There are eight ancient Egyptian and five ancient Roman obelisks in Rome, together with a number of more modern obelisks; there was also formerly (until 2005) an ancient Ethiopian obelisk in Rome. Ancient Egypt was an Ancient Civilization in eastern North Africa, concentrated along the lower reaches of the Nile River in what is now Ancient Rome was a Civilization that grew out of a small agricultural community founded on the Italian Peninsula as early as the 10th century BC An obelisk (from Greek ὀβελίσκος - obeliskos, diminutive of ὀβελός - obelos, "spit nail pointed pillar" The Aksumite Empire or Axumite Empire (sometimes called the Kingdom of Aksum or Axum ( Ge'ez: አክሱም was an important trading

Ancient Egyptian obelisks

At least eight obelisks created in antiquity by the Ancient Egyptians were taken from Egypt after the Roman conquest and brought to Rome. This article is about the country of Egypt For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Egypt topics. Rome ( Roma ˈroma Roma is the capital city of Italy and Lazio, and is Italy's largest and most populous city with more than 2

#	Image	Name	Pharaoh	Height (with base)	Location	Notes
1.		Lateranense	Tuthmosis III / Tuthmosis IV	32. Pharaoh is the title given in modern parlance to the ancient Egyptian kings of all periods Thutmose III (sometimes read as Thutmosis or Tuthmosis III and meaning Thoth is Born) was the sixth Pharaoh of the Eighteenth Thutmose IV (sometimes read as Thutmosis or Tuthmosis IV and meaning Thoth is Born) was the 8th Pharaoh of the 18th dynasty 18 m (45. The metre or meter is a unit of Length. It is the basic unit of Length in the Metric system and in the International 70 m)	Piazza di San Giovanni in Laterano	Tallest obelisk in Rome, and the largest standing ancient Egyptian obelisk in the world, weighing over 230 tons. The Basilica of St John Lateran ( Italian: Basilica di San Giovanni in Laterano) is the Cathedral of the church of Rome and the official Units of mass There are three similar units of Mass called the ton: Long ton (simply ton in countries such as the United Originally from the temple of Amun in Karnak. Amun, reconstructed Egyptian Yamānu (also spelled Amon, Amoun, Amen, and rarely Imen, Greek Ἄμμων The Karnak temple complex, universally known only as Karnak, describes a vast conglomeration of ruined temples chapels pylons and other buildings Brought to Rome by Constantius II in 357 to decorate the spina of the Circus Maximus. Flavius Iulius Constantius, known in English as Constantius II ( 7 August, 317 - November 3, 361) was a Roman Emperor The Circus Maximus ( Latin for greatest circus, in Italian Circo Massimo) is an ancient Hippodrome and mass entertainment Found in three pieces in 1587, restored approximately 4 m shorter by Pope Sixtus V, and erected near the Lateran Palace and basilica of San Giovanni in Laterano in 1588 in the place of the equestrian statue of Marcus Aurelius, which was moved to the Capitoline Hill. Pope Sixtus V ( December 13, 1521 &ndash August 27, 1590) born Felice Peretti di Montalto, was Pope from 1585 to 1590 The Lateran Palace, sometimes more formally known as the Apostolic Palace of the Lateran (Italian Palazzo Laterano) is an ancient Palace of the Roman The Basilica of St John Lateran ( Italian: Basilica di San Giovanni in Laterano) is the Cathedral of the church of Rome and the official The Equestrian Statue of Marcus Aurelius is an ancient Roman statue in the Campidoglio, Rome, Italy. Marcus Aurelius Antoninus Augustus (often referred to as "the wise" ( April 26, 121 – March 17, 180) was Roman Emperor The Capitoline Hill, between the Forum and the Campus Martius, is one of the seven hills of Rome.
2.		Vaticano	Unknown (Amenemhat II?), 13th century BC	25. Nubkhaure Amenemhat II was the third Pharaoh of the Twelfth Dynasty of Ancient Egypt, not much is known about his reign 5 m, supported on bronze lions and surmounted by the Chigi arms in bronze, in all 41 m to the cross on its top. See the Albani article for other uses of that name Chigi-Albani is a Roman princely family of Sienese extraction	Saint Peter's Square	The old Basilica of Saint Peter with the obelisk at the left in its original place. Saint Peter's Square, or Saint Peter's Piazza ( Italian: Piazza San Pietro) is located directly in front of St Old Saint Peter's Basilica was the building that once stood on the spot where the Basilica of Saint Peter stands today in Rome. Re-erection of the obelisk in 1586 From Heliopolis, but lacks hieroglyphs. Heliopolis (or On) ( Greek: or) meaning sun-city was one of the most ancient cities of Egypt, and capital of the 13th Lower Egyptian nome Egyptian hieroglyphs (ˈhaɪərəʊɡlɪf from Greek grc-Grek ἱερογλύφος " sacred carving " also hieroglyphic = grc-Grek Brought to Rome by Caligula in 37 for the spina of the Vatican Circus. Gaius Julius Caesar Augustus Germanicus (August 31 AD 12 &ndash January 24 AD 41 more commonly known by his nickname Caligula (kəˈlɪɡjʊlə was a Roman Emperor Spina was an Etruscan port city on the Adriatic at the ancient mouth of the Po, south of the lagoon which would become the site of Venice. Not to be confused with the older and larger Circus Maximus. The Circus of Nero or Circus of Caligula was a circus Relocated by Pope Sixtus V in 1586 using a method devised by Domenico Fontana; the first monumental obelisk raised in the modern period, it is the only obelisk in Rome that has not toppled since Roman times. Pope Sixtus V ( December 13, 1521 &ndash August 27, 1590) born Felice Peretti di Montalto, was Pope from 1585 to 1590 Domenico Fontana (1543 &ndash June 28 1607) was a Swiss -born Italian Architect of the late Renaissance. During the Middle Ages, the gilt ball on top of the obelisk was believed to contain the ashes of Julius Caesar. [1] Fontana later removed the ancient metal ball, now in a Rome museum, that stood atop the obelisk and found only dust. Pero Tafur in his Andanças[2] (circa 1440) mentions that many passed between the ground and the "tower" basis "thinking it a saintly thing". Pedro Tafur (or Pero Tafur) (ca 1410—ca 1487 was a Spanish traveler and writer
3.		Flaminio	Seti I / Ramesses II	24 m (36. Menmaatre Seti I (also called Sethos I after the Greeks) was a Pharaoh of Ancient Egypt ( Nineteenth dynasty of Egypt) the son of Ramesses 50 m)	Piazza del Popolo	Originally from Heliopolis. The Piazza del Popolo is a square in Rome. The name in modern Italian literally means " Piazza of the people" but historically it derives from Heliopolis (or On) ( Greek: or) meaning sun-city was one of the most ancient cities of Egypt, and capital of the 13th Lower Egyptian nome Brought to Rome by Augustus in 10 BC with the Solare obelisk and erected on the spina of the Circus Maximus. Augustus ( Latin: IMPERATOR·CAESAR·DIVI·FILIVS·AVGVSTVS September 23 63 BC – August 19 AD 14) born Gaius Octavius Thurinus, was The Obelisk of Montecitorio ( Italian: Obelisco di Montecitorio, also known as Solare) is an Ancient Egyptian red Granite The Circus Maximus ( Latin for greatest circus, in Italian Circo Massimo) is an ancient Hippodrome and mass entertainment Found with the Lateranense obelisk in 1587 in two pieces and erected by Pope Sixtus V in 1589. Pope Sixtus V ( December 13, 1521 &ndash August 27, 1590) born Felice Peretti di Montalto, was Pope from 1585 to 1590 Sculptures with lion fountains were added to the base in 1818.
4.		Solare	Psammetichus II	21. The Obelisk of Montecitorio ( Italian: Obelisco di Montecitorio, also known as Solare) is an Ancient Egyptian red Granite 79 m (33. 97 m)	Piazza di Montecitorio	Originally from Heliopolis. The Palazzo Montecitorio is a palace in Rome, which is currently the seat of the Italian Chamber of Deputies. Heliopolis (or On) ( Greek: or) meaning sun-city was one of the most ancient cities of Egypt, and capital of the 13th Lower Egyptian nome Brought to Rome by Augustus in 10 BC with the Flaminio obelisk to form the gnomon of a sundial on the Campus Martius. Augustus ( Latin: IMPERATOR·CAESAR·DIVI·FILIVS·AVGVSTVS September 23 63 BC – August 19 AD 14) born Gaius Octavius Thurinus, was The gnomon is the part of a Sundial that casts the Shadow. Gnomon (γνώμων is an Ancient Greek word meaning "indicator" "one who A sundial is a device that measures time by the position of the Sun. For the pioneer fortification at Marietta Ohio see Campus Martius Marietta For the park in Detroit Michigan, see Campus Martius Park Found in 16th century but reburied. Rediscovered and erected by Pope Pius VI in front of the Palazzo Montecitorio in 1792. The Palazzo Montecitorio is a palace in Rome, which is currently the seat of the Italian Chamber of Deputies.
5.		Macuteo	Ramesses II	6. 34 m (14. 52 m)	Piazza della Rotonda	Originally one of a pair at the Temple of Ra in Heliopolis, the other being the now much shorter Matteiano. The Pantheon ( Latin Pantheon, from Greek Πάνθειον Pantheon, meaning "Temple of all the gods" is a building in Rome Ra (pronounced Rah and sometimes as Rê, is an Ancient Egyptian sun god. Heliopolis (or On) ( Greek: or) meaning sun-city was one of the most ancient cities of Egypt, and capital of the 13th Lower Egyptian nome Moved to the Temple of Isis near Santa Maria sopra Minerva. Isis is a goddess in Ancient Egyptian religious beliefs and is celebrated in their mythology as the ideal mother and wife patron of nature and magic friend of slaves sinners Santa Maria sopra Minerva is a Basilica church in Rome. The church located in the Campus Martius region is considered the only Gothic Found in 1373 near San Macuto and erected east of Santa Maria in Aracoeli on the Capitoline. Santa Maria in Aracoeli (" St Mary of the Altar of Heaven " is a titular Basilica church in Rome, located on The Capitoline Hill, between the Forum and the Campus Martius, is one of the seven hills of Rome. Moved to the front of the Pantheon by Pope Clement XI in 1711 over a fountain by Filippo Barigioni. The Pantheon ( Latin Pantheon, from Greek Πάνθειον Pantheon, meaning "Temple of all the gods" is a building in Rome Pope Clement XI ( July 23, 1649 &ndash March 19, 1721) born Giovanni Francesco Albani, was Pope from 1700 until his death Filippo Barigioni ( Rome 1690 &ndash Rome 1753 was a sculptor and architect working in the Late Baroque tradition
6.		Minerveo	Apries	5. Apries (Απριης is the name by which Herodotus (ii 161 and Diodorus (i 47 m (12. 69 m)	Santa Maria sopra Minerva	Originally one of a pair from Sais. Santa Maria sopra Minerva is a Basilica church in Rome. The church located in the Campus Martius region is considered the only Gothic Brought to Rome by Diocletian for the nearby Temple of Isis. Gaius Aurelius Valerius Diocletianus ( ca. December 22 244 The modern historian Timothy Barnes takes December 22 as his birthdate Isis is a goddess in Ancient Egyptian religious beliefs and is celebrated in their mythology as the ideal mother and wife patron of nature and magic friend of slaves sinners Found in 1655 and erected in 1667 by Pope Alexander VII on an Elephant base by Bernini, behind the Pantheon. Pope Alexander VII ( February 13, 1599 &ndash May 22, 1667) born Fabio Chigi, was Pope from April 7, Elephants ( family: Elephantidae) are large land Mammals of the order Proboscidea. "Bernini" redirects here For people named Bernini see Bernini (surname. The Pantheon ( Latin Pantheon, from Greek Πάνθειον Pantheon, meaning "Temple of all the gods" is a building in Rome The other of the pair is in Urbino. Urbino is a walled city in the Marche region in Italy, south-west of Pesaro, a World Heritage Site notable for a remarkable historical
7.		Dogali	Ramesses II	? (6. 34 m)	Baths of Diocletian	Originally one of a pair from Heliopolis, the other now in the Boboli Gardens in Florence. The Baths of Diocletian ( Thermae Diocletiani) in Rome were the grandest of the public baths or Thermae built by successive emperors Heliopolis (or On) ( Greek: or) meaning sun-city was one of the most ancient cities of Egypt, and capital of the 13th Lower Egyptian nome The Boboli Gardens, in Italian Giardino di Boboli, form a famous park in Florence, Italy, that is home to a distinguished collection of sculptures dating Florence ( Italian: Firenze Florentia and Fiorenza) is the Capital City of the Italian region of Tuscany Moved to the Temple of Isis in Rome. Found in 1883 by Rodolfo Lanciani near Santa Maria sopra Minerva. Rodolfo Amedeo Lanciani ( January 1 or 2 1845 or 1846&ndash May 22, 1929) was an Italian Archaeologist, a pioneering student of Santa Maria sopra Minerva is a Basilica church in Rome. The church located in the Campus Martius region is considered the only Gothic Now commemorates the Battle of Dogali, originally in front of Near Termini Station and moved to its present site in 1924. The Battle of Dogali was fought on January 24, 1887 between Italy and Ethiopia in Dogali (near Massawa, in present-day Eritrea Roma Termini (in Italian, Stazione Termini or Stazione di Roma Termini) is the main train station of Rome.
8.		Matteiano	Ramesses II	2. 68 m (12. 23 m)	Villa Celimontana	Originally one of a pair at the Temple of Ra in Heliopolis, the other being the Macuteo which retains much more of its original height. The Caelian Hill (Latin Mons Caelius, Italian Celio) is one of the famous Seven Hills of Rome. Ra (pronounced Rah and sometimes as Rê, is an Ancient Egyptian sun god. Heliopolis (or On) ( Greek: or) meaning sun-city was one of the most ancient cities of Egypt, and capital of the 13th Lower Egyptian nome Moved to the Temple of Isis near Santa Maria sopra Minerva. Santa Maria sopra Minerva is a Basilica church in Rome. The church located in the Campus Martius region is considered the only Gothic Found in the 14th century and erected east of Santa Maria in Aracoeli on the Capitoline. Santa Maria in Aracoeli (" St Mary of the Altar of Heaven " is a titular Basilica church in Rome, located on The Capitoline Hill, between the Forum and the Campus Martius, is one of the seven hills of Rome. Moved to Villa Celimontana after Michelangelo redesigned the square in the late 16th century. Michelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni Two biographies were published of him during his lifetime One of them by Giorgio Vasari, proposed that he was the pinnacle of all Lost again; fragments rediscovered and re-erected in 1820. Smallest obelisk in Rome.

Ancient Roman copies

At least five obelisks were manufactured in Egypt in the Roman period at the request of the wealthy Romans, or made in Rome as copies of ancient Egyptian originals.

#	Image	Name	Height (including base)	Location	Notes
1.		Agonalis	16. 53 m (over 30 m)	Piazza Navona	A copy commissioned by Domitian and erected at the Temple of Serapis. Piazza Navona is a City square in Rome, Italy. It follows the plan of an ancient Roman circus, the 1st century Titus Flavius Domitianus (24 October 51 &ndash 18 September 96 commonly known as Domitian, was a Roman Emperor who reigned from 14 September 81 until his death Serapis (Latin spelling or Sarapis in Greek was a syncretic Hellenistic - Egyptian god in Antiquity. Moved to the Circus of Maxentius by Maxentius. Circus of Maxentius (also known as the Circus of Caracalla is an ancient Roman circus built as part of a funerary complex by the emperor Maxentius. Marcus Aurelius Valerius Maxentius (c 278 - 28 October 312) was Western Roman Emperor from 306 to 312 Erected on top of the Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi by Bernini in 1651. The Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi or "Fountain of the Four Rivers" occupies the center of the large oval Piazza Navona in Rome "Bernini" redirects here For people named Bernini see Bernini (surname.
2.		Quirinale	14. 63 m (28. 94 m)	Piazza del Quirinale	An Aurelian creation for the Mausoleum of Augustus, almost identical to the Esquiline obelisk. The Quirinal Palace (known in Italian as the Palazzo del Quirinale or simply the Quirinale) is the Official residence of the President Lucius Domitius Aurelianus ( September 9, 214 or 215 &ndashSeptember or October 275 known in English as Aurelian, Roman Emperor (270&ndash275 The Mausoleum of Augustus was a large tomb built by the Roman Emperor Augustus in 28 BC on the Campus Martius in Rome. Found in 1527. Erected by Pope Pius VI in 1786 on the Quirinal Hill next to statues of the Dioscuri (called the 'Horse Tamers') from the Baths of Constantine. Pope Pius VI (December 27 1717 &ndash August 29 1799 born Count Giovanni Angelo Braschi, Pope from 1775 to 1799 was born at Cesena. The Quirinal Hill (Latin Collis Quirinalis) is one of the Seven Hills of Rome, at the north-east of the city center For the stars see Castor (star and Pollux (star, for the sculptural group in the Prado Museum, see Castor and Pollux (Prado, and for The colossal pair of marble "Horse Tamers", often identified as Castor and Pollux, have stood since Antiquity near the site of the Baths of Constantine See Baths of Constantine for thermae of this name in other cities
3.		Esquiline	14. 75 m (25. 53 m)	Piazza dell'Esquilino	An Aurelian creation for the Mausoleum of Augustus, almost identical to the Quirinale obelisk. The Esquiline Hill is one of the celebrated Seven Hills of Rome. Lucius Domitius Aurelianus ( September 9, 214 or 215 &ndashSeptember or October 275 known in English as Aurelian, Roman Emperor (270&ndash275 The Mausoleum of Augustus was a large tomb built by the Roman Emperor Augustus in 28 BC on the Campus Martius in Rome. Found in 1527 and erected in 1587 by Pope Sixtus V behind Santa Maria Maggiore. Pope Sixtus V ( December 13, 1521 &ndash August 27, 1590) born Felice Peretti di Montalto, was Pope from 1585 to 1590 The Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore (its Italian name known in English also as St Mary Major, is an ancient Catholic Basilica of Rome
4.		Sallustiano	13. 91 m (30. 45 m)	Trinità dei Monti	Above the Spanish Steps. Trinità dei Monti (also called Santissima Trinità al Monte Pincio, Trinità del Monte, or Holy Trinity on Pincio Hill) is a famous church in Rome The Spanish Steps ( Italian: Scalinata della Trinità dei Monti) are a set of steps in Rome, Italy, climbing a steep slope between the An Aurelian copy, although smaller, of the Flaminio obelisk of Ramses II in the Piazza del Popolo, for the Gardens of Sallust. Lucius Domitius Aurelianus ( September 9, 214 or 215 &ndashSeptember or October 275 known in English as Aurelian, Roman Emperor (270&ndash275 The Piazza del Popolo is a square in Rome. The name in modern Italian literally means " Piazza of the people" but historically it derives from The Gardens of Sallust ( Latin: Horti Sallustiani) were Roman gardens developed by the Roman historian Sallust in the 1st century Found by the Ludovisi and moved to the Piazza di San Giovanni in Laterano in 1734, but kept horizontal. The Basilica of St John Lateran ( Italian: Basilica di San Giovanni in Laterano) is the Cathedral of the church of Rome and the official Erected in 1789 by Pope Pius VI. Pope Pius VI (December 27 1717 &ndash August 29 1799 born Count Giovanni Angelo Braschi, Pope from 1775 to 1799 was born at Cesena.
5.		Pinciano	9. 24 m (17. 26 )	Pincian Hill	Commissioned and erected by Hadrian in Egypt to honour Antinous. The Pincian Hill ( Italian: Pincio, from Latin Mons Pincius) is a Hill in the northeast quadrant of the historical center of Rome Publius Aelius Hadrianus (January 24 76 &ndash July 10 138 as emperor Imperator Caesar Divi Traiani filius Traianus Hadrianus Augustus, and Divus Hadrianus after For the constellation see Antinous (constellation; for the Asteroid, see 1863 Antinous; for the mythological figure see Antinous son of Eupeithes Moved to Rome by Elagabalus to decorate the spina of the Circus Varianus. Elagabalus (c 203 &ndash March 11 222) also known as Heliogabalus or Marcus Aurelius Antoninus, was a Roman Emperor of the Found in the 16th century near the Porta Maggiore. The Porta Maggiore ("Larger Gate" or Porta Prenestina is one of the eastern gates in the ancient but well-preserved 3rd century Aurelian Walls of Moved to the Palazzo Barberini, then moved to the Vatican by Pope Clement XIV; finally erected on the Pincian by Pope Pius VII in 1822. Palazzo Barberini is a palace in Rome, on the piazza of the same name in Rione Trevi. Vatican City, officially the State of the Vatican City (Stato della Città del Vaticano is a Landlocked sovereign City-state whose territory Pope Clement XIV ( 31 October 1705 &ndash 22 September 1774) born Giovanni Vincenzo Antonio Ganganelli, was Pope from Pope Pius VII, OSB (August 14 1740&mdashAugust 20 1823 born Count Barnaba Niccolò Maria Luigi Chiaramonti, was Pope from March 14 1800 to August

Obelisk of Axum

The Obelisk of Axum in Rome in 2002. The Obelisk of Axum is a 1700-year-old 24- Meters (78- foot) tall Granite Obelisk, weighing 160  Tonnes It is decorated with

The Marconi obelisk, in the centre of the EUR district. The Esposizione Universale Roma ( EUR, originally called E42 is a large complex now a suburban area and business centre in Rome, Italy.

There was also an Ethiopian obelisk in Rome, the Obelisk of Axum, 24 m, placed in the Piazza di Porta Capena. The Obelisk of Axum is a 1700-year-old 24- Meters (78- foot) tall Granite Obelisk, weighing 160  Tonnes It is decorated with The Porta Capena was a gate in the Servian Wall near the Caelian Hill, in Rome, formerly a sacred forest where Numa Pompilius and Egeria It had been taken from Axum by the Italian Army during the Italian occupation of Ethiopia in 1937. Axum, or Aksum, is a City in northern Ethiopia named after the Kingdom of Aksum, a naval and trading power that ruled from the region ca The Italian Army (Esercito Italiano is the ground defense force of the Military of Italy. See also First Italo-Ethiopian War. The Second Italo–Abyssinian War (also referred to as the Second Italo-Ethiopian War) was a It was struck by lightning in May 2002. Lightning is an atmospheric discharge of Electricity, which typically occurs during Thunderstorms and sometimes during volcanic eruptions or After being restored, it was disassembled and returned to Ethiopia in April 2005. NOTE This intro is the result of careful NPOV work Please do not make potentially controversial edits to it without first discussing on the talk page

Modern obelisks

There are four well-known modern obelisks in Rome:

1. Villa Medici, 19th century copy of the original, found in the gardens and taken to Florence. For the Medici Villas in Tuscany, see Medici villas. The Villa Medici is an architectural complex centred Florence ( Italian: Firenze Florentia and Fiorenza) is the Capital City of the Italian region of Tuscany
2. Two obelisks in the Villa Torlonia, 1842, Baveno granite
3. Foro Italico, 1932, 17. For other villas of this name see Villa Torlonia. Villa Torlonia is a villa in Rome, Italy, belonging to the Torlonia Baveno is a town in the Province of Verbano-Cusio-Ossola, part of Piedmont, northern Italy. Granite (ˈɡrænɪt is a common and widely occurring type of intrusive, Felsic, igneous rock. 5 m, Carrara marble, originally dedicated to Benito Mussolini, and inscribed Mussolini Dux
4. Marconi, 1959, 45 m, in the centre of the EUR district, dedicated to Guglielmo Marconi, built for the 1960 Summer Olympics. Carrara is a City in the Province of Massa-Carrara ( Tuscany, Italy) famous for the white or blue-gray Marble quarried there The Esposizione Universale Roma ( EUR, originally called E42 is a large complex now a suburban area and business centre in Rome, Italy. Marchese Guglielmo Marconi mar'koni (25 April 1874 – 20 July 1937 was an Italian inventor best known for his development of a Radiotelegraph system The 1960 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XVII Olympiad, was an International Multi-sport event held in Rome, Italy 92 panels in white marble contain illustrations of Marconi's career and allegorical scenes.

References

External links

• Obelisks in Rome (Andrea Pollett)
• Obelisks of Rome (series of articles in Platner's Topographical Dictionary of Ancient Rome)
• Obelischi di Roma
• Obeliiks of Rome by www.romeartlover.it/
• Flow chart of the standing obelisks