The Aswan Obelisk

The Unfinished Obelisk

The obelisks were like the pyramids, a testament to the ability of the ancient Egyptians to cut and move these great granite blocks. One of Egypt’s most prominent and giant obelisks is the Unfinished Obelisk of Aswan, located north of an old red granite quarry in Aswan. This Obelisk is the largest in the ancient world and Egypt, as it is one-third more significant than all Egyptian obelisks. Its name ”obelisk” is from the Greek word ”obelisks”.

The Story of the Unfinished Obelisk in Aswan

The construction of the obelisks began in the New Kingdom. Even though they were built before, they were small. The exact time of its construction is unknown. Still, it is believed that the Unfinished Obelisk was constructed during the reign of Queen Hatshepsut (wife of King Tuthmosis II) of the 18th dynasty, who ruled Egypt from 1490 to 1468 BC. C. The Obelisk was built to partner with the later Obelisk of the Temple of Karnak (30 m high and 350 tons), which was moved to the Lateran Palace in Rome. Separating the Obelisk from the quarry bedrock caused cracks in the rock, which is why it was abandoned without finishing its construction.

The Construction of the Unfinished Obelisk

From the entrance to the quarry, steps lead down to an obelisk pit with ancient pictographs of dolphins and ostriches or flamingos, which quarry workers probably painted. The Obelisk is made of red granite from Aswan. The Obelisk measures 42 m and 1200 tons. The base of the Obelisk is 4 m long.
The lower part of the Obelisk is still connected to the rock. The surface was smooth because they removed the stone ball imperfections. It is considered an open-air museum on the UNESCO World Heritage List of 1979.

How to make an Egyptian obelisk?

The Unfinished Obelisk helps the Egyptians discover the techniques of building an obelisk, working in stone, and cutting huge blocks. The ancient Egyptians used the tools in the form of wooden wedges, which were driven into rectangular openings made in the rock, and after the wedges were immersed in water, they were swollen and used to cut the blocks.

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