Unfinished Obelisk

Photographer:

Stephen McLaughlin

Title:

Unfinished Obelisk

Description:

Picture, contributed by Tour Egypt reader Stephen McLaughlin, of the Unfinished Obelisk in Aswan. Much of the red granite used for ancient temples and colossi came from quarries in the Aswan area. Around these quarries are many inscriptions, many of which describe successful quarrying projects. The Unfinished Obelisk is located in the northern quarry. Possibly intended as a companion to the Lateran Obelisk, originally at Karnak but now in Rome, it would have weighed over 2.3 million pounds and would have been the world's largest piece of stone ever handled. However, a crack in the stone occurred, which caused it to be abandoned. Tools left by it's builders have given us much insight into how such work was performed. The site has been renovated and equipped with tourist facilities. Nearby is the Fatimid Cemetery.

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