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Heliopolis origin of the Flaminio Obelisk in Piazza del Popolo

Heliopolis origin of the Flaminio Obelisk in Piazza del Popolo

Source and license: Jean-Pol GRANDMONT / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0, resized

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#Ancient relics
Nicolo Ciampini Nicolo Ciampini

Discover the intriguing story of the Flaminio Obelisk, from its roots in ancient Egypt to its current place in Rome.

The Flaminio Obelisk, one of the ancient obelisks in Rome, may be the second-most ancient, or even the most ancient. It was originally erected in Heliopolis, Egypt, then moved to Rome by Caesar Augustus during the Roman conquest. The obelisk spent some time in the Circus Maximus before being moved to its present location in Piazza del Popolo in 1589.

The Flaminio Obelisk stands 24 meters tall and, including the base and the cross, reaches 36.50 meters. Commissioned by Pharaoh Seti I and completed under Rameses II, it was quarried from granite quarries in Aswan and showcases hieroglyphics inscriptions.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons

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Hear this story where it happened, along with the others around it. Say how many days you have and what you are into, and we put together a route through these places, with a voice guide telling each story as you arrive.

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Written by Nicolo Ciampini

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