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Explore the history and grandeur of Pompey's Pillar, an ancient Roman monument in Alexandria, Egypt. Discover the architectural marvel of this towering column, its dedication to Emperor Diocletian, and its significance in the city's rich historical landscape.
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| Location | Alexandria, Egypt |
| Diameter | c. 2.7-2.8 m (column shaft) |
| Height | Pompey's Pillar originally stood at 33.85m with a statue, now 26.85m tall |
| Builder | Publius praefectus aegypti on behalf of emperor Diocletian |
Pompey’s Pillar is a legendary element of power and greatness that conveys the most magnificent facts about the epic Roman period, which innovated and enlarged the radiating city of Alexandria to new heights that are able to captivate the minds and souls of all travelers. On a rocky hilltop in the middle of Alexandria lies the biggest memorial column in Egypt, "Pompey's Pillar". It is famous for being the only known free-standing column in Roman Egypt and one of the largest monolith columns ever erected.
Pompey’s Pillar is 28m tall and 2.7 m wide of pure red granite, and on its western upper side is a Greek inscription dedicated to Emperor Diocletian. This tremendous wonder is by far one of the most exotic monuments across the lands of Alexandria that will surely make every single exploration tour something worthy of cherishing, filled with phenomenal glimpses of one of the grandest empires ever created in existence.
The Roman ruler Diocletian constructed this column between 284-305 AD to commemorate Diocletian's victory in ending the people's revolt to be freed from the Roman rule, saving the public of Alexandria from famine, exempted the public from paying tax so a memorial column was created to show gratitude to what Diocletian achieved in this harsh times. The pillar was nicknamed Pompey's pillar, and in the Middle Ages, the Crusaders mistakenly believed that the remains of the great Roman general Pompey were in a pot at the very top of the pillar.
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Read MoreThe location of Pompey's Pillar is surrounded by many who remain to see the conflicts of ancient times unfold in front of its eyes. During the first centuries, the patron pagan god of Alexandria was the Serapeum (a symbol of ancient tradition), and his temple was located near the pillar also; it was a time of religious conflict as the ideas of Christianity began to gain popularity, which led to the destruction of many pagan temples & statues to the god Serapis dating back to the reign of Ptolemy II and Ptolemy III in 391 AD.
The Roman Triumphal Column of Pompey's Pillar is located at the Serapeum of Alexandria, Al Karah WA, Toubageyah WA Kafr Al Ghates, Karmouz, Alexandria. You can reach Alexandria and all of its monuments by air, train, and car from anywhere in Egypt.
It is advised to book with a travel agency that will provide a seasoned travel guide, a private vehicle, and 24/7 customer service, which will be with you every step of the way.
Pompey's Pillar stands at an impressive height of 26.85 meters (88.1 feet), including its marvelous base and epic capital. It was originally designed to support a towering statue that reached 7 meters (23 feet) in height. It is renowned as the only monolithic column in all of Roman Egypt and was crafted from a single piece of stone rather than individual drums. It was constructed from Lapis syenites, a type of pink granite sourced from the ancient quarries at the same place of modern Aswan; the column stands as a remarkable example of ancient engineering, with a shaft towering 20.46 meters (67.1 feet) high and a diameter of 2.71 meters (8 feet 11 inches) at its base. The column shaft’s weight is known to be 285 tonnes (314 short tons).
The surviving four-line inscription in Greek on the column's socle called Publius reveals that it was dedicated to the Roman Emperor Diocletian. The two papyri from Oxyrhynchus place the completion of the column and the stylite statue of Diocletian between 297 & 303 AD. Some damage to the inscription confused the data by showcasing a dedication to the earlier Republican general Pompey due to similar Greek spellings, but the monument's dedication to Diocletian remains very evident.
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Read MoreThe original porphyry statue of Diocletian is depicted in armor that stood at the foot of the column. Fragments of this grand statue, including portions exhibiting the thighs, suggest a total height of approximately 7 meters (23 feet). While a number of fragments were known to exist in European collections during the 19th century, their whereabouts became unknown by the 1930s and are now considered to be lost. Historical speculation suggests that Pompey's Pillar may have been accompanied by additional columns carrying statues of Diocletian's co-emperors that commemorate the Tetrarchy put in motion during Diocletian's reign.
Pompey’s pillar is a gateway to uncovering epic sensations of the greatness of a mesmerizing era that stood the test of time for a glorious time and is able to paint a beautiful picture of the majesty and marvel of the Roman period in Alexandria. The heavenly environment around the pillar contains the ancient Serapeum, which has a temple complex dedicated to the Greco-Egyptian god Serapis. This complex will also add a great deal of facts about Alexandria's rich nature, which is open to all adventure seekers.
The beautiful city of Alexandria is full of countless mesmerizing attractions like Pompey's Pillar, and with our Egypt private tours, you will discover all of them, plus all the amazing attractions in the immortal cities of Cairo, Luxor, and Aswan.
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The pillar is notable for its association with the Roman general Gaius Pompeius (commonly known as Pompey). It was built around 298-302 AD, although it was actually constructed in honor of the Roman Emperor Diocletian. It is still standing and is one of the few ancient monuments in Alexandria remaining in its original location.
The name "Pompey's Pillar" comes from a legend that suggests Pompey was buried near the site, although this has been debunked. The pillar's true purpose was to commemorate Diocletian's victory over an Alexandrian revolt in 297 AD.
Pompey's Pillar was built during the reign of the Roman Emperor Diocletian, around 297 AD. It was constructed from a single block of granite quarried in Aswan and transported to Alexandria for erection.
Pompey's Pillar is still standing today. Despite its age and exposure to various elements over the centuries, the pillar remains largely intact, serving as a testament to ancient Roman engineering and craftsmanship.
Visitors can indeed climb Pompey's Pillar, as there is a staircase built into the interior of the pillar that leads to a platform at the top. From there, visitors can enjoy panoramic views of Alexandria and its surroundings.
The entire country of Egypt deserve to be explored with its every heavenly detail but there are places that must be seen before any other such as the breathtaking Hurghada's red sea, The wonders of Cairo the pyramids of Giza, the great sphinx, the Egyptian Museum, Khan El Khalili Bazaar, the wonders of Luxor like Valley of the Kings, Karnak & Hatshepsut temple and the wonders of Aswan such as Abu Simbel temples, Philea temple, Unfinished obelisk and The Wonders of Alexandria like Qaitbat Citadel, Pompey's Pillar and Alexandria Library. Read more about the best places to visit in Egypt.
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Egypt has a variety of delicious cuisines but we recommend “Ful & Ta’meya (Fava Beans and Falafel)”, Mulukhiya, “Koshary”, a traditional Egyptian pasta dish, and Kebab & Kofta, the Egyptian traditional meat dish.
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The best activity is by far boarding a Nile Cruise between Luxor and Aswan or Vise Versa. Witness the beauty of Egypt from a hot balloon or a plane and try all the delicious Egyptian cuisines and drinks plus shopping in old Cairo. Explore the allure and wonders of the red sea in the magical city resorts of Egypt like Hurghada and many more by diving and snorkeling in the marine life or Hurghada. Behold the mesmerizing western desert by a safari trip under the heavenly Egyptian skies.
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