Sun, 03 May 2026 23:38:58 +0000

The Obelisk: Ancient Monuments That Rise Toward the Sky When most people think of towering stone structures from antiquity, the obelisk often comes to mind. These tall, four-sided, tapering monuments have fascinated historians, travelers, and art lovers for millennia. From the bustling streets of Rome to the sacred banks of the Nile, obelisks stand as silent sentinels of ancient civilizations. In this article, we’ll explore the meaning, history, architectural significance, and cultural legacy of obelisks around the world. ### What Is an Obelisk? An obelisk is a tall, slender, pyramid-shaped monument usually made of stone—often granite or limestone—with a pyramidion (a pointed apex) crowning its top. Traditionally monolithic, the earliest obelisks date back over 3,500 years to ancient Egypt, where they were carved from single blocks of rock. Though sharing visual similarities with Egyptian benben stones and other early sun symbols, the modern western understanding of obelisks comes largely from Egyptian architecture.