An inscribed pillar is a type of monument that has been carved with inscriptions or symbols. The term 'inscribed pillar' can refer to three different types of monuments: stela, stele, and stelae. A stela is a single upright stone slab with an inscription or relief design on it. A stele is a similar type of monument, but it is usually taller and more elaborate than a stela. Stelae are multiple steles arranged in a line or group. All three types of inscribed pillars are used to commemorate important events or people, or to mark boundaries.