Born in Heliopolis on the Nile, this Vatican Obelisk was one of thirteen original obelisks of Rome. Emperor Caligula, in a whimsical fit, relocated it to Rome's heart in 37 AD. For centuries, it took up residence at the center of the Circus, a formidable figure under Emperor Nero. Eventually, it fell out of use, serving as a burial ground till the 16th century. It was then, under the watch of Pope Sixtus V, that it found its current resting place in St. Peter’s Square, Vatican City, in 1588.
Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons
Written by Nicolo Ciampini
Discuss this with the author and others
No comments yet. Be the first to start the conversation.