Egyptian Obelisks

By Ellie Nakfoor

Location:

• The structures were built all over Egypt.• They arose from the Pre-Dynastic Period, and

were fully developed during the New Kingdom and all Egyptian Obelisks still existing were created during the New Kingdom and Ptolemaic Period.

• Some obelisks still stand, some are in ruins, and some have been moved to different places in the world.

Purpose:

• Workers, laborers, and worshipers built the Egyptian Obelisks. Sometimes it was their own idea and many times leaders would request them.

• The structures were built to honor pharaohs so they would never be forgotten.

• The obelisks were used to worship leaders.

Uniqueness:• The structures were unique because each obelisks

represented a different person and listed that person’s achievements in life. Egyptians believed that if they did not write down their names and something about themselves then after death they would disappear.

• It took about 40 weeks to build an average obelisk. • Obelisks were usually at least 70 feet tall and most

were taller. They were made of stone and often built in pairs. They were decorated with writing, pictures, and carvings. Obelisks are usually flat on the 4 sides and pointy at the top to represent the ground on which the Sun God stood to create the universe.

Ancient Foresight:• Today obelisks still exist.

Examples of modern obelisks include the San Jacinto Monument in Houston, the Washington Monument in the National Mall in Washington D.C. and Cleopatra’s Needle in Central Park in NYC.

• These structures are not one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.

Sources:

• http://egypt.mrdonn.org/obelisk.html• http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ANQYCbJeXE4/TYA

qnRkd2mI/AAAAAAAAGWE/a0pUObFH8Jk/s1600/egyptian_obelisk.jpg

• http://flashtrafficblog.files.wordpress.com/2011/02/egypt-camel.jpg

• http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/kids/stories/history/ancient-wonders/

• http://www.aldokkan.com/art/obelisk.htm