Pompey's Pillar - Revision history

Keith: /* Construction */

2025-04-23T06:28:58Z

Construction

← Older revision		Revision as of 00:28, 23 April 2025
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	The monument stands some 26.85 m (88.1 ft) high, including its base and capital, and originally would have supported a statue some 7 m (23 ft) tall.The only known monolithic column in Roman Egypt (i.e., not composed of drums), it is one of the largest ancient monoliths and one of the largest monolithic columns ever erected. The monolithic column shaft is 20.46 m (67.1 ft) in height with a diameter of 2.71 m (8 ft 11 in) at its base, and the socle itself is over 6 m (20 ft) tall. Both are of lapis syenites, a pink granite cut from the ancient quarries at Syene (modern Aswan), while the column capital of pseudo-Corinthian type is of grey granite. Charles Piazzi Smyth refers to researchers of the 18th and 19th century discussing their statements of it being cast in place from manufactured stone as its transportation couldn't be explained. The weight of the column shaft is estimated to be 285 tonnes (314 short tons)		The monument stands some 26.85 m (88.1 ft) high, including its base and capital, and originally would have supported a statue some 7 m (23 ft) tall.The only known monolithic column in Roman Egypt (i.e., not composed of drums), it is one of the largest ancient monoliths and one of the largest monolithic columns ever erected. The monolithic column shaft is 20.46 m (67.1 ft) in height with a diameter of 2.71 m (8 ft 11 in) at its base, and the socle itself is over 6 m (20 ft) tall. Both are of lapis syenites, a pink granite cut from the ancient quarries at Syene (modern Aswan), while the column capital of pseudo-Corinthian type is of grey granite. Charles Piazzi Smyth refers to researchers of the 18th and 19th century discussing their statements of it being cast in place from manufactured stone as its transportation couldn't be explained. The weight of the column shaft is estimated to be 285 tonnes (314 short tons)

			===Temple of Harpocratis===

			To the east of the pillar is a pile of rubble that has been near this site since it was razed in 145 AD. Some of the items in the debris are actually on hinges, and open the tunnel under the pillar and former Serapeaum. The original temple was built with celebrated doorways to worship the child of silence.

Keith at 06:23, 23 April 2025

2025-04-23T06:23:29Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 00:23, 23 April 2025
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	;[[Alexandria 1900]]		;[[Alexandria 1900]]

	Pompey's Pillar (Arabic: عمود السواري, romanized: 'Amud El-Sawari) is a Roman triumphal column in Alexandria, Egypt. Despite its modern name, it was actually set up in honour of the Roman emperor Diocletian between 298–302 AD. The giant Corinthian column originally supported a colossal porphyry statue of the emperor in armour.~~[1]~~ It stands at the eastern side of the temenos of the Serapeum of Alexandria, which is now in ruins.		Pompey's Pillar (Arabic: عمود السواري, romanized: 'Amud El-Sawari) is a Roman triumphal column in Alexandria, Egypt. Despite its modern name, it was actually set up in honour of the Roman emperor Diocletian between 298–302 AD. The giant Corinthian column originally supported a colossal porphyry statue of the emperor in armour. It stands at the eastern side of the temenos of the Serapeum of Alexandria, which is now in ruins.

	It is the only ancient monument in Alexandria that is still standing in its original location.~~[2]~~		It is the only ancient monument in Alexandria that is still standing in its original location.
	~~Name~~

	The local name is Arabic: عمود السواري, romanized: 'Amud El-Sawari, where the word 'Amud means "column". The name Sawari has been translated in many ways by scholars, including Severus (i.e. Emperor Septimius Severus).[3]		==Name==

	The ~~name of Pompey in relation to the pillar was used by many European writers in early modern times. The~~ name is considered to stem from a historical misreading of the Greek dedicatory inscription on the base;[4] the name ΠΟΥΠΛΙΟΣ (Πού̣π̣[λιος], Pouplios) was confused with ΠΟΜΠΗΙΟΣ (Ancient Greek: ~~Πομπήιος~~, romanized: ~~Pompeios).[4]~~		The local name is Arabic: عمود السواري, romanized: 'Amud El-Sawari, where the word 'Amud means "column". The name Sawari has been translated in many ways by scholars, including Severus (i.e. Emperor Septimius Severus).
	~~Construction~~
	~~1809 publication in~~ the ~~Description de l~~'~~Égypte:~~ "~~Vue profils et détails de la grande colonne appelée communément Colonne de Pompée~~"

	In 297 Diocletian, Augustus since 284, campaigned in Egypt to suppress the revolt of the usurper Domitius Domitianus. After a long siege, Diocletian captured Alexandria and executed Domitianus's successor Aurelius Achilleus in 298. In 302 the emperor returned to the city and inaugurated a state grain supply.~~[4]~~ The dedication of the column monument and its statue of Diocletian, describes Diocletian as polioúchos (Ancient Greek: πολιοῦχον Ἀλεξανδρείας, romanized: polioúchon Alexandreias, lit. 'city-guardian-god ACC of Alexandria').~~[5][6]~~ In the fourth century AD this designation also applied to Serapis, the male counterpart of Isis in the pantheon instituted by the Hellenistic rulers of Egypt, the Ptolemies.~~[7][8]~~ The sanctuary complex dedicated to Serapis in which the column was originally erected, the Serapeum, was built under King Ptolemy III Euergetes in the third century BC and rebuilt under Roman rule, likely in the late 2nd to early 3rd century CE, being completed under Emperor Caracalla. In the later fourth century AD it was considered by Ammianus Marcellinus a marvel rivalled only by Rome's sanctuary to Jupiter Optimus Maximus on the Capitoline Hill, the Capitolium.		The name of Pompey in relation to the pillar was used by many European writers in early modern times. The name is considered to stem from a historical misreading of the Greek dedicatory inscription on the base;[4] the name ΠΟΥΠΛΙΟΣ (Πού̣π̣[λιος], Pouplios) was confused with ΠΟΜΠΗΙΟΣ (Ancient Greek: Πομπήιος, romanized: Pompeios).

			==Construction==

			In 297 Diocletian, Augustus since 284, campaigned in Egypt to suppress the revolt of the usurper Domitius Domitianus. After a long siege, Diocletian captured Alexandria and executed Domitianus's successor Aurelius Achilleus in 298. In 302 the emperor returned to the city and inaugurated a state grain supply. The dedication of the column monument and its statue of Diocletian, describes Diocletian as polioúchos (Ancient Greek: πολιοῦχον Ἀλεξανδρείας, romanized: polioúchon Alexandreias, lit. 'city-guardian-god ACC of Alexandria'). In the fourth century AD this designation also applied to Serapis, the male counterpart of Isis in the pantheon instituted by the Hellenistic rulers of Egypt, the Ptolemies. The sanctuary complex dedicated to Serapis in which the column was originally erected, the Serapeum, was built under King Ptolemy III Euergetes in the third century BC and rebuilt under Roman rule, likely in the late 2nd to early 3rd century CE, being completed under Emperor Caracalla. In the later fourth century AD it was considered by Ammianus Marcellinus a marvel rivalled only by Rome's sanctuary to Jupiter Optimus Maximus on the Capitoline Hill, the Capitolium.

	The monument stands some 26.85 m (88.1 ft) high, including its base and capital, and originally would have supported a statue some 7 m (23 ft) tall.The only known monolithic column in Roman Egypt (i.e., not composed of drums), it is one of the largest ancient monoliths and one of the largest monolithic columns ever erected. The monolithic column shaft is 20.46 m (67.1 ft) in height with a diameter of 2.71 m (8 ft 11 in) at its base, and the socle itself is over 6 m (20 ft) tall. Both are of lapis syenites, a pink granite cut from the ancient quarries at Syene (modern Aswan), while the column capital of pseudo-Corinthian type is of grey granite. Charles Piazzi Smyth refers to researchers of the 18th and 19th century discussing their statements of it being cast in place from manufactured stone as its transportation couldn't be explained. The weight of the column shaft is estimated to be 285 tonnes (314 short tons)		The monument stands some 26.85 m (88.1 ft) high, including its base and capital, and originally would have supported a statue some 7 m (23 ft) tall.The only known monolithic column in Roman Egypt (i.e., not composed of drums), it is one of the largest ancient monoliths and one of the largest monolithic columns ever erected. The monolithic column shaft is 20.46 m (67.1 ft) in height with a diameter of 2.71 m (8 ft 11 in) at its base, and the socle itself is over 6 m (20 ft) tall. Both are of lapis syenites, a pink granite cut from the ancient quarries at Syene (modern Aswan), while the column capital of pseudo-Corinthian type is of grey granite. Charles Piazzi Smyth refers to researchers of the 18th and 19th century discussing their statements of it being cast in place from manufactured stone as its transportation couldn't be explained. The weight of the column shaft is estimated to be 285 tonnes (314 short tons)

Keith: Created page with ";Alexandria 1900 Pompey's Pillar (Arabic: عمود السواري, romanized: 'Amud El-Sawari) is a Roman triumphal column in Alexandria, Egypt. Despite its modern name, it was actually set up in honour of the Roman emperor Diocletian between 298–302 AD. The giant Corinthian column originally supported a colossal porphyry statue of the emperor in armour.[1] It stands at the eastern side of the temenos of the Serapeum of Alexandria, which is now in ruins. It is t..."

2025-04-23T06:14:49Z

Created page with ";Alexandria 1900 Pompey's Pillar (Arabic: عمود السواري, romanized: 'Amud El-Sawari) is a Roman triumphal column in Alexandria, Egypt. Despite its modern name, it was actually set up in honour of the Roman emperor Diocletian between 298–302 AD. The giant Corinthian column originally supported a colossal porphyry statue of the emperor in armour.[1] It stands at the eastern side of the temenos of the Serapeum of Alexandria, which is now in ruins. It is t..."

New page

;[[Alexandria 1900]]

Pompey's Pillar (Arabic: عمود السواري, romanized: 'Amud El-Sawari) is a Roman triumphal column in Alexandria, Egypt. Despite its modern name, it was actually set up in honour of the Roman emperor Diocletian between 298–302 AD. The giant Corinthian column originally supported a colossal porphyry statue of the emperor in armour.[1] It stands at the eastern side of the temenos of the Serapeum of Alexandria, which is now in ruins.

It is the only ancient monument in Alexandria that is still standing in its original location.[2]
Name

The local name is Arabic: عمود السواري, romanized: 'Amud El-Sawari, where the word 'Amud means "column". The name Sawari has been translated in many ways by scholars, including Severus (i.e. Emperor Septimius Severus).[3]

The name of Pompey in relation to the pillar was used by many European writers in early modern times. The name is considered to stem from a historical misreading of the Greek dedicatory inscription on the base;[4] the name ΠΟΥΠΛΙΟΣ (Πού̣π̣[λιος], Pouplios) was confused with ΠΟΜΠΗΙΟΣ (Ancient Greek: Πομπήιος, romanized: Pompeios).[4]
Construction
1809 publication in the Description de l'Égypte: "Vue profils et détails de la grande colonne appelée communément Colonne de Pompée"

In 297 Diocletian, Augustus since 284, campaigned in Egypt to suppress the revolt of the usurper Domitius Domitianus. After a long siege, Diocletian captured Alexandria and executed Domitianus's successor Aurelius Achilleus in 298. In 302 the emperor returned to the city and inaugurated a state grain supply.[4] The dedication of the column monument and its statue of Diocletian, describes Diocletian as polioúchos (Ancient Greek: πολιοῦχον Ἀλεξανδρείας, romanized: polioúchon Alexandreias, lit. 'city-guardian-god ACC of Alexandria').[5][6] In the fourth century AD this designation also applied to Serapis, the male counterpart of Isis in the pantheon instituted by the Hellenistic rulers of Egypt, the Ptolemies.[7][8] The sanctuary complex dedicated to Serapis in which the column was originally erected, the Serapeum, was built under King Ptolemy III Euergetes in the third century BC and rebuilt under Roman rule, likely in the late 2nd to early 3rd century CE, being completed under Emperor Caracalla. In the later fourth century AD it was considered by Ammianus Marcellinus a marvel rivalled only by Rome's sanctuary to Jupiter Optimus Maximus on the Capitoline Hill, the Capitolium.

The monument stands some 26.85 m (88.1 ft) high, including its base and capital, and originally would have supported a statue some 7 m (23 ft) tall.The only known monolithic column in Roman Egypt (i.e., not composed of drums), it is one of the largest ancient monoliths and one of the largest monolithic columns ever erected. The monolithic column shaft is 20.46 m (67.1 ft) in height with a diameter of 2.71 m (8 ft 11 in) at its base, and the socle itself is over 6 m (20 ft) tall. Both are of lapis syenites, a pink granite cut from the ancient quarries at Syene (modern Aswan), while the column capital of pseudo-Corinthian type is of grey granite. Charles Piazzi Smyth refers to researchers of the 18th and 19th century discussing their statements of it being cast in place from manufactured stone as its transportation couldn't be explained. The weight of the column shaft is estimated to be 285 tonnes (314 short tons)