Egyptian Obelisks
Egyptian Obelisks
What is an obelisk and what is its purpose? Obelisk Definition: An
obelisk is a monumental tapering column carved from a single block
of stone (a monolith), with a square (or rectangular) cross-section and
capped with a pointed top called a pyramidion. The word Obelisk is
derived from the Greek word obeliskos meaning "needle". Obelisks were
set in pairs, at the entrances of temples, and to some Old Kingdom tombs
and closely related to the cult of the Sun God Ra also known as Atum.
Obelisks symbolized the stability and the creative force of Atum.
Obelisks were believed to act as magical protection to the
monuments such as temples and tombs.
Egyptian Obelisk
Legends
The Ancient Egyptian Obelisk legends
are founded in the
creation myth, or Cosmogony, to explain how some of the Gods and
Goddesses came into being. The
Sun God Ra (as Atum) was one of the Ennead, the collective name given to the nine
original deities (Gods and Goddesses) of the cosmogony of Heliopolis (the birthplace of the Gods) in
the creation myths and legends. The creation legend relates to the
Sun God Ra (as Atum) who rose in the beginning from the primeval ocean
called Nun to the first, conical-shaped, mound of earth. The first rays
of the sun fell on Ra marking the way to heaven by ascending the rays of
the sun.
The original mound of earth was called the benben which was
said to be a conical shape (like an obelisk) and four-sided (like a pyramid). The sacred benben stone was
worshipped in the ‘Mansion Of The Phoenix’ the
Great Sun Temple at Heliopolis. The legend of the Benben Stone could have led to architectural
concept of the obelisk and the pyramid. The pointed pyramid-shaped cap
on an obelisk is, in fact, called a Benbenet or a pyramidion. The Pyramid and the
obelisk are interesting concepts in respect of the Sun God Ra. The
obelisk pointing upwards towards the sun and the pyramid as a material
representation of the rays of the sun. It is easy to imagine how an
ancient
Pharaoh would see the association of the obelisk, pyramid and the sun and how the
structure could be a means whereby the dead king could ascend to heaven.
History of Egyptian Obelisks
The Ancient Egyptians believed that the obelisk symbolized the sun god
Ra and during the brief religious reformation of Akhenaten was said to
be a petrified ray of the aten, the sundisk. It was also thought that
the god existed within the structure of the obelisk. Obelisks therefore
marked specific temples as a zone of sun worship. Obelisks were placed
in pairs before the temples with one on either side of the portal. On
each side of the obelisk a line of carved inscriptions of hieroglyphics
containing the titles of the Pharaoh and praising the god. The cap, or
pyramidion, was sometimes sheathed with copper or another metal which
caught and reflected the rays of the sun.
Egyptian Obelisks
There are 26 known ancient Egyptian
obelisks which are located in many different countries including the UK,
USA, France and Italy.
Egyptian Obelisks
located in Egypt at Cairo, Luxor and Karnak
The most famous Egyptian Obelisks
are located in Egypt at Cairo, Luxor and Karnak as follows:
-
Karnak and Luxor
-
Obelisk to the
Pharaoh Tuthmosis I, Karnak Temple, Luxor
-
Obelisk to the
Pharaoh Ramses II, Luxor Temple
-
Obelisk to the
Pharaoh Hatshepsut, Karnak Temple, Luxor
-
Obelisk to the
Pharaoh Ramses III, Luxor Museum
-
Cairo
-
Obelisk to the
Pharaoh Sesostris I, Heliopolis, Cairo
-
Obelisk to the
Pharaoh Ramses II, Luxor Temple
Obelisk of Queen
Hatshepsut at Karnak
The Obelisk of Queen Hatshepsut at Karnak is one of the most famous
obelisks. Queen Hatshepsut was the fifth pharaoh of the Eighteenth
dynasty of ancient Egypt. The location of the Obelisk of Queen
Hatshepsutis the Karnak Great Temple of Amun. The Obelisk of Queen
Hatshepsut is the tallest obelisk in Egypt with a height of
approximately 30 meters and weighing over 300 tons. The obelisk of
Hatshepsut is made of red granite. Queen Hatshepsut is said to have
built at least 4 other obelisks as monuments to her reign as female
pharaoh.
Egyptian Obelisks
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