Obelisk facts for kids
An obelisk is a tall, four-sided stone pillar. It's like a very tall, thin tower that stands on its own. Ancient Egyptians built these amazing structures a long time ago. They made them from a single piece of stone.
Obelisks were built to remember important events or people. They often honored the sun god, Ra, in a city called Heliopolis. Usually, two obelisks stood together in front of temples or gates. Each side of an obelisk often had hieroglyphs. These were ancient Egyptian writings that told stories or praised kings.
From above, an obelisk looks like a square. It gets narrower as it goes up. The very top looks like a small pyramid.
Today, you can find obelisks in many places around the world. Some were brought from Egypt to Europe and America. For example, Napoleon took an Egyptian obelisk to Paris. There's also a famous modern obelisk, the Washington Monument, in Washington, D.C., USA.
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History of Obelisks
Ancient Egyptian Obelisks
Obelisks first appeared in Ancient Egypt. They were considered holy stones. They were linked to the sun god Ra, who was very important to the Egyptians. The first obelisks were built in Heliopolis, a city known for its sun worship.
Why Egyptians Built Them
Egyptians built obelisks for several reasons:
- To honor gods: Especially the sun god Ra.
- To celebrate kings: They recorded the achievements and stories of pharaohs in hieroglyphs carved into the stone.
- As monuments: They served as lasting symbols of power and belief.
Most ancient obelisks were made from a single, huge piece of granite. This was a very difficult task. Workers had to quarry the stone, move it, and then carefully raise it into place.
Obelisks Around the World
Over time, many Egyptian obelisks were moved to other countries.
- The Roman Empire took many obelisks to Rome.
- One of the two Luxor Obelisks was moved from Egypt to Paris, France.
- Another famous Egyptian obelisk is in Istanbul, Turkey.
Modern obelisks have also been built in different countries. These are inspired by the ancient Egyptian design. The Washington Monument in the United States is a famous example. It was built to honor George Washington, the first president of the USA.
Images for kids
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One of the two Luxor Obelisks, on the Place de la Concorde in Paris; a red granite monolithic column, 23 metres (75 feet) high, including the base, which weighs over 250 metric tons (280 short tons).
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Pylon of the Temple of Luxor with the remaining Luxor Obelisk in front (the second is today on the Place de la Concorde in Paris).
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Obelisk of Pharaoh Senusret I, Al-Maalla area of Al-Matariyyah district in modern Heliopolis
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Tip of Hatshepsut's fallen obelisk, Karnak Temple Complex, Luxor, Egypt
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The Dutch Golden Age painter Bartholomeus Breenbergh placed an obelisk in the background of his 1655 painting Joseph Sells Grain
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King Ezana's Stele in Axum
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The Wellington Monument in Dublin, built between 1817 and 1861 to commemorate the victories of Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington
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The Brothers Broglie Obelisk at the Monrepos Park in Vyborg, Russia, erected in 1827
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The Stone of the Empress by Carl Ludvig Engel, erected in 1835 to commemorate Empress Alexandra Feodorovna of Russia, at the Market Square in Helsinki, Finland
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The Washington Monument in Washington, D.C., built between 1848 and 1884 to commemorate George Washington
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The Obelisk of Buenos Aires, erected in 1936 to commemorate the quadricentennial of the foundation of the city
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The National Monument in Jakarta, built in 1961–1975 to commemorate the struggle for Indonesian independence
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A view from ground level of the Via della Conciliazione in Rome
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Grave of Ludwig van Beethoven (1770–1827) in the central cemetery of Vienna
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Grave of Jean-Baptiste Hubert (1781–1845) in the cemetery of Yves, Charente-Maritime (France)
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Islamic cemetery in Sarajevo, with columnar headstones
See also
In Spanish: Obelisco para niños
