Home

Member


Page2 View


The Roman Obelisks

Lou Giorgetti


Vatican Obelisk (circa 1890 photograph)
United States Library of Congress
From Wikimedia, in the Public Domain

On October 27, 1959, the Vatican Post Office released a 10-stamp air post set featuring five of the ancient obelisks in Rome. Let’s take a quick look at the stamps and the history of the Roman obelisks.

Did you know that there are more ancient obelisks in the city of Rome and Vatican City (13) than in the country of Egypt (9)? Of the thirteen Roman obelisks, eight are of ancient Egyptian origin and five were constructed in Egypt under Roman direction. The first of the Egyptian obelisks transported to Rome were moved over 2000 years ago, no small task at the time. Around the year 30 BC, Rome’s first emperor, Augustus, to celebrate his victory over Mark Antony and Cleopatra, ordered the transport of two massive obelisks from Heliopolis to Rome. Over the years, future emperors followed the lead of Augustus, viewing obelisks as symbols of political power and conquest.

Under Pope Sixtus V, during his monumental rebuild of the city of Rome in the late 16th century, obelisks were strategically positioned as navigational markers for pilgrims passing through the city. He also “Christianized” many of the obelisks by surmounting them with crosses, transforming them from pagan monuments to Christian landmarks.

Here is a look at the five obelisks depicted on the 1959 air mail set.


Lateran Obelisk, Scott C35 and C40 (1959)

The Lateran Obelisk is located in the Piazza di San Giovanni in Laterano at the Archbasilica of Saint John Lateran. Standing at over 105 feet tall (and over 150 feet including its base), this is the largest standing ancient Egyptian obelisk in the world.


Esquiline Obelisk, Scott C36 and C41 (1959)

The Esquiline Obelisk is located in the Piazza dell'Esquilino, positioned directly behind the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, once stood outside the Mausoleum of Augustus.


Vatican Obelisk, Scott C37 and C42 (1959)


The Vatican Obelisk, located in Saint Peter's Square, is the only obelisk in Rome that has never toppled since ancient times. In 1586, it was moved to its present location, a massive project memorialized in Vatican City’s 2022 Europa stamp set (Scott 1795-1797), shown at the bottom of this article.


Flaminio Obelisk, Scott C38 and C43 (1959)


The Flaminio Obelisk anchors the Piazza del Popolo and serves as a focal point at Rome's northern gateway. It is one of the first two obelisks plundered by Augustus in 30 BC.


Sallustiano Obelisk, Scott C39 and C44 (1959)


The Sallustiano Obelisk can be seen at the top of the Spanish Steps, in front of the Chiesa di Santissima Trinità dei Monti (the Church of the Holy Trinity of the Mountains).

The other ancient obelisks located in Rome include:

  • The Solare Obelisk is located in the Piazza di Monte Citorio, a short distance from the Pantheon, and is the second of the original Egyptian obelisks moved to Rome
  • The Macuteo Obelisk stands directly in front of the Pantheon atop a Baroque fountain in the Piazza della Rotonda
  • The Minerveo Obelisk is found in the Piazza della Minerva, it is mounted on the back of a marble elephant statue by Bernini
  • The Dogali Obelisk is located on the Via delle Terme di Diocleziano (near Rome's Termini station), it is part of a military monument
  • The Matteiano Obelisk, found in the Villa Celimontana gardens on the Caelian Hill, it is the smallest of the ancient obelisks
  • The Agonalis Obelisk is situated in the center of Piazza Navona and anchors Bernini’s Fountain of the Four Rivers
  • The Quirinale Obelisk stands in the Piazza del Quirinale, outside the Quirinale Palace, the official residence of the Italian President
  • The Pinciano Obelisk is located on the Pincian Hill in the Villa Borghese gardens, not far from the Piazza del Popolo.

    In addition to the ancient obelisks, there are also some modern obelisks in the city, including the Mussolini Obelisk (inaugurated in 1932) and the Marconi Obelisk (built in 1959).

    REFERENCES:
  • The Byzantine Legacy, Roman Obelisks
  • Archaeology Travel, Egyptian Obelisks in Rome and Beyond
  • WalksInRome.com, The Obelisks of Rome
  • Wikipedia, List of obelisks in Rome
  • Vatican Philatelic Society website, www.vaticanstamps.org, Stamp Database Search




    Europa 2022: Stories and Myths
    The Movement of the Vatican Obelisk (Scott 1795-1797)