Dikilitaş

Across centuries, the Dikilitaş has stood as a silent witness. It has seen empires rise and fall. The Dikilitaş, or Obelisk of Theodosius, isn’t just a towering monument in Istanbul’s Hippodrome. It’s a journey through time. This obelisk whispers tales of pharaohs and emperors, victories and journeys. Imagine it in its original home, Karnak, Egypt. Pharaoh Thutmose III erected it in the 18th dynasty, around 1450 BC. Its hieroglyphs boast of his triumph over the Mitanni. Centuries later, the Roman Emperor Constantius II moved it to Alexandria. It remained there until 390 AD. Then, Emperor Theodosius I brought it to Constantinople, to adorn the Hippodrome’s spina. Look closely at the obelisk. It’s made of red Aswan granite. It was originally 30 meters tall. However, a past mishap, perhaps during transport, left it at its current height of 18.54 meters. The pedestal beneath it also tells a story. It depicts Theodosius I in the Hippodrome, offering victory crowns to charioteers. The reliefs showcase the era’s vibrant life: cheering spectators, musicians, and even a water organ. Notice the bronze cubes between the obelisk and its pedestal. These were crucial for its transport and re-erection. Latin and Greek inscriptions on the pedestal further illuminate the Dikilitaş’s journey. One boasts of the obelisk’s submission to Theodosius. It describes its re-erection, a feat accomplished in 30 days according to the Latin inscription, and 32 according to the Greek. Perhaps this discrepancy reflects different stages of the process. The Dikilitaş isn’t just a monument. It’s a tangible link to ancient Egypt and the Roman Empire. It’s a testament to human ambition and engineering, a story etched in stone and whispered across millennia.