Unfinished obelisk, Ancient granite quarry in Aswan, Egypt
The Unfinished Obelisk is a massive stone still embedded in the rose granite quarry of Aswan, left partially carved from the bedrock. The surface displays marks and grooves left by the tools ancient workers used while extracting it.
A ruler commissioned this obelisk during the 18th Dynasty around 1473 BC to complement another at Karnak Temple. The project was never finished, possibly because workers discovered a flaw in the stone or plans changed.
Ancient Egyptians called obelisks 'Tekhenu', meaning to pierce the sky, representing a sacred hill from their creation stories. This spiritual meaning connects to how these monuments were placed to reach upward.
The site sits within an active quarry area where you can see extraction techniques up close and spend time exploring without crowds. Come early in the morning when it's cooler, and wear sturdy shoes since the ground is uneven and rocky.
Workers used dolerite balls harder than granite itself to shape the stone, and they placed water-soaked wooden pegs in cracks that would split the rock as they dried. These methods reveal the ingenuity of ancient construction techniques.
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