Drususstein

The Drususstein is a nearly 20-metre-high masonry block of Roman origin in the grounds of the citadel of Mainz [1]. It was originally cased in marble [1]. Researchers now largely accept that it is a remnant of the cenotaph mentioned by writers such as Eutropius and Suetonius, erected in 9 BC by Roman troops in honour of the deceased general Drusus, in Mogontiacum [1]. During the early days of the Principate, the Drususstein was the starting point for elaborate memorial services in honour of Drusus, and the centre of the imperial cult in Mogontiacum [1]. After being robbed of its marble casing in the early Middle Ages, the Drususstein served as a watchtower in the fortifications of the city in the 16th century [1]. For that purpose a staircase and doorframe were made in the structure, which had been up to that point a solid building [1].