Orpheus Monument

The stele is a monolith of white marble quarried in the Pohorje mountain range. The central relief depicts Orpheus playing a lyre and mourning Eurydice – hence the monument's popular name. Beneath a stone vault, wild and domestic animals gather around Orpheus, mesmerised by his music. On the right side of the base, Orpheus is shown in the underworld, playing before the gods Pluto and Proserpine, with Mercury standing behind the throne wearing a hat and holding a herald's staff. The left side depicts Heracles leading Eurydice out of the underworld.

In the Middle Ages the stele was used as a pillory: iron rings for shackling criminals were driven into the lower section, damaging part of the inscription. Holes from the iron clamps are still visible at the base. Around the stele stand several Roman altars and tombstone fragments forming the Povoden Museum (Povodňov muzej), named after curate Simon Povoden, who in 1830 had ancient finds from Ptuj and its environs built into the City Tower walls.

Despite nearly 2,000 years of exposure and medieval reuse, the reliefs are sufficiently preserved for identification of the mythological scenes. Since 2008 the monument has held the status of a national cultural monument of Slovenia.

Age – 2nd century AD, nearly 2,000 years in the same location

Dimensions – approximately 5 m tall, 1.8 m wide – the largest monument of Roman Upper Pannonia

Material – white marble from the Pohorje mountain range

Subject – reliefs depicting the Orpheus and Eurydice myth, the underworld scene, and Heracles

Medieval reuse – served as a pillory; iron clamp marks remain visible on the base

The stele was erected in the 2nd century AD as a grave marker for Marcus Valerius Verus, duumvir (head of the city council) of the Roman city of Poetovio. At its peak, Poetovio was one of the largest cities in the province of Upper Pannonia with a population of up to 40,000. Emperor Trajan granted it colony status in AD 103, naming it Colonia Ulpia Traiana Poetovio. The monument most likely stands at the site where it was originally found – and therefore in its original position.

In the Middle Ages the monument was used as a pillory (pranger): iron rings for restraining convicts were hammered into the lower part, damaging the inscription. In 1830, curate Simon Povoden arranged the open-air lapidary around the stele and the tower using ancient finds from Ptuj and its surroundings – the first of its kind in Slovenia. In March 2008 the monument was designated a national cultural monument of Slovenia.

Location:

Slovenski trg, 2250 Ptuj – the old town's central square, in front of the {City Tower[PLACE_CITY_TOWER_PTUJ]}.

From Maribor (30 km, 25–40 min):

– Train (SŽ) – 35–40 min, €4–11

– Bus (Arriva) – 40 min, €3–5

– By car – 25 min

From Ljubljana (130 km, 1.5–2.5 hours):

– Train – 2 h 15 min, €12–28

– By car – approx. 1.5 hours. Road vignette required

Within Ptuj:

From the bus station – 10 min on foot. From Ptuj Castle – 10 min downhill.

Season: Accessible year-round in any weather.

Time of day: Mornings offer the best light on the reliefs (the monument faces south-east). Evenings are pleasant for sitting at the square's cafés.

Duration: 10–15 minutes for the monument itself. Combine with the {City Tower[PLACE_CITY_TOWER_PTUJ]} (30–45 min) and a walk up to Ptuj Castle (1.5–2.5 hours).

Avoid: No restrictions. The square is lively in summer and quiet in winter.