Lost Obelisks of Egypt

Sadly there are only a few ancient Egyptian Obelisks that still remain standing in Egypt today.  Most of them were looted over the centuries by invading armies as the spoils of war.

Roman Emperors, in particular, were keen to appropriate these famous symbols of ancient Egyptian civilization and power, and as a result today there are as many Egyptian obelisks standing in Rome as there are in all of Egypt.

Elsewhere, one of Ramesses the Great’s most magnificent obelisks now stands in the Place de la Concorde, Paris, while the pair of obelisks known as Cleopatra’s Needles stand separately in London and New York.

Modern nations of course are increasingly urging former colonial powers to return their misappropriated heritage, and although this is likely to be resisted for a long while yet, there may possibly come a time when Egypt’s obelisks will be restored to the land of their creation and their rightful home.