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West District
West District

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AntiquitiesAncient Alexandria

Pompey’s Pillar and the Serapeum

A Roman column of red Aswan granite on the hill of Bab Sidra, most likely raised in honour of the emperor Diocletian around AD 300, where the Ptolemaic Serapeum stood.
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Pompey’s Pillar standing on the hill of Bab Sidra between two sphinxes on pedestals, under a clear blue sky, with the rock of the hill in front

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The story

What sets it apart

A single column of red Aswan granite on the hill of Bab Sidra, between two sphinxes.

  • 1The column and its capital
  • 2The two sphinxes
  • 3The granite blocks and column drums in the display area
  • 4The hill of Bab Sidra

The Alexandria Governorate says Pompey’s Pillar stands on the hill of Bab Sidra, between the Muslim cemetery known as “El Amoud” and the ancient plateau of Kom El Shoqafa, on the very site of the village of Rhakotis.

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The governorate adds that the column has been wrongly called after Pompey since the Crusades, and that the Alexandrians most likely raised it for the Roman emperor Diocletian, in thanks to him. Al-Ahram Weekly (2025) says it was hewn from red Aswan granite in the 3rd century AD and is the tallest surviving Roman triumphal column in the world.

According to the governorate, the shaft is a single piece 20.75 metres long, 2.70 metres across at the base and 2.30 metres at the capital; with its base the column stands about 26.85 metres high.

The visitors’ guide on West District’s page says the site was the Serapeum, one of the best known Ptolemaic temples, for the cult of Serapis, Isis and their son Harpocrates. In 2025 Al-Ahram Weekly reported electronic ticket machines and improved visitor routes at the site.

Ancient Alexandria331 BC – 7th century AD

Its place in time

  1. Before itCatacombs of Kom El ShoqafaLate 1st to 2nd century AD, found in 1900
  2. This landmarkPompey’s Pillar and the SerapeumAbout AD 300, on the site of the Ptolemaic Serapeum
  3. After itSidi al-Qabbari Mosque1264 (662 AH), enlarged in the 19th century

On the timeline of all the landmarks

Memories of the place

Every memory is taken from a published, documented source, named under it.

  1. The Ptolemaic period

    The site held the Serapeum, one of the best known Ptolemaic temples, for the cult of Serapis, Isis and their son Harpocrates.

    Source: Alexandria Governorate, West District: «دليل السائح والزائر» (archived 6 Dec 2025)

The other memories 4

  1. 3rd century ADSources differ on this date

    The governorate says the column’s date has not been fixed exactly but that it is Roman, most likely raised by the Alexandrians for the emperor Diocletian in thanks to him; Al-Ahram Weekly says it was hewn in the 3rd century AD in Diocletian’s honour.

    Source: Alexandria Governorate, «معالم الإسكندرية»: عامود السوارى (archived 2 Jul 2015)

  2. Its measurements

    The shaft is one piece 20.75 metres long, 2.70 metres across at the base and 2.30 at the capital; with its base the column is about 26.85 metres high.

    Source: Alexandria Governorate, «معالم الإسكندرية»: عامود السوارى (archived 2 Jul 2015)

The other memories2

  1. Since the Crusades

    The column has been wrongly known as “Pompey’s Pillar”.

    Source: Alexandria Governorate, «معالم الإسكندرية»: عامود السوارى (archived 2 Jul 2015)

  2. 2025

    Electronic ticket machines and improved visitor routes came to the site and to Kom El Shoqafa. Al-Ahram Weekly calls it the tallest surviving Roman triumphal column in the world.

    Source: Al-Ahram Weekly, Nevine El-Aref: Pompey’s Pillar and Kom El Shoqafa (2 Sep 2025)

Around it

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Map: © OpenStreetMap contributors

Nearby landmarks

Distances are as the crow flies, and approximate.