The Remaining Luxor Obelisk: A Testament to Ancient Grandeur

Standing tall in Luxor City, the Remaining Luxor Obelisk is a remarkable testament to ancient Egyptian civilization. Carved from a single piece of red granite, this obelisk is adorned with exquisite hieroglyphs that narrate the stories of pharaohs and their divine connections, offering a glimpse into the spiritual and political significance of these structures. Originally, two obelisks stood at the entrance of the Luxor Temple, erected during the reign of Ramesses II around 1250 BC. In the 1830s, the right-hand (western) obelisk was gifted to France and now stands in the Place de la Concorde in Paris. In return, King Louis Philippe gave Pasha Muhammed Ali a large clock, which is still in the clock tower of the mosque at the Citadel of Cairo. The remaining obelisk in Luxor is slightly taller than its counterpart that is in Paris. The hieroglyphs that are carved into the obelisk in sunken relief on all four sides include coded references to Ramses II's divine power. The obelisk symbolizes the sun god Ra, with many believing that the god existed within the structure. The four baboons that are visible on the pedestal of the obelisk are carved raising their front paws. Ancient Egyptians observed baboons making such a gesture at dawn and interpreted this as the animals 'adoring' the sun.