Urbino obelisk, Egyptian obelisk near Ducal Palace in Urbino, Italy.
The Urbino obelisk is a red granite shaft approximately 3 meters tall with an octagonal form and chamfered corners bearing hieroglyphic inscriptions. It stands on Via Aurelio Saffi next to the Gothic church of San Domenico.
This Egyptian stone dates to the 6th century BC and eventually reached Rome. Cardinal Alessandro Albani had it moved to Urbino in 1737 to honor the birthplace of Pope Clement XI.
The inscriptions carved on the sides mention Pharaoh Wahibre and the goddess Isis, reflecting the religious beliefs of ancient Egypt. These texts show how important such monuments were in Egyptian spiritual life.
The obelisk sits on a busy street near the Ducal Palace and is easy to reach on foot. Walk around it from different angles to view the inscriptions properly on all sides.
The monument features a noticeable square stone band around its middle section, which may be original or added during past restoration work. This detail sets it apart from other Egyptian obelisks.
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