Consider, for a moment the sheer audacity of moving a 23-meter, 222-ton obelisk from Luxor, Egypt, to Paris. The Luxor Obelisk stands tall in the Place de la Concorde. It is a testament to both ancient Egyptian craftsmanship and 19th-century engineering prowess.
This is no ordinary monument. The Luxor Obelisk is over 3000 years old. It once stood proudly at the entrance to the Luxor Temple. The obelisks were carved during the reign of Ramesses II around 1250 BC. They are made from a single piece of red granite. The granite was quarried in Aswan. That is about 160 km south of Luxor. Imagine the skill and effort required to transport and erect these monoliths.
The idea of bringing the Luxor Obelisk to Paris first arose during Napoleon’s Egyptian campaign. General Desaix wrote to Napoleon in 1799. He suggested the obelisks would be an extraordinary sight in Paris. However, the plan was not realized at that time.
Later, under Charles X, the idea resurfaced. Jean-François Champollion, famous for deciphering the Rosetta Stone hieroglyphs, urged the French government to acquire the Luxor Obelisks. In 1829, Muhammad Ali Pasha, the ruler of Ottoman Egypt, gifted the Luxor Obelisks to France. This was in recognition of Champollion’s work.
France only took one of the Luxor Obelisks. The other remains in Luxor. President François Mitterrand officially relinquished possession of the second obelisk in 1981.
The journey of the Luxor Obelisk to Paris was an incredible feat. A ship named the Luxor was custom-built for the task. It took over a year to transport the obelisk to Paris. In 1836, King Louis-Phillipe erected the Luxor Obelisk in the Place de la Concorde. Champollion, sadly, did not live to see its completion. He died in 1832.
The Place de la Concorde was chosen for its historical significance. It was once the site of the guillotine during the French Revolution. The Luxor Obelisk, with its lack of connection to French history, was a neutral choice.
Look closely at the Luxor Obelisk. You will see hieroglyphic text carved on all four sides. These texts celebrate Ramesses II, Amun-Ra, and Horus. France added a gold-leafed pyramid cap to the top of the Luxor Obelisk in 1998.
The original Egyptian pedestals featured baboons with prominent male genitalia. These baboons raised their hands to the sun. A fragment of this original pedestal was brought to Paris. But it was deemed too obscene for public display. It now resides in the Louvre’s Egyptian section.
The Luxor Obelisk in Paris is more than just a monument. It is a symbol of Franco-Egyptian relations. It also showcases ancient history, and human ingenuity. As you stand here, remember the incredible journey this obelisk has taken. It has stood for thousands of years. It will likely stand for thousands more.