Obelisco Lateranense

Beautiful place. Old structures

According to Rome Tourism's Obelisk PDF brochure, there are fourteen obelisks in Rome. Eight are Egyptian and six Roman, (the Romans created replicas with hieroglyphs), Obelisco Lateranense is one of the eight Egyptian obelisks. None of the Egyptian obelisks were gifted, Augustus was the first to start bringing them back to Rome after Egypt was conquered. This is the oldest and tallest obelisk in Rome and is considered the highest still standing obelisk in the world. Obelisco Lateranense, made from a single block of red granite, was quarried from Aswan and commissioned by Thutmose III in the 15th century BC. It lay incomplete in a workshop for 35 years, before eventually being erected by his grandson Thumose IV at the Temple of Amun-Ra in Karnak, (Thebes). Obelisks were made in pairs and this was the only single obelisk ever erected at Karnak. Augustus had his eye on this one, however it proved too arduous, to get back to Rome. Constantine I, was the next to covet it for Constantinople but he died in 337 AD, before it left Egypt. His son Constantius II decided to have a shot at it and succeeded, probably a case of third time lucky. He had a special ship built, manned by 300 rowers, for the removal of the obelisk in 357. This was the last of the obelisks to be brought to Rome. It was placed in the centre of the Circo Massimo, with the nearby Flaminio Obelisk, which Augustus had brought from Egypt 300 years earlier. The obelisk over centuries had disappeared, it is thought maybe an earthquake toppled it, or it was destroyed by the Goths. Pope Sixtus V wanted the obelisk found and it was, in 1587 buried 7 metres down in the Circo Massimo area, broken into three pieces, he then commissioned Domenico Fontana to erect it. The obelisk is now 32.18 metres high, however, it was 36 metres but 4 metres was lost from the bottom, as a result of relocating it from the Circo Massimo. It was topped with a cross and heraldic symbols of Pope Sixtus V, then re-erected in Piazza San Giovanni, in 1588. It is estimated to be around 455 tons. Saw obelisks in Egypt two years ago and they were magnificent, as is this beautifully preserved obelisk with hieroglyphs still incredibly detailed. It's a shame Sixtus V had to include the mess at the top.

Tallest Egyptian obelisk in Rome. Located around the back (right) of the Basilica of San Giovanni Laterano. This obelisk has a rich history detailed already in the reviews below. You shouldn't miss the Basilica or this obelisk when in Rome.

It is the Obelisk of the Egyptian Pharaoh, Tuthmosis III. Tuthmosis III has been immortalised in the Christian Bible as King David, and this may explain the presence of the Obelisk in Rome. O-Bel-Isk = The Great Orb (sun) of God (El)... the Aten.

This isn't one of the big tourist attractions of Rome but certainly worth the walk from the Colosseum to see - you're in Rome, get walking! The obelisk was created by the Egyptians around 1400 BC (3400 years ago roughly!), was installed at the Circus Maximus by the Romans until it fell and was eventually moved to its current location in the late 1500's.

(I don't evaluate the historical relevancy of the monument, which is invaluable, I evaluate the supporting facilities that elevate the monument) Surrounded by a plaza where it is easy to walk around and admire the monument, except for one side where there is a busy crossroad, there are no signs that assist in explaining the monument. The monument is fairly well kept at the time of writing. Definitely worth the visit.

Apparently this obelisk is the tallest in the city of Rome, not a major landmark but it dominate the square. Design in Umbertino architectural style.

The oldest ancient Egyptian obelisk in Rome - from XV century BC, so more than 3400 years old. Really impressive peace of history.