Pompey Pillar
Pompey’s Pillar 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
a column in Roman Egypt and one of the largest monoliths columns ever erected.
The pillar is 28m tall and 2.7 m wide of pure red granite and on its western
the upper side is a greek inscription dedicated to Emperor Diocletian.
Pompey Pillar
History
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 created to show gratitude
to what Diocletian achieved in these harsh times. The pillar nicknamed
Pompey Pillar
as in the middle ages, the crusaders mistakenly believed that
the remains of the great Roman general Pompey in a pot at the very top of the pillar.
The location of the pillar surrounded by many who remain to saw 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
Pompey Pillar
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.
as in the middle ages, the crusaders mistakenly believed that
the remains of the great Roman general Pompey in a pot at the very top of the pillar.
The location of the pillar surrounded by many who remain to saw the conflicts of
Pompey Pillar
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.