Pompey’s Pillar

Pompey’s Pillar is the tallest ancient monument in Alexandria and the largest of its kind outside Rome and Constantinople. The red Aswan granite column, topped with a Corinthian capital, stands about 27 metres high. Despite its name, it has nothing to do with the Roman general Pompey. It was put up around AD 297–302 in honour of Emperor Diocletian, after he put down a revolt in Egypt. Medieval travellers wrongly linked it to Pompey, and the name stuck.

What to see

The pillar stands on the site of the Serapeum, the great temple of the god Serapis, which also held part of the city’s famous library. Around the column you can see two granite sphinxes, a statue base and the foundations of the temple. Steps lead down into underground galleries, cut into the rock, where the sacred Apis bulls were once honoured and some of the library’s scrolls may have been stored.

Visiting tips

• Allow about an hour, including the underground galleries.
• Combine it with the Catacombs of Kom el-Shuqafa, a short walk away in the same district.
• The site is in a busy working neighbourhood; it is best visited in the morning before the heat.

Getting there

The site is in the Karmouz district, south-west of central Alexandria. Taxis and ride-hailing cars are the easiest way to get there.

Last checked October 2026. Sources: mota.gov.eg, en.wikipedia.org, historyhit.com, egyptindependent.com.