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What is a obelisks?

Updated: 8/20/2023
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12y ago

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The word "obelisk" comes from the Greek word obelos, meaning a dagger. These monuments were thought to look like daggers, with their columns ending in a point. Obelisks are typical examples of ancient Egyptian art; they have an elegant slender form, a square base, and end in a pyramid-shaped point.

In height, as a rule, they are about ten times the diameter of the base. The point was usually sheathed in a bright precious metal, silver or gold, but of these valuable metals was stolen long ago. Because of the layer of metal the columns reflected the sunlight brilliantly and they could be seen from a great distance.

Obelisks were usually carved out of reddish-coloured granite found at Aswan. Sometimes dark grey basalt was used.

The dimensions varied: the tallest known obelisk remains unfinished in a cave at Aswan (about 40m) and the smallest is less than 2 metres in height. They were not merely decorative but stood in front of the temples and were usually dedicated to the sun gods. On many obelisks there are inscriptions in hieroglyphics saying to which gods they were dedicated and to the Pharaoh who ordered their erection.

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8y ago

The meaning of the word obelisk is needle.

An obelisk is a tall four sided monument with a pyramidal top.

The ancient form was a single stone which is called monolith like in Stonehenge.

Several cities have an obelisk monument like Roma, Paris, Washington etc...

An obelisk is an Egyptian styled structure that is a tall rectangle that points at the top. It extends into the air like a skinny tower.

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Continue Learning about Ancient History

What Egyptian kingdom did obelisks come from?

Cleopatra's


How did obelisks affect Egyptian society?

Obelisks affected Egyptian society becasue: people had to work on it and I am so sexy, I was placed in an obelisk and everyone bowed to my sexiness.


What is the name of Cleopatra's obelisk?

There is no name for Cleopatra's obelisk because she does not have one. There are obelisks called "Cleopatra's Needles" but they have nothing to do with Cleopatra VII.There is no name for Cleopatra's obelisk because she does not have one. There are obelisks called "Cleopatra's Needles" but they have nothing to do with Cleopatra VII.There is no name for Cleopatra's obelisk because she does not have one. There are obelisks called "Cleopatra's Needles" but they have nothing to do with Cleopatra VII.There is no name for Cleopatra's obelisk because she does not have one. There are obelisks called "Cleopatra's Needles" but they have nothing to do with Cleopatra VII.There is no name for Cleopatra's obelisk because she does not have one. There are obelisks called "Cleopatra's Needles" but they have nothing to do with Cleopatra VII.There is no name for Cleopatra's obelisk because she does not have one. There are obelisks called "Cleopatra's Needles" but they have nothing to do with Cleopatra VII.There is no name for Cleopatra's obelisk because she does not have one. There are obelisks called "Cleopatra's Needles" but they have nothing to do with Cleopatra VII.There is no name for Cleopatra's obelisk because she does not have one. There are obelisks called "Cleopatra's Needles" but they have nothing to do with Cleopatra VII.There is no name for Cleopatra's obelisk because she does not have one. There are obelisks called "Cleopatra's Needles" but they have nothing to do with Cleopatra VII.


What two features are usually found near the entrances of temples?

sphinxes and obelisks


How were obelisks made?

they were made of granite stones. and igneous rocks.