Pompey's Pillar (column)

Pompey's Pillar
British Naval Commander John Shortland on the top (1803)

Pompey's Pillar is a Roman triumphal column in Alexandria, Egypt, and the largest of its type constructed outside of the imperial capitals of Rome and Constantinople.[1] The only known free-standing column in Roman Egypt which was not composed of drums,[1] it is one of the largest ancient monoliths and one of the largest monolithic columns ever erected.

The monolithic column shaft measures 20.46 m in height with a diameter of 2.71 m at its base.[2] The weight of the single piece of red Aswan granite is estimated at 285 t.[2] The column is 26.85 m high including its base and capital.[2] Other authors give slightly deviating dimensions.[A 1]

Erroneously dated to the time of Pompey, the Corinthian column was actually built in 297 AD, commemorating the victory of Roman emperor Diocletian over an Alexandrinian revolt.[2]

In early 1803, Commander John Shortland of HMS Pandour flew a kite over Pompey's Pillar. This enabled him to get ropes over it, and then a rope ladder. On February 2, he and John White, Pandour‍ '​s Master, climbed it. When they got to the top they displayed the Union Flag, drank a toast to King George III, and gave three cheers. Four days later they climbed the pillar again, erected a staff, fixed a weather vane, ate a beef steak, and again toasted the king.[3]

Notes

  1. ↑ According to Thiel, the single-piece column is 20.75 m high (28.7 m including base and pedestal), with a diameter of 2.7–2.8 m (pp. 252f.).

Coordinates: 31°10′56.98″N 29°53′47.23″E / 31.1824944°N 29.8964528°E

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Thiel 2006, pp. 251–254
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Adam 1977, pp. 50f.
  3. ↑ Naval Chronicle, Vol. 27, p.111.

Sources

See also

External links

Media related to Pompey's Pillar at Wikimedia Commons