Lateran Obelisk

The Lateran Obelisk is an Egyptian obelisk in Rome. It is 32.18 meters high and stands today at the Piazza San Giovanni in Laterano in front of the Lateran church. He is the greatest of all obelisks in Rome.

Description

Originally designed for Thutmose III. (reigned 1479-1458 BC ) created and erected east of the Temple of Amun at Thebes, he was brought to Alexandria 337 by Constantine I at Karnak. The original goal of the obelisk was not Rome, but Constantinople Opel, which Constantine had made ​​330 as the new capital of the Roman Empire. The emperor died but 337, and the stone lay initially in Alexandria. On the pedestal is to read that Constantine's son, Emperor Constantius II, converted the obelisk to Rome and set up 357 in the Circus Maximus as a gift to the Senate and the Roman people had. On the integration of this largest Roman obelisks reported Ammianus Marcellinus that a ship was built by imposing size, which was manned by three hundred rowers.

After an earthquake, the obelisk fell to later, broke into several pieces, was left lying and forgotten. It was not until 1587 he was excavated by order of Pope Sixtus V in 1588 brought by Domenico Fontana, who left his signature, to its present location and restored. On the top of the cross was attached as a symbol of Christian power. From the base had to be cut off at the third lineup four palmi (300 mm) to obtain a safe footing. The obelisk was originally 33.10 meters high and about 500 tons.

Top of the obelisk near the Lateran