Lateran Obelisk (Rome)

Italy / Lazio / Rome
Tallest obelisk in Rome, and the largest standing ancient Egyptian obelisk in the world, weighing over 230 tons. Originally from the temple of Amun in Karnak. Brought to Alexandria with another obelisk by Constantius II, and brought on its own from there to Rome in 357 to decorate the spina of the Circus Maximus. Found in three pieces in 1587, restored approximately 4 m shorter by Pope Sixtus V, and erected near the Lateran Palace and basilica of San Giovanni in Laterano in 1588 in the place of the equestrian statue of Marcus Aurelius, which was moved to the Capitoline Hill.

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Wikipedia article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lateran_Obelisk
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Coordinates:   41°53'12"N   12°30'17"E
This article was last modified 12 years ago