The
Unfinished Obelisk is the largest known
ancient obelisk, located in an ancient
quarry near Aswan, Egypt. It is nearly
twice as large as any Egyptian obelisk
ever erected. If finished it would measure
around 42 meters, or 130 feet, in length.
Its weight is estimated at around 1,150
metric tons. Scientists speculate that
it was intended to compliment the Lateran
Obelisk at Karnak. Unfortunately, the
Obelisk was clearly beyond the skill of
its creators. They began to carve it direclty
out of bedrock, but then cracks appeared
in the granite and the project was abandoned.
The bottom side of the obelisk is still
attached to the bedrock from which it
was being carved. After this failure no
other attempts to create obelisks of this
size are known. Due to its unfinished
state, the Unfinished Obelisk is a great
inisght into Ancient Egyptian stone working
techniques. Traces of the workmens' tools
are still clearly visible.
The
Unfinished Obelisk is the largest known
ancient obelisk, located in an ancient
quarry near Aswan, Egypt. It is nearly
twice as large as any Egyptian obelisk
ever erected. If finished it would measure
around 42 meters, or 130 feet, in length.
Its weight is estimated at around 1,150
metric tons. Scientists speculate that
it was intended to compliment the Lateran
Obelisk at Karnak. Unfortunately, the
Obelisk was clearly beyond the skill of
its creators. They began to carve it direclty
out of bedrock, but then cracks appeared
in the granite and the project was abandoned.
The bottom side of the obelisk is still
attached to the bedrock from which it
was being carved. After this failure no
other attempts to create obelisks of this
size are known. Due to its unfinished
state, the Unfinished Obelisk is a great
inisght into Ancient Egyptian stone working
techniques. Traces of the workmens' tools
are still clearly visible.
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