The Unfinished Obelisk: Unlocking the Secrets of Aswan’s Monumental Mystery

Obelisks are among the most iconic relics of ancient Egypt, showcasing the brilliance of ancient Egyptian art and engineering. These towering monuments are found throughout the country, often flanking the entrances of temples in pairs, symbolizing the grandeur and power of ancient Egypt. Known in the ancient Egyptian language as Tekhen, obelisks were carved from a single stone and shaped into a rectangular column, with their tops adorned by a golden pyramid designed to catch and reflect the sun’s rays.

Obelisks were deeply connected to solar mythology, representing Al-Benben, the mythical first land from which the universe emerged. The sun god was believed to stand upon it to bring creation to life. Egyptian kings and queens commissioned obelisks as expressions of their divine authority, engraving their names and significant religious achievements on all four sides of the monument to immortalize their legacy.

Majestic Unfinished Obelisk

The Unfinished Obelisk is one of the most remarkable relics in Egypt, offering a glimpse into the lost city of an ancient quarry in Aswan city. It reflects both the ambition of the pharaohs and the extraordinary labor of the workers who toiled during their reign. This monumental piece also reveals the complex quarrying techniques of the time, showing how a single miscalculation could turn a potential masterpiece into a historic failure.

Had the obelisk been successfully transported, it would have been the largest in the world, earning a place among the “Wonders of the Ancient World.” When completed, it would have measured 137 feet in height and weighed an astonishing 1,168 tons. Despite its unfinished state, the obelisk stands as a powerful testament to the limits of ancient engineering and human endurance, reminding visitors of the incredible efforts of the laborers who worked to create it.

Where is The Unfinished Obelisk located?

The Unfinished Obelisk is situated in the southern part of Egypt, within the stone quarries of Aswan. These quarries are specifically in the northern region of Aswan and are renowned for the high-quality granite they produce.

 

Unfinished Obelisk’s Quarry

Who built the Unfinished Obelisk?

Queen Hatshepsut, the wife of King Thutmose II (1478-1458BC) in the new kingdom during the 18th dynasty, ordered the building of a great obelisk to be placed in Karnak temple to as a complete for the Lateran Obelisk (originally located in Karnak before being moved to Rome). The Unfinished Obelisk was originally carved in upper Aswan City. Specifically in the red quarries of granite that produce very high-quality granite.

The Unfinished Obelisk was built in a great way in the style of Greek architecture. That had a rectangular column with four engraved faces and was crowned by a golden pyramid to reflect the sun’s rays. 

Queen Hatshepsut Statue

Why Was The Obelisk Left Unfinished?

The construction of the Obelisk was interrupted when a large crack appeared on the stone, and here is the story:

Thanks to The Unfinished Obelisk for explaining how the ancient Egyptians constructed such great Obelisks all over Egypt. They divided the final sculpture from the bed stone. It seems a very complicated process that requires advanced equipment and techniques, but they use very simple tools. Instead, they used wet wood to make holes in the granite and inserted sun-dried wooden wedges into these holes. 

The wedges were repeatedly and periodically covered with water in order to imbibe the water and increase its size. Finally, these expanded wedges caused regular fractures along the hole line in the rocks, which led to separating the obelisk from the rocks under it. Once the obelisk is separated from the bedrock, it is smoothed, and its surface becomes evener due to the diabase and dolerite rocks, as they are harder than the granite rocks.

Once the last phase of the building process had been finished, three faces were already finished, and the laborers found out that there were large fractures in the rocks; for this reason, the building process was interrupted. The obelisk was left unfinished in the old quarries in Aswan until now.

The unfinished Obelisk’s crack

The Crack on the Unfinished Obelisk

Unveiling the Obelisk’s Mystery

How was the Unfinished Obelisk Transported?

The transportation of colossal Obelisk from quarries to their intended locations was a remarkable accomplishment in itself. Workers would use sleds, lubricated with water or sand, to move the Obelisk over long distances. Once at the site, a trench was dug, and the Obelisk was lowered into place.

Transportation of the Unfinished Obelisk

The Significance of Obelisks in Ancient Egypt

Obelisks had great significance in ancient Egypt. They were often erected as symbols of the sun God Ra and were believed to act as conduits between the earthly realm and the divine. Many obelisks were carved with hieroglyphs to honor the achievements of the pharaohs or to receive divine blessings for the kingdom.

Obelisks in Ancient Culture

Visiting the Unfinished Obelisk

Aswan Unfinished Obelisk is an actual open-air museum, permitting us to take a virtual adventure into a far-off world, complete with mysteries yet to be determined. Egypt Visitors can explore this massive structure, walk around the place, take wonderful pictures, and get a deeper understanding of ancient Egyptian structures.

Exploring the Monument

conclusion

The Unfinished Obelisk in Aswan is a testament to ancient Egyptian craftsmanship, with historical, religious, and cultural importance associated with the Ra cult. Nearby the obelisk, you can explore more amazing monuments such as Philae Temple and the Aswan High Dam and dive deep into Egypt’s fascinating history.