"Airborne Balloons Heading Towards Jupiter – Is the Mainz Jupiter Pillar About to Reemerge?"
The city of Mainz is on the brink of a historical moment as the Great Mainz Jupiter Column, a symbol of Roman identity and the city's rich history, is set to return to its original place in early spring 2026.
The monument, considered irreplaceable due to its many stories and significance, has been missing since its restoration ten years ago. However, recent developments have brought hope for its return.
In July 2025, the Mainz Roman-Germanic Central Museum (RGZM) announced the completion of the restoration of the Great Mainz Jupiter Column. Extensive geological investigations and static calculations were carried out to ensure the column's stability and safety.
The Jupiter Column, the largest and most impressive of its kind ever found north of the Alps, served as a model for an entire genre. It is a 'speaking monument' that testifies to the coexistence of Roman and Celtic origins in ancient Mogontiacum.
The column, which has been severely damaged and underwent restoration work in 2015, is now considered stable in its current form, according to experts. The company Sauer, responsible for the project, assured the association 'Save the Roman' that the column is fully restored and can be erected immediately.
The association, formed to demand the return of the Jupiter Column, has been actively working towards its return. They invited people to the base of the Jupiter Column on Monument Day to bring it back to life using balloons. Friedrich Demmler, who was given a 30-centimeter-high replica of the Jupiter Column 25 years ago by the city of Mainz, also sent a column of balloons into the sky as a symbol of missing the Jupiter Column.
The reconstructed Jupiter Column is now ready and can be installed immediately, according to the association 'Save the Roman'. The Invisible Roman Guard, another group demanding the return of the Jupiter Column, recreated the column using nine-meter-high balloons as a sign to demand its return.
The city of Mainz informed in July that extensive geological investigations and static calculations are required before the column can be re-erected. However, with the column now fully restored, the return of the Great Mainz Jupiter Column to its original place seems imminent.
For a detailed description of the Great Mainz Jupiter Column and its history, please visit our website. It's a story of Roman identity, city history, and the coexistence of cultures that is worth knowing.
