The monolith we now refer to as Pompey’s Pillar is stands imposingly at 30m tall. It stands on what remains of the oldest portion of Alexandria, constructed from granite that was manually lifted all the way from Aswan. Walking up to it, you would find it a struggle to even cover part of the pillar’s base with your arms outstretched given that its base is a full 2.7m in diameter with a tip just slightly narrower. First raised in 300AD, the structure remains despite the countless sieges that have laid waste to the surrounding region over the years, decimating ancient structures. The rubble that lies scattered about the pillar all serve as part of the feature as you pick your way past the near absolute destruction. The misleading name and limited clues would lead many to miss out on how this is in fact a memorial column for the Emperor Diocletian who saved his people from famine and drought despite the rebellion they staged. Though time may have robbed the acropolis of its grandeur, the tunnels accessed by defensive troops remain running like an endless pipe network. Some of these have been incorporated into the open air museum which the pillar is currently a part of. Running your fingers along the uneven rock face transports you back to when these spaces were still filled with armored men and boys, awaiting their enemy. There are few traces that remain but the brutal history of the site can’t be denied. As it stands now, the pillar might just be proof that benevolence can prevail if we choose to latch on to the lessons of our past.