Obeliskportal, Eastern entrance gate of Sanssouci Park, Potsdam, Germany.
The Obeliskportal is a monumental sandstone entrance gate on the eastern boundary of Sanssouci Park. It features four Corinthian columns on each side, topped with decorative vases and cherubs along the curved entrance walls.
Frederick the Great commissioned architect Georg Wenzeslaus von Knobelsdorff to design this monumental entrance, which was completed in 1747. The gate became a defining architectural feature that showcased the power and refinement expected at a royal domain.
The portal displays sculptures of the Roman goddesses Flora and Pomona, created by Friedrich Christian Glume, representing how the garden and nature were celebrated in Baroque art. These figures were meant to welcome visitors into a space devoted to botanical beauty.
The portal marks the eastern boundary of the park and connects to the main alley leading westward toward the palace complex. This entrance is accessible on foot and serves as a helpful landmark for navigating the grounds.
The obelisk beside the gate displays decorative hieroglyphs created in the 18th century without knowledge of actual Egyptian writing systems. These imagined symbols reflect how Europeans of that era romanticized ancient cultures.
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