Milion

The Milion (Ancient Greek: Μίλιον or Μίλλιον, Mílion; Turkish: Milyon taşı) was a marker from which all distances across the Roman Empire were measured.

[2] The remains of the monument are located in Istanbul, in the district of Eminönü, in the neighborhood of Cağaloğlu, at the northern corner of the square of Hagia Sophia, and close to the Basilica Cistern.

The mother of all milestones, the Milion, erected by Septimius Severus, would be considered a kind of ground zero for civilisation and it marks the moment when Byzantium truly becomes a topographical and cultural reference point.

[3] Justinian I added to it a Sundial, while Justin II adorned the lower part with the statues of his wife Sophia, his daughter Arabia and his niece Helena.

[1] The monument was also adorned with equestrian sculptures of Trajan, Hadrian,[4] Theodosius II and a bronze Quadriga of Helios.

[2] In the years 1967 and 1968, following theoretical studies about the location of the monument and after the demolition of the houses placed above it, excavations revealed some foundations and a fragment (now re-erected as a pillar) belonging to the building.

Reconstruction of Byzantion's Milion based on historic accounts and remaining fragments. The arched structure is approximately 14.6 m wide.
A fragment of the Milion has been re-erected as a pillar.
Milion can be seen at the center of the plaza near the Hippodrome.
Distances of major modern cities from the Milion.
The label on the remains of the Milion