Pompey's Pillar, Alexandria
Karmouz, Alexandria, Alexandria Governorate, Egypt
Pompey’s Pillar, a grand 26.85-meter-high red granite column in Alexandria, Egypt, stands as a testament to Roman influence in ancient Egypt. Constructed in 297 CE to honor Emperor Diocletian, it is one of Alexandria’s few remaining Roman monuments, built on the site of the former Serapeum, a temple dedicated to the deity Serapis. Erected to commemorate Diocletian’s support during a famine, Pompey’s Pillar is surrounded by sphinx statues and ancient ruins, offering a fascinating glimpse into Alexandria’s rich Greco-Roman history.
Pompey’s Pillar, towering 26.85 meters over Alexandria, Egypt, is one of the city’s most iconic Roman monuments. Built in 297 CE to honor Emperor Diocletian, this red Aswan granite column stands on a former Serapeum site, dedicated to the god Serapis. The pillar is a marvel of Roman engineering, thought to have been erected by Alexandrian citizens in gratitude for Diocletian’s aid during a famine. Surrounded by ancient sphinxes and ruins, Pompey’s Pillar offers visitors a glimpse into Alexandria’s Roman past and its blend of Egyptian and Greco-Roman culture.