Obelisco Agonale, Ancient Egyptian obelisk in Piazza Navona, Rome, Italy
The red granite obelisk rises 16.5 meters above Piazza Navona, featuring hieroglyphic inscriptions and a decorative dove symbol at its summit point.
Emperor Domitian ordered this obelisk from Aswan quarries in the first century AD, placing it between the temples of Serapis and Isis in Rome.
The obelisk forms the centerpiece of Bernini's Fountain of Four Rivers, representing the connection between ancient Egyptian and Roman architectural traditions.
Visitors can observe the monument throughout the year, with the square remaining open 24 hours and offering optimal viewing conditions during morning hours.
The granite structure contains Roman-made hieroglyphics rather than original Egyptian inscriptions, making it different from other ancient obelisks in the city.
Location: Rome
Inception: 1 century
Height: 1,654 cm
Made from material: granitoid
Part of: Four Rivers Fountain
GPS coordinates: 41.89900,12.47310
Latest update: March 13, 2025 12:27
Rome joins history with modern photography. The city spreads across several hills and holds buildings from different centuries, from ancient ruins to baroque churches and fountains. Photographers find subjects on every street corner, from large public squares to narrow alleys in old neighborhoods. The Colosseum and Roman Forum show the building techniques of ancient Rome. Trevi Fountain and Piazza Navona present baroque design with flowing water and sculptures. The Spanish Steps serve as a meeting point where people rest on the steps and watch the activity below. The Pantheon has stood for nearly 2,000 years and impresses through its dome with a circular opening at the center. In Vatican City, St. Peter's Basilica rises with its tall dome, and the Vatican Museums contain long galleries filled with artworks. Castel Sant'Angelo stands by the Tiber River and offers a wide view over the city's rooftops from above. Trastevere sits on the other side of the river and shows a different face of Rome: small squares, narrow streets with laundry lines between buildings, and restaurants with tables on the pavement. The church of Santa Maria in Trastevere has a golden mosaic on its facade that glows in the evening light. Campo de' Fiori is a market in the morning with vegetables and flowers, and in the evening the square fills with people. Via Margutta is a quiet street with galleries and plants on the building walls. The Aventine Keyhole shows St. Peter's Dome through a small opening in perfect framing. The Janiculum hill and Villa Borghese Gardens offer green spaces for walking and views over the city. Caracalla Baths and the Appian Way show Rome outside the center, where ancient structures stand in the landscape.
Italy preserves architectural evidence from two thousand years of history. In Rome, Roman temples stand beside Renaissance palaces, while Florence houses museums and cathedrals from the 15th century. Venice developed its canal system over centuries as a response to its lagoon environment. In the Campania region, Mount Vesuvius shapes the landscape, and the ancient city of Pompeii has remained preserved under volcanic ash since the 1st century.
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