Rome became famous as the capital of the Ancient World, the cradle of culture, sciences and military affairs. However, even in such an extraordinary city, there was a place for imported curiosities. The obelisks of Rome are a tribute to an even more ancient civilization, Egyptian. Powerful pointed stone blocks soared into the sky of the Italian capital, adorning the squares of the Eternal City.
Where did the obelisks come from?
The term "obelisk" (dr. Greek βελίσκος) arose in Ancient Egypt and it denoted the "lesser trochanter".
Looking at a stone monument with a square section and a pointed crown, you will inevitably agree that the stone community resembles a giant spit. The Egyptians carved obelisks from a whole block of granite and covered them with inscriptions praising the god of the Sun - Ra (dr. Greek Ρα) and other celestials.
The height of the obelisks reached 30-35 meters, weight - 150-240 tons. The Egyptians erected such monuments in pairs, as a gateway to the sanctuary of the god Ra. In ancient Egypt, obelisks were of great religious importance and were considered sacred. The Romans found utilitarian use of ancient artifacts, they used high pointed stone pillars as: a gnomon (pointer) for a sundial, signs on major roads and memorials for the nobility.
An interesting fact: the number of obelisks in Rome is equal to the "damn dozen", that is - 13.
The first to turn his attention to ancient Egyptian monuments was Emperor Augustus (Latin Caesar Dīvī Fīlius Augustus). In 10 BC he transported the first of the Egyptian obelisks from Heliopolis (dr. Greek Ἡλίουπόλις) to Rome. In the Middle Ages, Italian architects again brought into fashion ancient obelisks. Thus, the magnificent architecture of the Middle Ages was complemented by Egyptian and Roman monuments.
Ancient obelisks
In order to look at the ancient obelisks of Rome, just lay a special route, originating in the center of the capital.
In Piazza del Popolo
This obelisk was the very first monument that arrived from Egypt to Rome. Brought by Emperor Augustus from Heliopolis, a multi-ton stone pillar was subsequently installed on the expanses of the Circus Maximus (lat. Circus Maximus), as a time indicator on a sundial. During the collapse of the Roman Empire, the obelisk was buried underground. At the end of the 16th century, Pope Sixtus V (lat. Sixtus V) ordered the installation of a newly discovered obelisk in the center of Piazza del Popolo. In 1823, the monument was additionally decorated with statues of lions, emitting from their mouths water fountains, made in the Egyptian style.
The current height of the obelisk is 24 m, with its initial parameters - 36 m.
- Address: Piazza del popolo
- Metro: line A (metro station "Flaminio")
- By bus №301,628
On the hill of Pincho, Villa Borghese
The ancient obelisk with a height of about 17 m was unknown to the general public until the 16th century, until it was discovered by archaeologists nearby Porta Maggiore. The sacred pillar changed several places (the Palazzo Barberini, Vatican) and ended up in the Borghese gardens on Pincio Hill.
- Address: Via Gabriele d'Annunzio
- Metro: line A (metro station "Flaminio")
- By bus №61,89,160,490,495,590
In the square of Trinita dei Monti
Above the Spanish Steps, in the center of Trinita dei Monti Square, is the obelisk, which is a small copy of what Emperor Augustus brought. This monument was once intended to adorn the Gardens of Sallustiani (Horti Sallustiani) in Ancient Rome. The obelisk owes its discovery to the noble Italian family Ludovisi, who presented her find as a gift to Rome. The obelisk spent some time on the square near the Lateran Basilica (Arcibasilica Papale di San Giovanni in Laterano), however, it was installed in the late 18th century on the square near the church of Trinita dei Monti.
- Address: Piazza della Trinita dei Monti
- Metro: line A (metro station "Spagna")
In Piazza Navona
The 30-meter obelisk was brought to Rome by Emperor Domitian (lat.Titus Flavius Caesar Domitianus) in the 1st century AD He was a duplicate of the sacred pillar installed in the temple to the god Serapis (Greek Σέραπις). In the 3rd century AD the monument was placed in the Circus Maximus, according to the will of the emperor Maxentius (Latin Marcus Aurelius Valerius Maxentius).
In the first half of the 17th century, an English count bought, divided into 4 parts, an obelisk and wanted to take it to Britain, which was prevented by Pope Urban VIII (Urban VIII). In 1651, Gian Lorenzo Bernini made the ancient obelisk part of the sculptural group of the Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi, set in the center of Piazza Navona.
- Address: Piazza navona
- By bus №30,40,46,62,63,64,70,81,87,116,492,571,628,630,780,916
In the Plaza del Rotonda
The monument, towering on the Piazza de Rotonda, in front of the entrance to the Pantheon (Latin Pantheon), is one of the twin obelisks that once marked the entrance to the Ra Temple in Heliopolis. The height of the monument is 6.34 m without a pedestal, which makes it much shorter than the counterpart installed in Villa Celimontana. In ancient times, the obelisk was installed at the entrance to the sanctuary of Isis, and was lost over time. In the 14th century, a stone pillar was found during the construction of the Church of San Macuto (Chiesa di San Macuto).
Only in 1711, the obelisk took its current place in front of the Pantheon by order of Pope Clement XI (Latin Clemens XI). The obelisk is decorated with a fountain performed by Filippo Barigioni.
- Address: Piazza della rotonda
- By bus №30,51,62,63,70,81,83,85,87,160,492,628
In the Square of Minerva
One block from the Pantheon is the Piazza della Minerva (Piazza della Minerva) and the church of the same name (Santa Maria sopra Minerva). Near the entrance to the church, one of the twin obelisks, originally from the Egyptian Sais (other Greek Σάϊς), is installed. A small obelisk, incomplete 6 m high, looks solemn and refined. Brought in the 1st century A.D. Domitian to decorate the Temple of Isis, this monument was used again by Bernini in the 17th century to decorate the Roman square.
A pedestal made in the form of an elephant calf gives a special touch to the obelisk. Thus, the most talented sculptor symbolized the highest wisdom of God.
- Address: Piazza della minerva
- By bus No. 70.81.87,492,628, N6, N7
In Piazza Montecitorio
It is believed that this obelisk was also brought to the capital by Emperor Augustus from Heliopolis in the 1st century A.D. The obelisk is 22 m high, which allowed it to be used as a gnomon for a sundial on the Champ de Mars (lat. Campus Martius).
The obelisk was re-discovered in the 16th century, but it was not in a hurry to remove it from the earth. Archaeologists took out and restored only the pedestal of the monument, initially attributing it to Emperor Mark Anthony. Already at the end of the 18th century, Pope Pius VI (Latin Pius VI) decided to use an obelisk of red marble to decorate Piazza di Montecitorio.
- Address: Piazza di monte citorio
- By bus No. 51.62.63.83.85.160.492, N4, N5, N12, N25
In St. Peter's Square
The stone spire, 25.5 meters high, was originally intended for the Forum Lilium (Latin Forum Iulium) in Egyptian Alexandria (dr. Ἀλεξάνδρεια), the Roman prefect Cornellius Gallus (lat. Cornelius Gallus). This monument, created in the 1st century BC. and was remarkable in that he did not keep the hieroglyphs on himself. In the 40s A.D. Caligula (lat.Gaius Julius Caesar Augustus Germanicus) moved the pillar to Rome, in order to decorate it with the Circus of Nero (Circo di Nerone).
At the end of the 16th century, Pope Sixtus V ordered that the obelisk be transported to St. Peter's Square in the Vatican. For transportation of a large-ton stone block, a technique developed by architect Domenico Fontana was used.
It is noteworthy that this obelisk is the only one that was not overthrown or defeated during the oblivion of the Roman Empire. Another interesting fact: the ball, mounted on top of the monument, has long been considered the receptacle of the ashes of Julius Caesar (lat. Gaius Julius Caesar). When Fontana dismantled the jewelry and handed it to the museum, it turned out that only centuries-old dust was stored in it.
This obelisk stands opposite St. Peter's Basilica (Basilica di San Pietro) - the patriarchal basilica.
- Address: Piazza San Pietro, Vaticano
- Metro: line A (station "Ottaviano - San Pietro")
- By bus № 23,32,34,40,46,49,62,64,81,98,271,492,571,870,881,907,916,982,990
- Tram №19
In Piazza San Giovanni in Laterano
The highest obelisk of Rome rises 38.12 meters above the ground. And its weight is 230 tons, which makes it a champion in power among similar monuments around the world.
The first place of “registration” of this wonder was the temple of the Egyptian god Amon-Ra (dr. Greek Ἅμμων Hámmōn) in Karnak. In the 4th century AD ruler Constantine II (Latin Flavius Julius Constantius Augustus) brought several obelisks, including the largest pillar, to Rome. In 357 A.D. the giant monument became part of the decoration of the Circus Maximus.
Many centuries later, after the fall of the great Rome, the obelisk was again discovered, split into three parts. In 1587, it was re-assembled, while losing 4 meters from its original height. The new residence of the grandiose artifact was the square at the Lateran Palace (Palazzo del Laterano) - the residence of the pontiffs of the Vatican and the papal basilica of San Giovanni in Laterano (Basilica di San Giovanni in Laterano), in place of the gilded equestrian statue of Marcus Aurelius ( Marcus Aurelius Antoninus Augustus), moved to the Capitol Hill (Campidoglio) of Rome.
- Address: Piazza di San Giovanni in Laterano
- Metro: line A (station "San Giovanni")
- By bus № 81,85,117,650,665,673,714,792
- Tram №19
On Esquiline Hill
Esquilino, one of the seven hills of Rome, is decorated with an obelisk taken from the tomb of Alexander the Great in Alexandria. Later, the monument and its double were installed at the entrance to the mausoleum of Emperor Augustus on the Field of Mars.
The pillars were removed from the ground at the beginning of the 16th century, and one of them was installed at the papal basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore (Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore) on Equilino Square (Piazza dell 'Esquilino), and the second at the Quirinal Palace ( Palazzo del Quirinal). All work was carried out under the vigilant guidance of the beloved architect of Pope Sixtus V, Domenico Fontana.
- Address: Piazza dell 'esquilino
- By bus №16,70,71,75,117,360,649,714
- Tram No. 5 and 14
On Quirinale Square
The obelisk on Quirinale Square (Piazza del Quirinale) is an exact replica of the obelisk erected on Esquiain Hill. Smooth surface of stone obelisks, freedom from hieroglyphs. Height - almost 15 m. Discovered at the beginning of the 16th century, the pillar was not involved until 1786. By order of Pope Pius VI, the obelisk was erected at the marble statues of Dioscuros (dr. Greek Διόσκοροι) on the square near the Quirinal Palace - the official residence of the President of Italy.
- Address: Piazza del quirinale
- By bus №64,70,117,170
In the Term of Diocletian
In the original, the obelisk that now adorns the Terme of Diocletian (Terme di Diocleziano) had a twin brother, with whom he was placed in Heliopolis in the temple of Pharaoh Ramses II. At the dawn of our era, the Romans transported the monument to Rome to the temple of Isis. In 1883, Rodolfo Lanciani again discovered a pillar in the earth, during excavations near the church of Santa Maria sopra Minerva.
For a long time, a stone "candle" stood opposite the entrance to the Termini railway station (Stazione Termini). The stone pillar became part of a memorial dedicated to the Italian military who fell in 1887 at the Battle of Dogali in Ethiopia. In 1924, the memorial, crowned with a star, was moved from the station square of Cinquecento (Piazza dei Cinquecento) to the gardens in the Baths of Diocletian.
- Address: Viale Luigi Einaudi
- Metro: line A (station "Repubblica - Taetro Opera")
- By bus №40,60,64,70,82,85,170,590,910
At Villa Chelimontana
The lush gardens on Celio Hill are adorned with an obelisk brought from Heliopolis in the 2nd century CE. It is known that the original height of the monument was about 12 m, while the current one is only 2.68 m. The Romans used it to decorate the Isis sanctuary near the church of Santa Maria sopra Minerva.
The next time the obelisk was found and used in the 14th century to decorate the Basilica of Santa Maria in Aracoeli on Capitol Hill. In the second half of the 16th century, Michelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni was engaged in the reorganization of the gardens at Villa Celimontana, then called Villa Mattei. An ancient obelisk was used as one of the elements of the garden decor. Lost again, the pillar was discovered in the 19th century, in ruined condition. It was then that its height was reduced by 4 times, which makes the obelisk the smallest in the collection of similar Roman monuments.
- Address: Via della Navicella
- Metro: line B (station "Colosseo")
- By bus № 81,673
- Villa Hours: from 7:00 until sunset
- Site: www.okamoto-shoji.jp
- Villa Website: www.sovraintendenzaroma.it
Modern obelisks
In addition to historical monuments, 5 modern obelisks are located on the territory of the Eternal City.
- Obelisk at Villa Medici - A copy, made in the 19th century, of an ancient artifact found in the gardens of the estate, and transported to Florence (Firenze).
- Two obelisksmade from baven granite installed at Villa Torlonia at the end of the 19th century.
- In 1932 obelisk Carrara marble was installed in the Italian forum (Foro Italico) in honor of the Duce Mussolini (Benito Amilcare Andrea Mussolini).
- In 1959, a 45-meter white marble appeared in the quarter of the Rome EUR exhibition (Esposizione Universale di Roma) obelisk dedicated to inventor Guglielmo Marconi.
