| . | Egyptian Obelisks |
Obelisk of Arles |
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| Materials |
Obelisks were made from a single block of hard and durable granite rock |
Red granite from
Asia minor |
| Shape |
A monolithic stone with a quadrangular base, placed upright and ending with a pointed top
The obelisk is composed of two parts:
1- The body is a long block of a conic trunk section
2- The pyramidon is top of the obelisk symbolized the rays of the sun, it had a pyramid formation and was plated in gold, a metal which the Egyptians
believed was the skin of gods
Egyptians believed that solar rays had a vivifying power.
The length varied from less than 1 meter to 30 meters
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Strange shape with a thin top and a wide base
Height: 15.78 meters
Base diameter: 1.70 meters
The point was topped with a bronze globe representing the sun, dotted with
lotus flowers.
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| Function and Use |
Religious elements - Obelisks were symbols of the solar god Ra
In the Architecture of temples they were placed in pairs, in front of entrance pylons and served to magically protect the temple
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A Decorative element - the obelisk was a landmark in the heart of the Roman circus |
| Historical Development |
They arose, from the Pre-Dynastic Period, and were only fully developed during the New Kingdom,
all ancient obelisks still in existence were erected during the New Kingdom and the Ptolemaic Period
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Erected under the Roman emperor Constantine in the 4th century in the center of the "spina" of the circus of Arles |
| Decorations |
Inscriptions on all four sides of the body
Parts of the pyramidon were carved with bas-relief
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The Roman obelisk is devoid of inscriptions
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| Historical heritage |
There are only 26 Egyptian obelisks still remaining at present, 8 are in Egypt
1- Senusret I 12th dynasty - The earliest temple obelisk still in its original position at Heliopolis - 20.7m high - 120 tons red granite
2- Thutmose I 18th dynasty- Karnak Temple
3- Hatshepsut 18th dynasty - Karnak Temple
4- Ramses II 19th dynasty - The twin obelisks erected to conmemorate the victory at the battle of Qadesh, in front of the Karnak temple - 22.5m high - 114 tons each
5- Ramses II 19th dynasty - was originally erected in Tanis and transported to the actual place, Al Andalus Garden in Gezira Island, Cairo, in 1958 - 13.5m high
6- Ramses II 19th dynasty - Cairo Airport
7- Seti II 19th dynasty - Karnak Temple
8- Ramses III 20th dynasty - Aswan
The rest were transported to Rome and other European cities in antiquity |
Abandoned and fell down in the 6th century.
It was rediscovered in 1389, and Louis XIV placed at its present position in front of the town hall. |
