Best Karnak
The Obelisk of Piazza San Giovanni in Laterano is an ancient Egyptian red-granite obelisk displayed in the Lateran square in Rome. It was made for Thutmose III and completed under Thutmose IV, then transported from Thebes to Rome in antiquity. At more than 32 metres, it is the tallest ancient Egypti...
Why this score?
Largest standing ancient Egyptian obelisk, exceptional royal history, monumental scale, and dramatic Roman setting establish undisputed world-class status.
Scoring methodology
The Northern Obelisk of Hatshepsut is an ancient Egyptian red-granite monument at the Temple of Amun in Karnak, near modern Luxor. It was erected during the reign of Hatshepsut in the Eighteenth Dynasty and formed one of a pair of obelisks associated with the temple's sacred precinct. The surviving...
Why this score?
Monumental scale, superb preservation, celebrated inscriptions, and Hatshepsut's historical importance make this a best-in-class ancient obelisk.
Scoring methodology
The Southern Obelisk of Hatshepsut is a red-granite obelisk erected at the temple complex of Karnak in ancient Thebes, modern Luxor. It was commissioned during the reign of Hatshepsut, the Eighteenth-Dynasty ruler, and bears hieroglyphic inscriptions presenting her royal titles and dedication of the...
Why this score?
Immense scale and important Hatshepsut provenance earn acclaim, though its fallen and fragmentary condition reduces visual impact.
Scoring methodology
The Obelisk of Hatshepsut stands within the Temple of Karnak, a monumental granite structure built around 1457 BC. It is notable as one of the tallest surviving ancient obelisks, reaching approximately 29 meters in height. Constructed by the female pharaoh Hatshepsut, this monument represents her po...
The Obelisk of Thutmose I is an ancient Egyptian monument erected by Pharaoh Thutmose I around 1500 BCE within the Karnak Temple Complex in Thebes. Carved from a single piece of red granite quarried in Aswan, the structure stands nearly 20 meters tall. It is notable for being the oldest obelisk rema...
Lying broken in the Karnak Temple Complex in Luxor, this fallen obelisk was originally erected by Pharaoh Thutmose III in the 15th century BCE to honor the sun god Amun-Ra.
Why this score?
Major pharaonic provenance and Karnak context provide substantial archaeological importance, but broken condition sharply diminishes monumentality and public recognition.
Scoring methodology
