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.
| Overview | |
|
|
| 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.
The Catacombs of Kom El Shuqqafa discoverd and located in Alexandria, Know more about how was discovered and the hidden secrets of it.
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.
Known as the Alexandrian Museum, the Alexandria Library is celebrated as the city’s prime location and a world-renowned library.
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.
From: US$430
Private 4 Days Cairo Tour Packages 4 days Cairo Egypt tour package will offer a bles...
Tour Location: Cairo – Giza...
From: US$550
Stunning 5 Days Cairo and Alexandria Tour Package 5 days Cairo and Alexandria tour p...
Tour Location: Cairo/Giza/Alexandria...
From: US$1030
Exceptional 6 Days Cairo, Luxor & Aswan Tour Package 6 days Cairo, Luxor & A...
Tour Location: Cairo/Giza/Aswan/Luxor...
From: US$1020
Amazing 7 Days Cairo and Hurghada Holiday 7 Days Cairo & Hurghada holiday will e...
Tour Location: Cairo – Giza – Hurgh...
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.
If you want to apply for a Visa On Arrival that lasts for 30 days then you should be one of the eligible countries, have a valid passport with at least 6 months remaining and pay 25$ USD in cash, as for the E-Visa for 30 day you should have a valid passport for at least 8 months, complete the online application, pay the e-visa fee then print the e-visa to later be presented to the airport border guard. You could also be one of the lucky ones who can obtain a free visa for 90 days. Read more about Egypt travel visa.
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.
The best time to travel to Egypt is during the winter from September to April as the climate becomes a little tropical accompanied by a magical atmosphere of warm weather with a winter breeze. You will be notified in the week of your trip if the Climate is unsafe and if any changes have been made.
You should pack everything you could ever need in a small bag so you could move easily between your destinations.
We have been creating the finest vacations for more than 20 years around the most majestic destinations in Egypt. Our staff consists of the best operators, guides and drivers who dedicate all of their time & effort to make you have the perfect vacation. All of our tours are customized by Travel, Financial & Time consultants to fit your every possible need during your vacation. It doesn't go without saying that your safety and comfort are our main priority and all of our resources will be directed to provide the finest atmosphere until you return home.
You will feel safe in Egypt as the current atmosphere of the country is quite peaceful after the government took powerful measures like restructuring the entire tourist police to include all the important and tourist attractions in Egypt. Read more about is it safe to travel to Egypt.
Wear whatever feels right and comfortable. It is advised to wear something light and comfortable footwear like a closed-toe shoe to sustain the terrain of Egypt. Put on sun block during your time in Egypt in the summer to protect yourself from the sun.
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.
There are a lot of public holidays in Egypt too many to count either religious or nation, the most important festivals are the holy month of Ramadan which ends with Eid Al Fitr, Christmas and new years eve. Read more about festivals & publich holidays in Egypt.
Egypt is considered to be one of the most liberal Islamic countries but it has become a little bit conservative in the last couple of decades so it is advised to avoid showing your chest, shoulders or legs below the knees.
Arabic is the official language and Most Egyptians, who live in the cities, speak or understand English or at least some English words or phrases. Fewer Egyptians can speak French, Italian, Spanish, and German. Professional tour guides, who work in the tourism sector, are equipped to handle visitors who cannot speak Arabic and they will speak enough English and other languages to fulfill the needs of all our clients.
The fastest way is a car, of course, a taxi. If you are in Cairo ride a white taxi to move faster or you could board the fastest way of transportation in Egypt metro if the roads are in rush hour.
The temperature in Egypt ranges from 37c to 14 c. Summer in Egypt is somehow hot but sometimes it becomes cold at night and winter is cool and mild. The average of low temperatures vary from 9.5 °C in the wintertime to 23 °C in the summertime and the average high temperatures vary from 17 °C in the wintertime to 32 °C in the summertime. The temperature is moderate all along the coasts.
It is the home of everything a traveler might be looking for from amazing historical sites dating to more than 4000 years to enchanting city resorts & beaches. You will live the vacation you deserve as Egypt has everything you could possibly imagine.
Known as the Alexandrian Museum, the Alexandria Library is celebrated as the city’s prime location and ...
The Catacombs of Kom El Shuqqafa discoverd and located in Alexandria, Know more about how was discovered ...
Read more about Qaitbay citadel information, Qaitbay citadel architecture, Qaitbay citadel facts, and the...
© Copyright Egypt Tours Portal 2024.
