[Sidenote:  Pompey’s head sent to Caesar.] [Sidenote:  Caesar mourns Pompey.]

The tidings of Pompey’s death came to Caesar at Alexandria, and with them the head of the murdered man, which was sent by the government of Ptolemy, they supposing that it would be an acceptable gift to Caesar.  Instead of being pleased with it, Caesar turned from the shocking spectacle in horror.  Pompey had been, for many years now gone by, Caesar’s colleague and friend.  He had been his son-in-law, and thus had sustained to him a very near and endearing relation.  In the contest which had at last unfortunately arisen, Pompey had done no wrong either to Caesar or to the government at Rome.  He was the injured party, so far as there was a right and a wrong to such a quarrel.  And now, after being hunted through half the world by his triumphant enemy, he had been treacherously murdered by men pretending to receive him as a friend.  The natural sense of justice, which formed originally so strong a trait in Caesar’s character, was not yet wholly extinguished.  He could not but feel some remorse at the thoughts of the long course of violence and wrong which he had pursued against his old champion and friend, and which had led at last to so dreadful an end.  Instead of being pleased with the horrid trophy which the Egyptians sent him, he mourned the death of his great rival with sincere and unaffected grief, and was filled with indignation against his murderers.

[Sidenote:  Pompey’s signet ring.] [Sidenote:  Caesar’s respect for Pompey’s memory.] [Sidenote:  Pompey’s Pillar.] [Sidenote:  Origin of Pompey’s Pillar.]

[Illustration:  Pompey’s Pillar.]

Pompey had a signet ring upon his finger at the time of his assassination, which was taken off by the Egyptian officers and carried away to Ptolemy, together with the other articles of value which had been found upon his person.  Ptolemy sent this seal to Caesar to complete the proof that its possessor was no more.  Caesar received this memorial with eager though mournful pleasure, and he preserved it with great care.  And in many ways, during all the remainder of his life, he manifested every outward indication of cherishing the highest respect for Pompey’s memory.  There stands to the present day, among the ruins of Alexandria, a beautiful column, about one hundred feet high, which has been known in all modern times as POMPEY’S PILLAR.  It is formed of stone, and is in three parts.  One stone forms the pedestal, another the shaft, and a third the capital.  The beauty of this column, the perfection of its workmanship, which still continues in excellent preservation, and its antiquity, so great that all distinct record of its origin is lost, have combined to make it for many ages the wonder and admiration of mankind.  Although no history of its origin has come down to us, a tradition has descended that Caesar built it during his residence in Egypt, to commemorate the name of Pompey; but whether it was his own victory over Pompey, or Pompey’s own character and military fame which the structure was intended to signalize to mankind, can not now be known.  There is even some doubt whether it was erected by Caesar at all.