Top 5 Most Emblematic Obelisks In The World And Their Meaning
Find out the story behind five of the most important ones.
What is an obelisk?
What are their origin and meaning?
Which are the most emblematic in the world?
Imposing and iconic.
Obelisks are monuments that amaze anyone with their sheer size and, many of them, with their rich history.
These vast pieces first build in Egypt, presumably with a religious connotation, and today we can see them all over the world.
What Is An Obelisk?
An obelisk is a memorial monument that originated in ancient Egypt. It is a tall, four-sided structure with a pyramid-shaped top.
Originally called tekhenu in ancient Egyptian, the name obelisk comes from the Greek writer Herodotus, who used the Greek word obeliskos (meaning “divided, pointed pillar”) to describe them.
History
Ancient obelisks were monolithic structures, meaning they were made of one piece of stone and were created in pairs to enter temples.
The obelisk’s shape is associated with the ancient Egyptian sun god Ra.
Most ancient obelisks have hieroglyphic engravings on all four sides dedicated to Ra and the ruler who erected the monument.
After the death of Cleopatra in 30 B.C., when Rome took control of Egypt, most Egyptian obelisks were removed from their original locations and scattered throughout the Roman Empire.
For this reason, Rome is home to the oldest obelisks in the world.
Although the oldest examples of obelisks date back to the ancient Egyptian Empire, similar monuments have appeared in other civilizations, such as Assyria and the kingdom of Aksum (present-day Ethiopia).
For example, the stele of King Ezana of the kingdom of Aksum has a rounded top instead of a pyramid and false doors and windows on the sides.
Meaning
The obelisk column can be considered an offering in honor of the sun god, and the pyramidion symbolizes the sun’s rays spreading as they descend on the earth.
In addition to their solar symbolism, they dedicate to manifestations of the sunrise and sunset of the sun god Ra.
However, they relate to some extent as a form of two horizon mountain towers of the temples modeled.
As Ra was eternal, the obelisk symbolized stability and permanence and all the powers of rebirth, virility, fertility, and creative force that this god possessed.
Which Are The Most Emblematic In The World?
Since Roman times, obelisks were moved to the world’s great cities to adorn them or as trophies of a conquered land.
Arsubanipal, the Assyrian king, moved two to Nineveh, and the Roman emperors moved several to Rome and Constantinople.
In modern times, this mobilization continued, such as that of Luxor, given by the ruler Mehemet Ali to King Louis-Philippe of France.
That is why, although the obelisks were scattered throughout the Egyptian territory.
No temple in the capital did not have one.
Today, of the 27 ancient Egyptian obelisks erected, only six remain in Egypt: the one in Heliopolis, the three in Karnak, the one in Luxor, and the one in Cairo.
The rest are scattered on every continent.
Obelisks continue to be architectural elements that adorn squares and parks in every corner of the world.
Few know the significance and effort required for their construction, yet they continue to evoke a sense of stability, permanence, and majesty as they did for the ancient people of the Nile River.
Find out the story behind five of the most important ones:
1. Buenos Aires Obelisk
It was inaugurated on May 23, 1936. On the occasion of the 400th anniversary of the first foundation of B.A. by Pedro de Mendoza.
The obelisk was designed and built by the architect Presbich, the work was in charge of the German company Siemens, and 157 people worked on it.
They did it in record time; they delivered it nine days ahead of schedule.
On each of its four sides are a plaque commemorating a significant historical event, the first and second founding of Buenos Aires (Pedro de Mendoza, 1536 and Juan de Garay, 1580), the first hoisting of the flag, and the national anthem.
In 1912 the Argentine flag was hoisted for the first time officially in the San Nicolás de Bari church, which was demolished for the construction of the obelisk.
Where the obelisk now stands, the church of San Nicolás de Bari used to be; demolishing it to build a pagan symbol was something the Porteños did not like.
In its beginnings, people did not like it, and it was initially criticized; it even had nicknames like “punzón” or “estaca.”
In June 1938, there were some detachments of the obelisk, and the fear added to the fact that part population did not agree with the fact that the symbolic monument of the city was such a modern construction, pushed gathering votes to get its demolition.
It is believed that the obelisk of Buenos Aires is a Masonic symbol.
It is known that many Argentinean heroes were Masons.
And the theory is obelisk was built as a branch of the Masons to break the triangle of harmony created by a previous generation of Masons.
It sounds like a conspiracy theory, but it is true.
Easily verifiable on a map, the location of each of the headquarters branches of government forms a right triangle (the Palace of Congress, the Casa Rosada, and the Palace of Courts), and in the middle is the headquarters of the Masons.
The obelisk breaks this triangle to form another one.
In March 2016, the B.A. vertical garden was inaugurated in the same square of the republic; in principle, it would be an intervention that would last for a while, but finally, they left it there indefinitely.
The interior of the Obelisk of Buenos Aires is a mystery since you cannot visit it. It has 67.5 meters.
Do you know how many steps the obelisk has?
We know it has 206 steps with seven landings to reach the top, with a viewpoint; the views are breathtaking, but it is not open to the public.
Occasionally, some ministry organizes raffles on social networks and lets the winners go up.
They say there is a chest with a photo of the chief engineer of the construction and a letter destined to demolish the monument.
It is yet to be discovered if it is accurate or just another legend.
It was disguised as a Christmas tree on one occasion, covered with a pink condom on World AIDS Day in 2005, and three German tightrope walkers even hung a cable from the obelisk to another building and completed the course in 1953.
It is located in the heart of downtown Buenos Aires, in the neighborhood of San Nicolas, at the intersection of Corrientes and Nine de Julio avenues.
2. Bunker Hill Monument — U.S.A.
Located in downtown Boston, this obelisk commemorates the soldiers who lost their lives in the battle against the British in 1775.
It measures 67 meters high and is guarded by a statue of Colonel William Prescott, leader of the colonial army.
3. Actopan Obelisk — Mexico
Built in 2008, it was built to celebrate the Bicentennial of the Independence of Mexico centennial of the Mexican Revolution.
It is located in the Reforma de Hidalgo Park, which is used as a viewpoint, thanks to its 57 meters height.
4. Obelisk to the Constituents — Uruguay
Made in bronze and granite, the obelisk, inaugurated in 1938 in homage to those who participated in the first Constitution of Uruguay, measures 40 meters in height.
On three of its sides are bronze statues representing Law, Force, and Liberty.
5. Obelisco Macho — Dominican Republic
It is a space of more than 38 meters in Santo Domingo, used as an artistic mural representing works of historical characters.
Made it to celebrate the liquidation of the Dominican foreign debt.
Sources:
https://www.planetacurioso.com
https://www.metrocuadrado.com
https://mymodernmet.com
Thanks for reading!
Rocio Becerra