Engraving by Domenico Fontana Overhead view showing path of obelisk during move from the Circus Nero to its new location at the Piazza of Saint Peter in Rome, 1590. The obelisk was originally erected at Heliopolis by an unknown pharaoh of the Fifth dynasty of Egypt (2494, 2345 BC). During its history the obelisk has been successfully moved three times. The Emperor Augustus had the obelisk moved to the Julian Forum of Alexandria, where it stood until 37 AD, when Caligula ordered the forum demolished and the obelisk transferred to Rome. He had it placed in the Circus of Nero. Pope Sixtus V launched a competition which attracted in the region of 500 entries and was won by Domenico Fontana, an architect and engineer. In 1586 the work was carried out, taking 900 men and 140 horses five months to move the obelisk a distance of little more than 330 feet. Illustration taken from Della Transportatione dell'Obelisco Vaticano. | |
Lizenzart: | Lizenzpflichtig |
Credit: | Science Photo Library / Science Source |
Bildgröße: | 3300 px × 5232 px |
Modell-Rechte: | nicht erforderlich |
Eigentums-Rechte: | nicht erforderlich |
Restrictions: | - |