Roman obelisks and where to find them

Despite being invented by Egyptians, Romans had a real passion for obelisks. Seriously.
So much that they fill the City.
Among the 13 displayed around Rome, only 8 are originally from Egypt: the remaining 5 are Roman obelisks.

What is an obelisk?

The word comes from Ancient Greek obeliskos, which means “pointed pillar”.
In the Ancient Egypt, they were the symbol of the Sun god Ra, placed in pairs at the entrance of the temples. 
During the Old Kingdom of Egypt, Egyptians made them with bricks; then, during the New Kingdom obelisks were made of granite. 

… and then, Romans arrived!

In 30 BC, Romans took control of Egypt after Cleopatra’s suicide.
Among the many Egyptian beauties, nothing impressed them as obelisks did: we can say, love at first sight. In fact, there are more obelisks in Rome than in Egypt – which is crazy, I dare say. 🙂
They even made their own copies once back in the City (hieroglyphics included).

Egyptian obelisks in Rome

The Egyptian obelisk in Rome are (in order of height):

1 – Lateranense: the oldest, from the temple of Amun in Karnak. Brought to Rome in 357 and moved to San Giovanni in Laterano in 1588.
2- Vaticano: Caligula brought it from Alexandria in 40, Pope Sixtus V relocated it in 1586. It is the only one that never toppled.
3 – Flaminio: Augustus brought it from Heliopolis, together with the Solare, for the Circus Maximus. Pope Sixtus V moved it in 1589.
4 – Solare: in pair with the Flaminio, Pope Pius VI erected it in front of Palazzo Montecitorio in 1792.
5 – Macuteo: brought it together with the Matteiano from Heliopolis. Pope Clement XI moved it in front of the Pantheon in 1711.
6 – Minerveo: Diocletian took it in Sais. In 1667 Alexander VII placed it at Piazza della Minerva.
7 – Dogali: one of a pair from Heliopolis, its twin is in Florence. Now it is near Termini Station to commemorate the Battle of Dogali.
8 – Matteiano: the smallest one, arrived in Rome with the Macuteo. Lost and found through the years, then re-erected in Villa Celimontana only in 1820.

Roman obelisks

Here’s a list of the copies Roman made of ancient obelisks, in order of height:

1 – Agonale: Domitian commissioned it for the Temple of Serapis, then Bernini erected on the Four Rivers Fountain in 1651.
2 – Quirinale: originally in pair with the Esquilino, Pope Pius Vi moved it on the Quirinal Hill in 1786.
3 – Esquilino: paired with the Quirinale, Pope Sixtus V erected it in 1587 behind the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore.
4 – Sallustiano: an Aurelian copy of the Flaminio, in 1789 Pope Pius VI placed it at Trinità dei Monti.
5 – Pinciano: Adrian commissioned it for Tivoli, but Eliogabalus moved it to Rome. In 1822 Pope Pius VII placed it on the Pincian Hill.