Egyptian Obelisks of Rome

The Obelisco Agonale rises sixteen and a half meters above the center of Piazza Navona, distinguishable by the bronze dove perched at its peak holding a sprig of laurel. Unlike many of Rome's obelisks that were brought from Egypt, this red…

In the center of the Piazza della Minerva stands a marble elephant carrying an ancient Egyptian obelisk on its back. This monument, unveiled in sixteen sixty-seven, was designed by Gian Lorenzo Bernini and executed by his pupil Ercole…

The Egyptian Obelisk in Piazza della Rotonda is a red granite monument standing six point three four meters tall atop a Renaissance fountain. It dates back to the reign of the pharaoh Ramses the Second, who originally erected it in…

The Obelisk of Montecitorio is a monolithic shaft of red Aswan granite that rises over thirty-three meters, topped by a bronze globe. Originally carved in the sixth century BC for the city of Heliopolis in Egypt, the monument was brought…

The Sallustian Obelisk is a monolithic pillar of red granite, rising fourteen meters into the air at the top of the Spanish Steps. It stands directly in front of the church of Santissima Trinità dei Monti, crowned with a bronze cross and…

The Pinciano Obelisk stands on the Pincian Hill as a tapering pillar of pink granite, reaching a total height of seventeen point two six meters when including its pedestal. Unlike many of the city's ancient monuments brought from Egypt,…

The Flaminio Obelisk is a single, towering shaft of red Aswan granite that anchors the center of the Piazza del Popolo. Rising over twenty-five meters from the ground, the monument is etched with hieroglyphs commissioned by the pharaohs…