Pompey’s Pillar

Rising above the western district of Alexandria, Pompey’s Pillar is one of the city’s most imposing ancient monuments, a solitary column that has outlasted the vast complex it once belonged to. Despite its well-known name, the monument was not built for Pompey, but was erected in honour of the Roman emperor Diocletian between 298 and 302 CE. Today, Pompey’s Pillar offers visitors a striking encounter with Alexandria’s Roman past. Set among the remains of the Serapeum, it evokes a city shaped by Greek, Egyptian, and Roman influences, while its survival lends it a rare sense of continuity. In a destination known for layers of lost grandeur, the pillar stands as one of Alexandria’s clearest and most enduring links to antiquity. 

Pompey’s Pillar Highlights

• Visit Pompey’s Pillar in Alexandria for one of the city’s most striking ancient landmarks.
• See the towering Roman column standing beside the ruins of the ancient Serapeum.
• Add Pompey’s Pillar to your Alexandria itinerary for history, archaeology, and classical heritage.