Pompey’s Pillar is located in Alexandria.

It is located in the heart of Alexandria and looms above the surrounding buildings as a reminder of the once-great grandeur of the Roman Empire.

Pompey’s Pillar is a national monument.

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Location:

The ancient Roman port city of Alexandria, Egypt’s second most populous and biggest city, is just three hours away from Cairo by car or train.

Pompey’s Pillar is located right off the main Corniche (seafront) in Alexandria, and it is within walking distance of the city center.

History:

Located around 25 meters above sea level on a limestone ridge, Pompey’s Pillar tower is a must-see.

However, the red granite column known as Pompey’s Pillar, which is located in Alexandria, was built to commemorate the Roman emperor Diocletian, who had threatened to massacre the city’s populace “until their blood reached his horse’s knees,” but was forced to back down after his mount slipped and bloodied itself prematurely.

The construction of this Corinthian column in 297 AD commemorated the triumph of the Roman emperor Diocletian over an Alexandrian uprising at the time.

It’s possible that it came from the Temple of Serapis, which previously stood nearby and housed Cleopatra’s “Daughter Library,” which had 42,800 books and outlived the Mother Library by almost a century before being destroyed by Christian crowds in 391.

Three subterranean passages, where the holy Apis bulls were buried, a Nilometer, and some underground cisterns are all that is left of the site, which is a disappointment given what was formerly there.

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