About 300AD there was a Roman Emperor called Diocletian who exempted his people from paying taxes and made sure they had enough corn during a time of hardship (to be fair he did cause the famine by besieging the city). So the people erected a memorial pillar in honour of him (it seems the city folk were of a forgiving nature). Then, in the middle ages, someone starts spreading the story that the ashes, or possibly the head, of Roman General Pompey were kept at the top of this pillar. So everyone starts calling it “Pompey’s Pillar,” (which was not even true) even though, it says quite clearly on the pillar:

*To the right and good emperor, the protector god of Alexandria, Diocletian, who has never been beaten*

To this day, the memorial is called “Pompey’s Pillar.”

Poor old Diocletian.