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The Lateran Obelisk is the tallest standing ancient Egyptian obelisk in existance today, originally measuring over 33 meters in height. The Lateran Obelisk has a long history, being first carved by the Thutmosids of Egpyt and later moved to rome. It now stands in front of the Lateran Palace in the Vatican City
Charecteristics[edit]
The Lateran Obelisk currently measures 32.15 meters in height, and originally probably had as much as a meter more on the bottom, however it has lost some of its base.[1] The obelisk itself is covered with eight panes of text, two on each side, containing laudatory inscriptions in ancient Egyptian about the king who raised it, Thutmose IV. The inscriptions indicate that the pyramidion was originally covered with electrum,[2] but this is now gone, and a base of granite was at one time added to the bottom and inscribed by Constantinus, however this too is now lost.[3]
Origin in Egypt[edit]
The Lateran obelisk was first quarried by Thutmose III. Calling it the Tekhen Waty, or sole obelisk, he intended it for use in his counter-temple, east of the Iput-isut, the main sanctuary at Karnak.[4] The Tekhen Waty was a single obelisk designed to stand alone and serve as the cult object for this counter temple, instead of standing as part of a pair as other obelisks did.[1] However, it was not erected for thirty five years, until his grandson, Thutmose IV, found it on the south side of Karnak, and, claiming that Thutmose III ordered him to finish his work, he raised it inside of the counter-temple.[2] The obelisk was later moved into the center of the Iput-isut by Ptolemy VIII Euergetes II,[4] and remained in Egypt until Constantine took it down and Constantius removed it to one of his capital cities.[1]
Move to Rome[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ a b c Garth Fowden. Nicagors of Athens and the Lateran Obelisk. p.53. The Journal of Hellenic Studies, vol. 107 (1987)
- ^ a b Breasted, James Henry. Ancient Records of Egypt, Vol. II p.330. University of Chicago Press, Chicago, 1906.
- ^ Garth Fowden. Nicagors of Athens and the Lateran Obelisk. p.54. The Journal of Hellenic Studies, vol. 107 (1987)
- ^ a b Grimal, Nicolas. A History of Ancient Egypt. p.303. Librairie Arthéme Fayard, 1988.