The Unfinished Obelisk - Aswan, Egypt
Posted by: holy-ghost
N 24° 04.615 E 032° 53.725
36R E 489369 N 2662746
The unfinished obelisk is the largest known ancient obelisk.
Waymark Code: WM5M9J
Location: Egypt
Date Posted: 01/20/2009
Views: 29
The unfinished obelisk is the largest known ancient obelisk, located in the northern region of the stone quarries of ancient Egypt in Aswan (Assuan), Egypt.
It is nearly one third larger than any ancient Egyptian obelisk ever erected.
If finished it would have measured around 42 m (120 feet) and would have weighted nearly 1,200 tons.
Scientists speculate that it was intended to complement the so-called Lateran Obelisk which was originally at Karnak and is now outside the Lateran Palace in Rome. (Thutmose III obelisk in Lateran, Rome: 105 ft)
The obelisk's creators began to carve it directly out of bedrock, but cracks appeared in the granite and the project was abandoned. Originally it was thought that the stone had an undetected flaw but it is also possible that the quarrying process allowed the cracking to develop by releasing the stress. The bottom side of the obelisk is still attached to the bedrock. The unfinished obelisk offers unusual insights into ancient Egyptian stone-working techniques, with marks from workers' tools still clearly visible as well as ocher-colored lines marking where they were working.
(source: Wikipedia)
Height: 120 feet or 42 m
Website: [Web Link]
Date Created/Placed: Not listed
Address: Not listed
Illuminated: Not Listed
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