Column, honorific: The practice of erecting columns in public places for commemorative or celebratory purposes by the emperors, is a Roman custom continued in Constantinople until the 6th century. The honorific columns were of two types. The first one was a monolithic shaft standing on a base and supporting a capital that held a statue of the emperor. To the aforementioned type belong the Column of Constantine I and the Column of Marcian. Of the second type only the shaft is differentiated, which is composed of drums. The shaft was carved in relief and the decoration was set in a spiral frieze. The most common theme was the victorious expansionist of the emperor. The Column of Theodosios I and Arkadios belong to this type.