Obelisk of Theodosius
The Obelisk of Theodosius (Turkish: Dikilitas) is the Ancient Egyptian obelisk of Pharaoh Thutmose III re-erected in the Hippodrome of Constantinople by the Roman emperor Theodosius I in the 4th century CE.
History[edit | edit source]
The obelisk was originally commissioned by Thutmose III to the south of the seventh pylon of the great temple of Karnak. Carved from exquisite red-granite, the structure featured hieroglyphs on its four sides that recounted the tales of some of the Pharaoh's greatest military victories.[1]
In 357 CE, the Roman emperor Constantius II had it transported along the river Nile to Alexandria in celebration of his 20th year as sovereign. It remained there for forty years, before being moved again by emperor Theodusius I, this time to Constantinople where he placed it in the Hippodrome on an ornately carved base that he had specially constructed to hold it.[1]
Gallery[edit | edit source]
-
Concept art of the obelisk at the Hippodrome -
Concept art of the obelisk visible from the streets
