Ancient site · Alexandria
Pompey's Pillar
A towering Roman column of Aswan granite, about 27 m high, raised in honour of Emperor Diocletian and standing among the ruins of the Serapeum in Alexandria.
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The story
Despite its popular name, the column has no connection to the Roman general Pompey: it was erected around AD 300 (usually dated between 298 and 303) in honour of Emperor Diocletian. It once carried a colossal statue of the emperor, which is now lost. The column stands on the site of the Serapeum, the great temple of the god Serapis that was torn down in the late 4th century AD, and it remains the most striking survivor of that complex. Its Arabic name, 'Amud al-Sawari, comes from 'sawari', tall columns or masts, a fitting name for its height.
Good to know
- The column is about 27 m tall in total, and its shaft is a single block of Aswan granite more than 20 m long.
- The name 'Pompey's Pillar' is a misnomer: the column honours Emperor Diocletian, not Pompey.
- The Serapeum temple was destroyed in AD 391 under Emperor Theodosius I, yet the column kept standing among its ruins.
- In the Middle Ages, Crusaders wrongly believed Pompey's remains lay in a vessel atop the column, which helped fix the misleading name.
Visiting tips
The visit is short, usually about an hour, and works best early in the morning to avoid the heat and crowds, or late afternoon for softer light on photographs. The site is open-air, so wear comfortable shoes for walking among the ruins, bring water and a hat, and consider a guide, as on-site signage is limited. The pillar and the sphinxes beside it make the classic photograph, and the Catacombs of Kom el Shoqafa are about a seven-minute walk away, so the two pair naturally. Hours are commonly given as 9 am to 5 pm, but check before visiting.