Restorers in the heart of Rome are cleaning the Column of Marcus Aurelius using lasers

Rome – Just as doctors use lasers to smooth out wrinkles, archaeologists in Rome are using laser beams on history itself, removing decades of dirt buildup from one of Italy's capital's most famous monuments. Restorers, in the most extensive laser cleaning project to date, are removing layers of grime from the Column of Marcus Aurelius, a 1,840-year-old masterpiece that celebrates Aurelius's victory over barbarian tribes along the Danube River, reports Reuters.

Hand-held lasers focus flashing beams of light onto the stone. The heat they generate removes the black layers of pollution, revealing the white marble beneath. "It's the same principle as when a doctor removes unwanted hair or dead skin," said Marta Baumgartner, the director of restoration work. "The laser produces excellent results in restoration, and we decided to use it on the entire exterior relief of the column," she added.

Carved around 180 AD, the spiral relief wraps around the column 23 times, reaching a height of almost 40 meters and depicting more than 2,000 figures, including gods, soldiers, and animals. The Emperor Aurelius himself is also carved into the relief.

The work shows vivid scenes of the violence of war and provides scientists with invaluable information about this era of Roman history. People are depicted with slit throats, severed heads, and women being dragged by their hair into slavery.

The column remains in its original location, but most of the other monuments of ancient Rome in this part of the city have long since disappeared. Now the column stands near the official residence of Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, close to the parliament building.

Restoration work began this March and is expected to be completed by early next year. The cost of restoring the column is estimated to reach two million euros (48.8 million crowns). The funds come from loans and grants provided to Italy by the European Union as part of the recovery plan for Europe after the COVID pandemic. "We received this significant financial support, which is an opportunity we could not miss," said Baumgartner.

Pope Sixtus V conducted the first restoration of the monument at the end of the 16th century, when he replaced the original statue of Aurelius at the top with a statue of Saint Paul, which stands there to this day. The last cleaning of the monument was done in the 1980s. However, time and weather conditions have damaged the monument, and restorers found areas where the marble is beginning to flake, requiring thorough repairs. "Let's hope there will be no surprises in the future. The monument will now be continuously monitored, and we can intervene if necessary," Baumgartner stated.