Egyptian obelisks of Benevento

The Egyptian obelisks of Benevento are red granite monuments carved with hieroglyphics on all four sides, each rising more than three meters tall. One stands in Piazza Papiniano while the other is preserved in the Museo del Sannio.

These monuments were erected around 88-89 AD under Emperor Domitian, commissioned by Rutilius Lupus to celebrate military victories. They were originally from ancient Egypt and were transported to Rome before eventually reaching Benevento.

These monuments blend Egyptian religious symbols with Roman imperial authority, showing how two worlds met through art and inscriptions. Visitors can see this cultural fusion directly in the carved texts on the stone.

One obelisk stands in a public square in the city center, while the other is housed in a museum that is easy to reach. Both locations are walkable from the downtown area.

The inscriptions contain a rare blend of Egyptian hieroglyphics and Greek letters spelling the Roman word 'autokrator,' a Greek term for absolute ruler. This unusual combination reveals how three ancient languages and cultures were woven together in a single monument.