380 EGYPT. 



which the pillar rests is covered with hieroglyphics. Returned the 

 17th with an intention to copy them. 



April 11. — Yesterday was at Pompey's pillar; went in below, and 

 copied the hieroglyphics. Found them inverted, and upon measur- 

 ing, saw that the stone is smaller in the lower than upper parts. 

 The support of the column is therefore an obelisk, turned upside 

 down. * 



* The main weight of the pillar (says Pococke), rests upon the stone which has hiero- 

 glyphics on it. See also De Tott, vol. ii. and Norry, Dec. Egypt. This circumstance (says 

 Shaw) may induce us to suspect that the pillar, was not erected by the Egyptians, who 

 could not well be imagined thus to bury their sacred inscriptions, but by the Greeks or 

 Romans, nay, later perhaps than Strabo. The stone supporting the column is also 

 mentioned by the Arabic writers. See Abdallatif, p. 233. S. de Sacy. The hieroglyphics 

 are engraved in Dr. Clarke's Travels. 



A few words may be added concerning the inscription on the column, and the name 

 by which it has been hitherto known. In some of the Arabic writers it is called Amoud 

 al Sawary, " The pillars of the colonnades," alluding to the porticoes with which it was 

 surrounded so late as the time of Saladin in the beginning of the 12th century. Michaelis 

 once thought that the words might mean " the column of Severus," but afterwards aban- 

 doned the opinion. Villoison supposes the Greek inscription to refer to Pomponius, the 

 Praefect of Egypt, who raised the column. 



But the common appellation of Pompey's Pillar seems to me to be properly assigned to it 

 for this reason, Pompeius was governor of pari of lower Egypt in the time of Diocletian. Pie 

 may have been governor of Alexandria, and there have raised the pillar in honour of that 

 Emperor. This information respecting a Praefect in Egypt of the name of Pompey in the 

 time of Diocletian, which we owe entirely to M. Quatremere (Mem. Geog. sur l'Egypte, 

 p. 259. 1.) is a remarkable corroboration of the opinion of those who think the pillar was 

 raised in honour of Diocletian by a magistrate of the name of Pompeius. Major Missett 

 informed Mr. W. Turner that the letters AIOK. H. IANON were considered by those who 

 had lately visited Egypt, as discernible : and Col. Leake gives the word " Diocletian," as 

 the result of the examination made by himself, Mr. Hamilton, and Col. Squire. — See 

 Classical Journal, vol. xiii. p. 153. 



Dr. Clarke proposes, instead of A IOKAHTI ANON, to read AIONAAPIANON, and 

 Pococke thought the pillar was erected in honour of Titus or Hadrian. Dr. C. thinks, 

 " the use of AlOS is perhaps unknown in Greek prose;" but we find it in a Greek in- 

 scription at Ombos in Egypt, TilEP BA^IAEilS IITOAEMAIOT AIOT KAI BA2I- 

 AI22H2 KAEOriATPHS x. t. a. Hamilton's ^Egypt, 75.— Ed. 



