Never think that the past is something frozen and out of date. history always has something valuable to teach us. Whether it is about details or events that marked the past, with Antiquity we can always discover useful techniques for the present, as shown by the incredible obelisk we are going to talk about.
Much has been theorized and said about the construction techniques of the ancient Egyptians: the skills of this person in construction and engineering are evident and absolutely astonishing for the time; just think of the colossal jobs they left us. The obelisk in question is no less. At 42 meters tall and weighing 1,200 tons, it is a true giant, but it never experienced the splendor it deserved, having remained unfinished and unused for over 3,500 years.
#1
image credit: Olaf Tausch / Wikimedia
The discovery of this colossal artifact took place in Aswan, southern Egypt, and was most likely commissioned by Queen Hatshepsut, the second woman to hold the title of Pharaoh, ruler of the 18th Dynasty. While an obelisk is usually striking in its height and visibility, it has been lying in the ground for years and years, half-buried and unfinished.
#2
image credit: Proteon/reddit
That doesn’t mean it’s less fascinating, though. On the contrary, its particularity is precisely that it has remained unused. The reason ? It probably would have been too big to stand , as evidenced by a huge crack which experts say is a clear sign of an unsuccessful lifting attempt.
#3
image credit: Immanuel Giel / Wikimedia
Despite its sad fate, this obelisk is for us a fundamental testimony to the techniques and skills of the peoples of the Middle East in the field of engineering and construction. The Egyptians, in fact, carved monuments like this directly into the bedrock of the ground, before straightening it out when finished. All this after a meticulous and complicated detachment process, which did not always give the expected results.
#4
image credit: Underwood & Underwood/Wikimedia
Whatever your fate, it is truly spectacular to be in contact with historical objects like this, in what has been defined as a sort of open-air museum-building site. These are the works that show us how much we have to learn from those who came before us.
#5
image credit: Gérard Ducher/Wikimedia
Source used:
https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/unfinished-obelisk
Luxor & Ashwan Travel