Pompey Column is a 25-meter pillar of red granite monolith. It was erected by Publius, Prefect of Egypt in honor of Emperor Diocletian in 324 AC. Later historians confused the column with an epitaph for Pompey who was killed in Alexandria in 48 BC after being defeated by Julius Caesar during a civil war.
The Arabic name of the column is 'Amoud El Sawari', as it looks like the mast of a ship from far. Around the column lie the remains of the Serapeum, which is a subterranean gallery where sacred bulls were buried. There is also a small open museum with columns, sphinxes and capitals.