Macuteo obelisk, Egyptian obelisk at Piazza della Rotonda, Italy.
The Macuteo obelisk rises in Piazza della Rotonda in front of the Pantheon, standing about 6.5 meters tall and carved from granite stone. A fountain with dolphin sculptures surrounds its base, creating a striking focal point in the center of the square.
The obelisk was created during the reign of Ramses II around 1300 BC in Heliopolis, Egypt, and later brought to Rome by ship. It was placed near the Temple of Isis and has remained in the city ever since as a lasting connection to ancient Egyptian times.
The hieroglyphic text on the obelisk describes the pharaoh as a child of the sun god, showing how ancient Egyptians expressed their religious beliefs in stone. Visitors walking around the monument can observe these ancient symbols and sense how deeply connected this culture was to their divine world.
The obelisk sits in the middle of a public square and is accessible at all times, located directly in front of the Pantheon in central Rome. Buses on lines 40 and 64 stop nearby, making it easy to reach by public transportation.
In 1711, Pope Clement XI added a mountain and star decoration to the top of the obelisk, blending ancient Egyptian and Catholic symbols together. This addition reflects how Rome mixed its pagan heritage with Christian ideas in surprising ways.
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