Unfinished Obelisk in Aswan, Egypt – Egyptian Monuments
Discover the history of the Pharaonic civilization “Ancient Egypt History” and the secrets of the most important Pharaonic monuments and the Pharaonic Obelisks in the ancient Egyptian civilization.
The secret of carving the oldest unfinished Egyptian obelisks in the Ancient Egypt Pharaonic civilization to learn about the extent of the development of Sculpture in Ancient Egypt and Architecture in ancient Egypt.
why it has not been moved until now and where it is located and the prices of entrance tickets and visiting hours and more to start your tourist trip and visit the tourist attractions in Aswan in addition to learning about the distinctive tourist attractions in Egypt.
Unfinished Obelisk Facts
Height = 41.7 m
Weight = 1168 tons
Base area = 4.2 * 4.2 m
What is the unfinished obelisk in Aswan?
It is an obelisk made of pink granite, the most famous Ancient Egyptian Metallurgy, in the city of Aswan..
It was built during the reign of Queen Hatshepsut “Female Pharaohs“, the most famous queen of Pharaonic Egypt from the Eighteenth Dynasty of Egypt during The New Kingdom period.
Queen Hatshepsut has Tomb of Queen Hatshepsut | KV60 within the Valley of the Kings and Mortuary Temple of Hatshepsut in Deir El Bahari.
The purpose of building the obelisk:
It is installed in the front of the Karnak Temple in Luxor, the ancient city of Thebes.
Why is it not complete yet?
Ancient Egyptian engineers and workers discovered a large crack in it that was not suitable for restoration after it was completely carved from three directions..
King Thutmose III, one of the most famous Egyptian Pharaohs kings, tried to restore the obelisk but failed..
Where is the unfinished obelisk located?
The Unfinished Obelisk is located in the northern region in a quarry near the city of Aswan. The obelisk is about 1 km east of the Nile River.
About the Unfinished Obelisk
The unfinished obelisk in Aswan is the best artistic painting that can express the Egyptian Pharaonic monuments that the ancient Egyptians built during their rule..
However, one of the most prominent of these monuments that has remained steadfast until the present time is the incomplete obelisk..
The unfinished obelisk, said to have been built during the reign of Queen Hatshepsut and left unfinished after her death, is about 137 feet (42 meters) tall and is estimated to weigh about 1,200 tons. It is believed that the pharaoh Hatshepsut commissioned engineers and workers to work on it during the 18th Dynasty, more than 3,500 years ago..
Obelisks are usually placed at the entrances to Egyptian Temples, and are a hallmark of ancient Egyptian ingenuity and engineering.
Temples were widespread during the Old Kingdom of Egypt, beginning with the reign of King Djoser of the Third Dynasty of Egypt, and the Middle Kingdom of Egypt, beginning with the reign of King Mentuhotep I of the Eleventh Dynasty of Egypt.
They are the most surviving monuments to date, as the Roman Empire particularly revered these obelisks, which is perhaps why there are currently 13 obelisks in Italy..
The most notable feature of the Unfinished Obelisk is that it is a living example of ancient Pharaonic culture and antiquities, and is an open-air museum that provides insight into ancient Egyptian construction techniques and Ancient Egyptian science..
This unfinished obelisk was produced by direct carving into the rock, which was a basic technique in the common carving of statues and obelisks, and stone balls were used by the builders to nibble away any imperfections until the surface was smooth..
There are still examples of these balls, in the obelisk production sites in Aswan, and although the obelisks are made of granite to discover the extent of the development of the Industry in ancient Egypt, which is the most difficult material in the carving process.
as it can only be broken through repeated beating, and the precision of carving on it is very difficult, to come out in the shape that the sculptor wants, but the magnificence of this obelisk is that it is made of granite and in an incredibly professional way.
Secrets of how the obelisks were transported?
One of the most interesting aspects of the unfinished obelisk is the ability of the Egyptian sculptor to free the giant structure from its foundation in the belly of the mountain..
Although it seems logically implausible, wet wood was the solution. Workers carved small cavities into the stone, creating a line that resembled a perforated piece of paper, and the holes were filled with sun-dried wooden wedges..
The wedges are then repeatedly immersed in water, and believe it or not, the expansion of this wood will cause the carved rocks to break free from their home..
History of building obelisks in the Pharaonic civilization:
Egyptology and archaeologists explain that the obelisks were covered from the upper pointed area with a cover of gilded copper so that they would remain shiny with the reflection of the sun’s rays, indicating the development of Astronomy in ancient Egypt.
The first appearance of obelisks was in the city of Ain Shams (On) from the first stone of creation (Ben Ben) on the top of which appeared the Benu bird raising the sun.
Then this pointed stone with a triangular end developed until the obelisks were formed..
Obelisks became part of Mortuary Temples, since the Fifth Dynasty of Egypt, the beginning of the reign of king Userkaf, and two obelisks began to appear on either side of the entrance to the temple.
These obelisks are under a base made of a single piece of stone, on which the name of the king and his titles are engraved.
The base of the obelisk is square in shape, and its sides gradually narrow until it ends with a pyramid-shaped top, usually covered with gold, so it shines in the sunlight and creates a sacred awe in souls..
In the Twelfth Dynasty of Egypt, the Obelisk of Senusret I appeared, “built during the reign of King Senusret I”, one of the most famous pharaohs who built it in front of his father’s temple in the city of Heliopolis, northeast of Cairo, recording his celebration of the Sed Festival (the anniversary of the Coronation of the Pharaohs after 30 years, Festivals in Ancient Egypt).
which is considered one of the most famous pharaonic festivals. Since the 18th Dynasty, there has been great interest in obelisks to record the victories of kings and their memories, such as the obelisks of King Thutmose I, Queen Hatshepsut, King Thutmose III, King King Thutmose IV, and King Ramses II from the Nineteenth Dynasty of Egypt.
Title of the Unfinished Obelisk:
First Sheikhdom, Aswan Section, Aswan, Egypt
Unfinished Obelisk Visiting Hours:
Daily 7:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Unfinished Obelisk Entrance Ticket Prices:
Note: Facts and secrets of the history will be added soon…
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