Complete visitor and history guide of the unfinished obelisk in Aswan
Table of Contents
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Quick Summary
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How old is the unfinished obelisk?
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How old is the oldest obelisk?
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What is the unfinished pillar in Egypt?
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What is the unfinished obelisk made of?
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How much does the unfinished obelisk weigh?
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Can tourists see the unfinished obelisk from the Nile cruise?
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What is the Unfinished Obelisk entrance fee?
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Visiting the details of the unfinished obelisk
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Travel tips for visiting the Unfinished Obelisk
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What is the Unfinished Obelisk location?
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Why Is the Unfinished Obelisk Important?
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Conclusion
Quick Summary
The unfinished obelisk in Aswan, a quietly lying wonder, is proof of the rich historical significance of ancient Egyptian engineering, craftsmanship, and challenges. It is one of the most fascinating sites of Egypt that most people visit while on a Best Dahabiya Nile cruise when crossing through Aswan. For history lovers or first-time explorers, this site can be a powerful unfinished story of ambition that was left behind uncompleted.
A most common question is, what is the Unfinished Obelisk, and why is it called “unfinished”? So, the Unfinished Obelisk is a gigantic stone monument that is directly carved into the bedrock of a granite quarry in Aswan. The obelisk stands as the largest monument in Egyptian architectural history.
It is left unfinished because the engineers saw a large crack while carving into the granite bedrock, so it has forced the workers to abandon the project. It is left in the bedrock of the granite quarry, which later on has helped the scientist to study it. This obelisk has helped the Egyptologist in studying a lot about carving techniques and ancient practices of forming monuments directly from bedrock.
How old is the unfinished obelisk?
According to the studies, the historical Egyptian unfinished obelisk dates back to the 18th dynasty around 1500 BCE. That makes the monument 3500 years old. Most historians also claim that the obelisk was carved during the reign of Queen Hatshepsut. She is seen as the most powerful female pharaoh of Egypt.
How old is the oldest obelisk?
The oldest obelisks that are completed and recorded by the historian are from around 2500 BCE. While the obelisk, which is left unfinished, is not the oldest, it is the largest obelisk due to its size and shape in the ancient Egyptian landscapes.
What is the unfinished pillar in Egypt?
There is no unfinished pillar in Egypt; it refers to the unfinished obelisk. Technically, an obelisk is not a pillar; it’s a four-sided tall monument with pointed corners, usually erected at the temple entrances to honor gods and pharaohs during ancient times.
The half-carved monument in the granite quarry shows that monuments were directly made as structures from the bedrock using stone tools long ago, before metal tools came into use. This shows the advanced and unique ancient engineering practices by the architects in ancient times. The size of the obelisk says that a large labor force was used during the pyramid age in Egypt to create a single monument.
What is the unfinished obelisk made of?
Aswan has an abundance of granite that is naturally found there, so the unfinished obelisk is made of red granite entirely, as it was carved in the bedrock of a granite quarry. The ancient architects chose granite for obelisks, temples, and structures because of its strength and polished appearance. Clear evidence of the construction techniques is recorded and studied through the remains of dolerite pounding stones that are used in stone tools to carve the monuments.
How much does the unfinished obelisk weigh?
The Unfinished Obelisk is estimated to weigh around 1,100 to 1,200 tons. It is one of the most astonishing facts about the unfinished obelisk. Historians also say that if the obelisk had been completed, it would have become the heaviest obelisk in ancient Egyptian history.
Can tourists see the unfinished obelisk from the Nile cruise?
- Yes, if the itinerary starts from Aswan, it’s more likely that tourists visit it before the cruising experience of the dahabiya.
- In case the Nile River cruise dahabiya are boarded from Luxor, then Aswan must be the ending location so tourists can explore the unfinished obelisk by the end of the cruise.
- It is one of the major shore excursions that is included in the itinerary by Swan Dahabiya.
- They also provide you with English-speaking tourist guides who explain the historical and engineering significance related to the unfinished obelisk.
What is the Unfinished Obelisk entrance fee?
The entry fee for the unfinished obelisk is around 40-220 EGP, which is mostly included in the inclusive dahabiya tour packages.
Visiting the details of the unfinished obelisk
- It opens daily.
- During the day, the site can be best explored.
- Tour guides are usually included in cruise packages; otherwise, personalized tour guides are also available there.
- Walking paths near the obelisk have informational boards stating the history and significance of the obelisk.
Travel tips for visiting the Unfinished Obelisk
- The site is located in an open area, so it is advised that tourists carry a water bottle to stay hydrated while exploring.
- Also, you should wear light, breathable clothing so that the hot weather during the day can be easily managed.
- Wearing comfortable shoes is advised, as exploration demands long walks.
- Sun protection, like sunscreens and sunglasses, is a must to protect the skin from harsh sun in winter during the day.
What is the Unfinished Obelisk location?
The precise location of the obelisk is at the northern granite quarries of Aswan, which is in the southern part of Egypt. It is easily accessible from the city of Aswan and is usually explored along with the Philae Temple and the Aswan High Dam.
The location of the quarry is the original location where it was carved hundreds of years ago, as it’s unfinished and never moved. This feature also makes it special from the explorer’s point of view.
Why Is the Unfinished Obelisk Important?
The Unfinished Obelisk is like an open textbook of ancient Egyptian engineering, whereas other completed monuments are known for their greatness.
This unfinished marvel speaks to the value of ambition behind the realism of how the ancient workers left the monument unfinished just because of a large crack, as they predicted its failure. It also shows the limits of ancient technology; still today, many unsolved mysteries are related to the monument. They become special because they show the process and not the final result.
Conclusion
The unfinished obelisk is one of the most educational and underrated historical sites; its large size, visible tool marks, and unfinished state are proof of ancient realities of construction in historical times. All these above-mentioned things make it one of the hot spots to explore while on a luxury Dahabiya Nile cruise. The shore excursions are the ones that make the journey on the Nile more mesmerizing and adventurous.