The bronze Serpent Column, which consisted of three entwined serpents, was brought from the Temple of Apollo at Delphi by the Emperor Constantine. The three serpent heads were intact until the 18th century, when according to various sources they were chopped off either by a janissary or by an enraged Pole. One of these heads was recovered in excavations in the 20th century and placed in Istanbul Archaeological Museum. Today this monument is 5.3 metres in height, but was originally higher. The Stone Column has a Greek inscription on the plinth, which consists of three steps, explaining that it was repaired by Romanus II and his son in the 10th century. This column is approximately 21 metres in height, and built of square ashlar blocks. The Egyptian obelisk was erected on this spot in the year 390 by Theodosius the Great. The plinth is Byzantine and has relief pictures on all four faces, and inscriptions on two faces, one in Latin the other in Greek. Unfortunately these have suffered badly from weathering.