The Goth's Column, also known as the Column of Fortune, is an ancient granite monolith standing at 15 meters tall, located near the Hagia Sophia. Dating back to the Roman period, the column is attributed to either Emperor Claudius II Gothicus or Constantine the Great, though the evidence is inconclusive. Its name comes from an inscription dedicated to the defeat of the Goths, a victory that was celebrated with this monument. Over time, the column has undergone changes, notably the addition of iron hoops in 416 to prevent damage. The column's significance lies not only in its historical inscription but also in its association with the legend of Byzas, the mythical founder of Byzantium, as mentioned by the Byzantine historian Nicephorus Gregoras​.

If you look closely at its base, you can still make out a weathered Latin inscription: “To Fortuna, who returns by reason of victory over the Goths.” Historians are still arguing over who actually put it there. Was it Emperor Claudius II, a man so proud of crushing a Gothic army in 269 AD that he took the nickname "Gothicus"? Or was it Constantine the Great, celebrating his own victories while building his brand-new capital? We may never know for sure, and that mystery is part of its charm.