The Unfinished Obelisk in Aswan is a giant known ancient Obelisk located in the northern region of the stone quarries of ancient Egypt in Aswan Egypt.
Here you’ll find information about construction, facts, and why it is called an unfinished obelisk.
Facts of Unfinished Obelisk in Aswan:
Hatshepsut (1508–1458 BC) placed an order for its construction, presumably as a companion to what would become known as the Lateran Obelisk
(which was initially at Karnak and was later brought to the Lateran Palace in Rome).
The Unfinished Obelisk is over a third more significant than any obelisk made of ancient Egyptian material.
The plan to chisel the Obelisk right out of the bedrock was abandoned when fissures showed in the granite.
The Obelisk’s base is still anchored to the bedrock on its lower side.
The location of the majority of the famous obelisks may correspond to some rock engravings and other relics that were also found.
The unfinished items and all the quarries in Aswan are open-air museums formally protected as archaeological sites by the Egyptian government.
This Obelisk would have been the biggest in Ancient Egypt and stand at an incredible 42 meters tall if it had ever been built.
The Lateran Obelisk, the most giant completed now standing in Rome, Italy, is 10 meters shorter than the Unfinished Obelisk.
With an estimated weight of 1,200 tonnes, it is one of the giant monoliths in the world and the largest known Obelisk of Ancient Egypt, although not a massive obelisk.
The best granite used in Old Egypt was mined from several ancient stone quarries near the upper Egyptian city of Aswan.
The Unfinished Obelisk’s remnants are located in Aswan’s Northern Quarries.
Construction of Unfinished Obelisk:
Obelisks are massive, four-sided columns with a pyramidal end.
In the quarries in northern Aswan, you may find the Obelisk.
It would have been around 41.75 meters (137.0 ft) long
and nearly 1,090 tonnes (1,200 short tonnes) in weight when finished.
They used stone balls to smooth out any flaws on the surface.
You can practice cutting enormous blocks and learn about stoneworking methods at this outdoor museum.
Why is it called unfinished Obelisk?
The Obelisk, which would have been the most significant single stone structure the Egyptians had built,
was unfinished, as its name implies.
When the mason noticed a split in the granite, he abandoned the massive shaft,
which was still partially attached to the bedrock it was being carved from.
Three sides of the giant post had already been completed.
In summary
The “Unfinished Obelisk in Aswan” is a pink granite obelisk situated in the country’s northeastern region
and is regarded as an artistic painting that can depict the Pharaonic monuments erected by the ancient Egyptians during their dominance.
Don’t miss to check out our Aswan tours