Column of Shame

A monumental decorative column at the Forum is preserved in its original spot. Konrad von Grünenberg, a pilgrim to the Holy Land, wrote about it in 1486: “At one Zadar square you can see a fairly wide column carved from one block of stone, at the top of which there is a figure of a griffin. The griffin was Zadar’s idol for many years, it performed many miracles and conversed with the citizens. When the city received Christianity, a stone plaque was placed on the column with engraved crosses. When the cross was placed on the column, the column cracked from top to bottom: it did not fall over, but the evil spirit abandoned it.”