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In 1803, two British sailors climbed the ancient Roman column ‘Pompey’s Pillar’, affixed a weather vane to the top, ate steaks and toasted to King George III

Alex A

Located in Alexandria, Egypt, Pompey’s Pillar is the largest  Roman triumphal column constructed outside the imperial capitals of Rome and Constantinople.

Pompey's Pillar. Photo Credit
Pompey’s Pillar. Photo Credit

The Pompey Pillar is also one of the largest ancient monoliths, one of the largest monolithic columns ever erected, and the only known free-standing column in Roman Egypt.

 

Cornelius de Bruyn, view of Pompey's Pillar with Alexandria in the background, 1681.
Cornelius de Bruyn, view of Pompey’s Pillar with Alexandria in the background, 1681.

The Corinthian column is erroneously dated to the time of Pompey, but it was actually built in 297 as a triumphal pillar commemorating the victory of Roman Emperor Diocletian over an Alexandrian Revolt

 

View of Pompey's Pillar with Alexandria in the background around 1850.
View of Pompey’s Pillar with Alexandria in the background around 1850.

The Roman triumphal pillar was described by a Muslim traveler, Ibn Battuta, who visited the column back in 1436. Battuta recounted the story of an archer who shot an arrow tied to a string over the column, which enabled him to pull a rope tied to the string over the column and secure it on the other side in order to climb over to the top of the pillar.

Siege de la Colonne de Pompée - The description reads - Science in the pillory. In this scene, Gillray (claiming to base his drawing on intercepted dispatches), lampoons the corp of scientists, artists and architects that travelled to Egypt as part of Napoleon's force, all of whom are here pictured trapped atop Pompey's Pillar and being set upon by various natives. This is one of several plates Gillray did during and after the French expedition. The man never tired of goosing Boney with his pen and brush.
Siege de la Colonne de Pompée – The description reads – Science in the pillory. In this scene, Gillray (claiming to base his drawing on intercepted dispatches), lampoons the corp of scientists, artists and architects that travelled to Egypt as part of Napoleon’s force, all of whom are here pictured trapped atop Pompey’s Pillar and being set upon by various natives. This is one of several plates Gillray did during and after the French expedition. The man never tired of goosing Boney with his pen and brush.

 

British Naval Commander John Shortland atop the pillar (1803)
British Naval Commander John Shortland atop the pillar (1803)

 

In 1803, John Shortland, commander of HMS Pandour, visited Alexandria and flew a kite over  Pompey’s Pillar, which enabled him to attach ropes and a rope ladder to the column. Later that year, Shortland, along with Pandour‘s John White, got to the top of the Pompey’s Pillar. They celebrated their triumph by displaying the Union Flag on the Pilar and drank a toast to King Geroge III. A couple of days later, the sailors climbed back to the top assembled a staff, fixed a weather vane, ate a beef steak, and again toasted the king