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We often look to history for examples of intriguing notions. How have humans left their mark on places of discovery? How have we announced ourselves, our presence, to the world? As early as 2000 BC, obelisks were quarried out of solid red granite along the banks of the Nile in Egypt and ferried by boats buoyed by flood waters to their destinations, where they were erected as monuments. To this day, obelisks are icons reminiscent of civilizations past, insistent symbols still representing their creators’ marks on the earth.
Although the first obelisks were quarried in Egypt, the Greeks were the first to write about them – therefore, the word obelisk comes from the Greek obeliskos, meaning “prong for roasting”. As a general rule, obelisks were erected in pairs and served to magically protect the temple. The obelisk is composed of two parts: The body and the pyramidion, the pyramid shaped top designed to allow the sun to reflect from its faces, thereby symbolizing the rays of the sun. The Egyptians believe the solar rays brought great power, even into the grave, which would subsequently resurrect the deceased.
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