Posted on March 15, 2010 23:26
How have I missed these during my trips to Venice? They are beautiful. So glad you posted this. I am definitely going to have to return to Venice now.
Posted by girasoli | March 17, 2010 5:16 AM
Posted on March 17, 2010 05:16
Lovely pictures! Love the detail on the first one and the 3-D effect. I don't recall seeing these beauties. Will have to look for them next time, which I hope it will be sooner than later. :)
Posted by Maria I. | March 17, 2010 9:18 PM
Posted on March 17, 2010 21:18
Wow! these are beautiful. And I totally missed them when I was in Venice. I remember roaming around this area at night but never stopped by during the day. I'm sorry I didn't get to see them closeup although your photos are great.
Posted by Marta | March 19, 2010 2:02 PM
Posted on March 19, 2010 14:02
Thanks for rewarding my search--these seem to be the only photos of the columns on the net and they're gorgeous. Most helpful, as I'm writing a book set partly in Venice in the 13th C.!
Posted by Rebecca Hazell | May 16, 2010 11:39 AM
Posted on May 16, 2010 11:39
Hi Rebecca, you are welcome; glad you found my blog. And I'd love to know more about your book!
Posted by Annie | May 17, 2010 8:10 AM
Posted on May 17, 2010 08:10