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| Egypt Flights Home »Tourist Attractions in Alexandria »Pompey's Pillar |
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Pompey's Pillar |
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Egypt reminds us of the Pyramids and a plethora of monuments, bearing witness to bygone times. Almost all the landmarks in Egypt are characterized by their antique values. The history of Egypt dates back to the Paleolithic era. Historians have unearthed scientific evidences of human inhabitation in the Nile valley. Lured in by the rich assemblage of natural as well as man-made attractions, millions of leisure travelers from all around the world tour to Egypt throughout the year. The tourism infrastructure in all the major cities in Egypt has been beefed up in the past few decades in order to accommodate for more visitors. Speaking of cities in Egypt and Alexandria features prominently in the list of most sought after tourist destinations in Egypt. This city is among the very few ancient cities to have come through the ravages of time. Famous monuments and pillars are dispersed all around the city. Pompey's Pillar is one of the prime tourist attractions in Alexandria.
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Majority of the monuments in Alexandria were annihililated by earthquakes and other natural calamities. Only remnants of a few landmarks are still there, bearing testimony to the longstanding cultural heritage of the country. Pompey's Pillar is by far the most famous of all existing monuments. This pillar is located at on the ancient acropolis of the city. The Arab cemetary is located not very far away from Pompey's Pillar. The ragged terrain of the area makes plying of modern vehicles a touch difficult.
In the beginning, Pompey's Pillar was a part of a temple colonnade. However, the temple is no longer to be seen in the vicinity of the pillar today.
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The whole structure is 30 m tall. This height is inclusive of the pedestal. The look of the pillar is enhanced by the shaft which is made of polished red granite. The diameter of the shaft is about three meters at the base, pointing to two and a half meters at the top.
The pillar was built up in 293 A. D. to pay tribute to the rebellion of Domitius Domitianus. It might be noted that Pompey's Pillar as seen today is not the original structure. The original structure was dismantled in the 4th century A. D., following an order issued by a bishop on account of Paganism. It was declared that Pompey's Pillar had nothing to do with the history of Pompey.
The acropolis hill itself holds the underground remnants of the Serapeum. It is believed that the miracles of the Pagan god Serapis were acted out over there. The walls of the Serapeum were cut out intricately to provide an additional entrepot for keeping books in the ancient library.
Stay tuned to Egyptflightshub.com for more information on popular landmarks in Egypt.
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