The Obelisk

The word Obelisk is a Greek word that means "Needle" the reason for the Greek name is that the first document written about the obelisk was by a Greek traveller named Herodotus.

An Obelisk is a tapering column that is made from a single block of stone. They have a mini pyramid at the top which is called a pyramid ion. Obelisks were built in pairs and were placed a the front of temples.

These Obelisks were symbols of the stability and creative force of the sun god Ra; it was thought that the god was within the Obelisk, Ancient Egyptians also believed that the Obelisks were a magical protection to the monuments they were placed at, such temples or tombs. They were usally placed at the front of a Pharaohs tomb as they were important people.

They were carved with the name of the Pharaoh and had words of praise towards the god. Some Obelisk had the pyramidion covered with copper or another reflecting metal that would catch and reflect the rays from the sun.

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