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EGYPTIAN OBELISKS
BY
HENRY H. GORRINGE
LIEUTENANT-COMMANDER UNITED STATES NAVY
FIFTY-ONE FULL-PAGE ILLUSTRATIONS
THIRTY-TWO = ARTOTYPES, EIGHTEEN ENGRAVINGS, AND ONE CHROMO-LITHOGRAPH
PUBLISHED B= Y THE AUTHOR
COPYRIGHT B= Y
H. H. GORRINGE
1882
Press of
G. P. Putnam s Sons
![](3D"Obelisks_Gorringe1882_files/image019.gif")
=
ARTOTYPE. E. B<=
/span>IERSTADT
N. Y.
TO
WILLIAM H. VANDERBILT
IN RECOGNIT= ION OF THE ENLIGHTENED MUNIFICENCE TO WHICH NEW YORK IS INDEBTED FOR THE POSSESSION OF= ONE OF THE MOST INTERESTING MONUMENTS OF THE OLD WORLD, AND OF THE MOST ANCIENT RECORD OF MAN NOW KNOWN TO EXIST ON THE AMERICAN CONTINENT.
iii
PREFACE
AT the request of Lieut.-= Commander Gorringe I long ago promised to prepare for him an account of the transacti= ons which led to his undertaking the important operation so clearly and so full= y-described by him in this book. From that promise I may hold myself released. He has embodied all the essential features of these transactions in the admirable narrative which has grown under his hands, as I hoped that it would, into a full and interesting history of the Egyptian obelisks.
The pains and skill with =
which
this history has been constructed out of the few and fragmentary records wh=
ich
remain to us of these august monuments, illustrate the spirit in which Lieu=
t.-Commander
Gorringe accepted and executed the trust confided to him by Mr. Vanderbilt =
in
the interest and for the benefit of the people of
It is easy, and of course= it is becoming, to applaud the success of such an enterprise.
But no man knows so well =
as I do
the discouragements and difficulties through which success was won, and it
appears to me to be my duty, therefore, to bear witness here once for all t=
o the
absolute simplicity of purpose and single-minded public spirit to which
W. H. H.
v
CONTENTS
CHAPTER I.
Removal of the Alexandrian
Obelisk, "Cleopatra's Needle," to
CHAPTER II.
The Archaeology of the
CHAPTER III.
Removal of the
CHAPTER IV.
Removal of the Fallen Obe=
lisk of
CHAPTER V.
Re-erection of the
CHAPTER VI.
Record of all Egyptian Ob= elisks. 119
CHAPTER VII.
Notes on the Ancient Meth= ods of Quarrying, Transporting, and Erecting Obelisks. 146
CHAPTER VIII.
Analysis of the Materials=
and
Metals Found with the Obelisk at
Index. 177
vii
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
PLATE.
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PAGE.
William H. Vanderbilt. Artotype. Dedication.
II.
- Elevation of the obelisk, raised from pedestal, with machinery in position
for turning.
III. - Side elevation.
Preparations for releasing machinery.
IV. - Excavations at
V. - The crabs as found. = Artotype. 6
VI. - The staging. Novemb= er 5, 1879. Artotype. 8
VII. - The obelisk encased and stayed. The hoisting shears with trunnions suspen= ded to them. Artotype. 10
VIII. - Turning the obeli= sk. December 6, 1879. Artotype. 12 =
IX. - The obelisk horizon= tal. December 6, 1879. Artotype. 14 =
X.
- City and
XI. - Steps and pedestal.= Section and plan. Photo-engraving. 18 <= /p>
XII.
- Preparations for launching. Section through caisson and Obelisk. Caisson
afloat.
A. - Low= ering and launching the caisson. Photo-en= graving. 20
XIII. - Embarking the ped= estal. Artotype. 22
XIV. - Embarking the obel= isk. Artotype. 24
XV. - Embarking the obeli= sk. Section and plan. Photo-engraving. 24
XVI.
- The steamer "Dessoug," with obelisk on board, ready for departu=
re
from
XVII. - Disembarking the
pedestal.
XVIII. - Trucking the ped= estal. Artotype. 30
B. - Lay= ing the corner-stone. Artotype. 32
XIX.
- Obelisk on pontoons entering landing-stage at
XX. - Disembarking the ob= elisk. Artotype. 36
XXI. - Cross section through obelisk and pontoons. Side elevation of obelisk and pontoons. Photo-engraving. 38 <= /p>
XXII. - Obelisk crossing = the Hudson River Railroad. Artotype. 40
XXIII. - Route of the obe=
lisk in
XXIV. - Land transportati=
on.
Turning apparatus. Trestle in
C. - Iron channels and marine railway. Photo-= engraving. 46
ix
List of Illustrations.
PLATE.
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PAGE.
XXV. - Transporting the o= belisk. Artotype. 48
XXVI. - Obelisk crossing =
main
drive in
XXVII. - Turning the obel= isk. The obelisk horizontal. Artotype. 5= 2
D. - Tur= ning the obelisk. Turned 45°. Artotype. 54
XXVIII.
- Placing the obelisk on its pedestal in
XXIX. - The
XXX. - The four faces of = the pyramidion. Artotype. 62
XXXI. - The four sides of= the obelisk. Artotype. 64
XXXII. - Antique model of=
the
temple of On (
E. - Por= trait of Cleopatra, photographed from her coins. Artotype. 72
XXXIII. - French apparatu=
s for
lowering and erecting the
XXXIV. - Embarkation of t= he French obelisk. Photo-engraving= . 86
XXXV. - The English metho=
d of
erecting the
XXXVI. - The English cyli= nder for sea transport. Photo-engraving.= 106
XXXVII. - The
XXXVIII. - Apparatus for
transporting and erecting the
XXXIX. - The remaining ob=
elisk
and ruins of temple at
XL. -The obelisks at
XLI. - The obelisk at
XLII. - The Constantinopl=
e and
XLIII. - The twelve Roman obelisks. Artotype. 128
Re-erect=
ing the
XLIV. - Thin sections of =
the
XLV. - The Khedives Isma&= iuml;l and Tewfik. Artotype. 175
ARTOTYPE. THE ALEXANDRIAN OBELISK. (CLEOPATRA'S
NEEDLE.)
CHAPTER I.
REMOVAL OF THE
SITUATION A=
ND SURROUNDINGS
OF THE OBELISK IN
THE Standing obelisk of <=
st1:City
w:st=3D"on">Alexandria was generally the first and the last of <=
st1:place
w:st=3D"on">
There is, however, much t=
hat is
attractive and worthy of attention in its former surroundings. The Arab for=
t,
to the left in the picture, stands on the ruins of one of those magnificent
structures that adorned the ancient city and made second only to
The gradual subsidence of=
the
land in this part of
Originally designed to sy= mbolize the highest attribute of nature, the re-creative power; forming an
1
Arabic for gift.
2 Removal of the
essential feature of one =
of the
most famous temples ever erected by man, in which Moses was educated and of
which he became a high-priest; the votive offering of one of the most
celebrated Pharaohs, and bearing the records of another equally celebrated,=
the
obelisk had become a Roman trophy to commemorate the subjugation of Egypt, =
and
was threatened either with destruction by neglect, or preservation as a mea=
ns
of advertising a hotel or apartment-house. His Highness, Ismaïl, the
Khedive, who realized the importance of preserving so valuable and interest=
ing
a relic and record of the past, and his own inability to do so, merits the
thanks not only of the nation to whom he intrusted its preservation, but of=
all
those of every nation who appreciate the necessity of preserving such monum=
ents
as long as they will resist the ravages of time. Some objection has been ma=
de
to removing it from its "antique surroundings." The most prominent
surroundings in
NEGOTIATION= S THAT LED TO THE GIFT AND ITS REMOVAL.
The first suggestion look=
ing to
the removal of an obelisk from
On March 4, 1878, Mr. Far= man reported to Mr. Evarts that he had had an interview with the Khedive, who "made no special objection to the transportation of an obelisk to the = city of New York," and that "during the conversation he (the Khedive) = had said that he did not think it best to talk about the removal of the one at Alexandria, but he would take into consideration the question of one of tho= se at Ancient Thebes."
From March 4, 1878, to Ma= y 17, 1879, Mr. Farman was untiring in his efforts to obtain an obelisk. His negotiations were conducted verbally until the latter date, when the follow= ing correspondence ensued.
PLATE II.
ELEVATION OF OBELISK
RAISED FROM PEDESTAL WITH MACHINERY IN POSITION=
FOR
TURNING
EXPLANATION
B - Trunnions
C - Tie rods
D - Steel heel beams
E - Steel towers
F - Wooden bed beams
G - Masonry piers
L - Steel bolts for clamp= ing trunnions
SIDE ELEVATION
PREPARATIONS FOR RELEASING MACHINERY
EXPLANATION
A - Steel rope truss
B - Trunnion plates
H - Timber stucks [or stacks?]
K - 60 ton hydraulic jack= s
T - Frame of caisson in c= ourse of construction
PLATE III.
Removal of the
Mr. FARMAN = to CHÉRIF PACHA, Minister of Foreign Affairs.
(Translation from the French.)
EXCELLEN= CY: Referring to the different conversations that I have had the honor to have = with your Excellency, in which you have informed me that the government of His Highness the Khedive is disposed to present to the city of New York, to be transported and erected there, the obelisk of Alexandria, I should be pleas= ed if your Excellency would have the kindness to definitely confirm in writing= the gift of this monument.
It is un=
derstood
that its transportation is to be effected at the expense of certain citizen=
s of
the said city of
I beg to= assure your Excellency, in advance of the warm thanks of my government for having = thus favorably responded to the representations I have made to the government of= His Highness the Khedive, in accordance with the instructions that I had receiv= ed on this subject.
I have e=
very
reason to hope that the monument, which is thus soon to be transported and =
set
up in the city of
I beg yo= ur Excellency to accept the renewed assurance of my high consideration.
(Signed) E. E= . FARMAN.
CHÉR= IF PACHA, Minister of Foreign Affairs, TO MR. FARMAN.
(Translation.)
[MINISTER O= F FOREIGN AFFAIRS, NO. 343.]
MR. AGEN= T AND CONSUL-GENERAL: I have taken cognizance of the dispatch which you did me the honor of writing me on the 17th of the current month of May.
In reply= , I hasten to transmit you the assurance, Mr. Agent and Consul-General, that the government of the Khedive, having taken into consideration your representat= ions and the desire which you have expressed in the name of the government of the United States of America, consents, in fact, to make a gift to the city of = New York of the obelisk known as Cleopatra's Needle, which is at Alexandria on = the sea-shore.
The local
authorities shall therefore be directed to deliver this obelisk to the
representative of the American government, and also to facilitate, in every
thing that shall depend upon them, the removal of this monument, which,
according to the terms of your dispatch, is to be done at the exclusive cost
and expense of the city of
I am hap= py, Mr. Agent and Consul-General, to have to announce to you this decision, which, while giving to the great city an Egyptian monument, to which is attached, = as you know, a real archaeological interest, will also be, I am as yourself convinced, another souvenir and another pledge of the friendship that has constantly existed between the government of the United States and that of = the Khedive.
Be pleas= ed to accept, Mr. Agent and Consul-General, the expression of my high considerati= on.
(Signed) CH&E= acute;RIF.
CONSUL-GENE= RAL FARMAN TO SECRETARY EVARTS.
HONORABLE W. M. EVARTS, S=
ecretary
of State,
SIR: I h=
ave the
honor to inform you that the negotiations entered into to procure an Egypti=
an
obelisk for the city of
The gove=
rnment
of His Highness the Khedive has generously given to that city the obelisk a=
t
I enclos= e a copy of the original notes in French that were exchanged between his Excellency,= Chérif Pacha, and myself on this subject, after a verbal understanding had been arrived at, and also their translation into English.
The gift=
of this
ancient and well-known monument cannot be regarded as other than a very gre=
at
mark of favor on the part of the government of
The two =
obelisks
that have been removed to
4 Removal of the
From the inscriptions upon it it is supposed to have been first erected at Heliopolis (On of the Scriptures) in the reign of Thothmes III, about 1590 years before the commencement of the Christian era, according to the chronology of Marie= tta Bey, or about 150 years later according to that of Wilkinson.
The site=
of
The obel=
isks at
Cleopatr=
a's
Needle was taken to
I hope t= o be able to send you hereafter a full translation of all its hieroglyphics.
I have the = honor to be, sir, your obedient servant,
(Signed) E. E= . FARMAN.
SECRETARY E= VARTS TO CONSUL-GENERAL FARMAN.
DEPARTMENT OF= STATE, WASHINGTON, D. C, June 13, 1879= .
E. E. FARMAN, Esquire.
SIR: I h= ave to acknowledge the reception of your dispatch of the 22d ultimo, with its enclosures, in which you inform the Department that the negotiations entered into to procure an Egyptian obelisk for the city of New York have been successful, and that the government of His Highness the Khedive has generou= sly presented to that city the obelisk known as Cleopatra's Needle.
It is a = source of great gratification to this government, that through the generosity of t= he Khedive this country is soon to come into the possession of such an interes= ting monument of antiquity as Cleopatra's Needle, and you are therefore instruct= ed to inform His Highness that the great favor he has conferred upon this Repu= blic by making this gift is highly appreciated, and that it is felt that such a = rare mark of friendship cannot but tend to still further strengthen the amicable relations which have ever subsisted between the two countries, and will cau= se the memory of the Khedive to be long and warmly cherished by the American people.
The hist=
orical
account of the obelisks of
I am, sir, = your obedient servant,
(Signed) W. M= . EVARTS.
The successful issue of t=
he
American negotiations having been at once communicated by the Secretary of
State to Mr. Hurlbert, that gentleman immediately notified Mr. John Dixon t=
hat
the standing obelisk of Alexandria had been secured, and that if he was sti=
ll
prepared to undertake to bring it to New York the sum of fifteen thousand
pounds originally named by him would be guaranteed to him by Mr. Vanderbilt,
who, however, desired that no public mention of his name should be made in
connection with the subject. Mr. John Dixon replied at once to Mr. Hurlbert
that he would undertake the removal, but that he could not do this unless t=
he
sum named could be increased to twenty thousand pounds. Mr. Dixon's experie=
nces
with the ship "Cleopatra," in which he conveyed the prostrate obe=
lisk
of
PLATE IV
ARTOTYPE. EXCAVATIONS AT
Removal of the
$$$ Negotiations were sti=
ll
pending, when my attention was called to the announcement in the World of June 17, 1879, that the o=
belisk
had been given to the United States and the money needed for its removal had
been provided. Previously, however, I had become interested in the subject
through a visit to
Careful development of or= iginal plans and an estimate of the cost of executing them resulted in an offer to= Mr. Hurlbert to undertake the work, and, eventually, in the receipt, through Mr. Stebbins, of the following letter.
MR. VANDERB= ILT to LT.-COMDR. GORRINGE.
LIEUT. H. H. GORRINGE, U.= S. Navy.
DEAR SIR=
: I have
learned that you have or can procure the facilities to remove to the city o=
f
As I des= ire that this obelisk may be secured for the city of New York, I make you the follow= ing proposition: If you will take down and remove said obelisk from its present position to this city, and place it on such site as may be selected with my approval by the Commissioners of Parks, and furnish and construct at your o= wn expense on said site a foundation of mason work and granite base of such fo= rm and dimensions as said Commissioners and myself may approve, I will, on the completion of the whole work, pay to you seventy-five thousand dollars.
It is un=
derstood,
however, that there is to be no liability on my part until the obelisk shal=
l be
so received and placed in position in the city of
Very truly = yours,
(Signed) W. H= . VANDERBILT.
MR. W. H. VANDERBILT.
DEAR SIR=
: I
hereby acknowledge the receipt of your letter of August 4, 1879, relating to
the removal of the obelisk from
Very truly = yours,
(Signed) HENR=
Y H.
GORRINGE,
An almost insurmountable difficulty in securing the money to carry on the work ensued; but it was finally overcome by the tender of a sum sufficient to commence operations by a friend of many years' standing, Mr. Louis F. Whitin, of New York, who was unwilling to let such an important work escape me for want of means to undertake it. This essential preliminary having been arranged, a l= eave of absence was granted to me by the Navy Department at the request of Secre= tary Evarts, who also handed me the following letters.
6 Removal of the
DEPARTMENT OF= STATE, WASHINGTON, Aug. 1, 1879.
N. D. COMANOS, Esquire,
Vice-Consul-General of the
SIR: Ref= erring to Mr. Farman's correspondence with the Department in regard to the presentation, by His Highness the late Khedive, of an obelisk to the city of New York, I have now to inform you that, at the request of the citizens of = that city interested in securing that munificent gift of His Highness for the adornment of their native city, the Secretary of the Navy has granted to Lieutenant-Commander Gorringe, of the United States Navy, leave of absence = for any requisite time for the purpose of superintending the transportation, fr= om Alexandria to New York, of the obelisk known as "Cleopatra's Needle.&q= uot;
This dis=
patch
will be handed to you in person by Lieutenant-Commander Gorringe, who is ab=
out
to proceed to
I am, sir, = your obedient servant,
(Signed) W. M= . EVARTS.
DEPARTMENT OF=
STATE,
N. D. COMANOS, Esquire, U=
. S.
Vice-Consul-General at
SIR: I h= ave to inform you that Lieutenant-Commander Gorringe, of the United States Navy, h= as been detailed and directed by this government to proceed to Alexandria, Egy= pt, and receive the obelisk now standing in that city and known as Cleopatra's Needle and lately presented by the government of Egypt to the city of New Y= ork, and to transport the same to the last-named city.
You are
instructed to officially inform the Egyptian government, through its Minist=
er
of Foreign Affairs, that Lieutenant-Commander Gorringe is authorized, on the
part of the government of the
You will= also extend to him such aid as you may be able to give and as he shall require in the accomplishment of his work.
He will =
ship to
It will,
however, be proper to follow such rules as have already been established in
similar cases, for instance, in the case of the iron and other material use=
d in
the construction of the caisson and in the removal of the obelisk lately ta=
ken
by Mr. Dixon to
I am, sir, = your obedient servant,
(Signed) W. M= . EVARTS.
DEVELOPING = THE PLANS.
The
(INSCRIPTION.)
L. H KA=
IG
BAPBAPO= G ANE1<= /span>HKE &= nbsp; &nbs= p; AVGVS= TI CAESARIS
APXITEK= TON OKNTOG<= /span> &= nbsp; &nbs= p; BARBARVS PRAEF
HONTIO<= span style=3D'font-family:"WP Greek Courier";mso-ascii-font-family:"Times New Ro= man"; mso-hansi-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-char-type:symbol;mso-symbol-fon= t-family: "WP Greek Courier"'>K &n= bsp; = ; &n= bsp; = ; &n= bsp; AEGYPTI POSVIT
&= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; &nbs= p; ARCHITECTANTE PONTIO
(TRANSLATION)
In the = eighth year
of Augu= stus Caesar
Barbaru= s prefect
of
Pontius architect.
ARTOTYPE. THE CRABS AS FOUND. HA??OUN ?
Copyright, 1881, by H. H. GORRINGE,
Removal of the
$$$ These experiences wer=
e not
needed to convince a mariner that the vessel in which the New York obelisk =
was
to be transported must be large enough to take care of herself under all
conditions of weather, and must have her own motive power. Such a vessel co=
uld
not have been built around the obelisk for much less than the whole amount =
that
was to be paid for its removal, and there was no alternative but to embark =
it
on an ordinary vessel. For this there was no precedent. The one-hundred-ton
guns made in
Its size was as embarrass= ing as its weight. No vessel has hatches that will admit a mass sixty-nine feet in length. It could not have been carried on deck in safety without strengthen= ing the vessel at great expense. In the hold, below the water-line, was the only place where it could be securely stowed and saefly transported, and how to = get it there was the one thing on which the whole operation of removing it successfully turned.
The plan devised and succ= essfully executed consisted simply in embarking and disembarking the obelisk while t= he bow of the vessel was out of water, through an aperture opened expressly for the purpose and subsequently closed for the voyage. The details of execution will be given further on.
Besides my own, three oth=
er plans
were proposed for transporting the obelisk by sea. The first one was propos=
ed
by the owner of a bark that had been engaged in transporting heavy blocks of
granite on deck; the weight of one block never exceeded thirty tons. He
exhibited a photograph of the obelisk which showed water near by and a plan=
of
the deck of his bark, and said: "I will moor my vessel here, lower the
stone down on her deck, and then sail. When we reach
The next proposition was = that the obelisk should somehow be got on the bottom of the bay with chains under it; these were to be taken on board of a steamer, and the obelisk lifted by them until it was suspended under the keel; in this position it was to make the = sea-voyage. No plan was submitted for getting it on the bottom of the bay; and no arrangement was proposed for securing the services of mariners for the voya= ge.
Another plan was to encas= e the obelisk in wood enough to float it, and then tow the mass without steering = it. Elaborate drawings and interesting computations accompanied this propositio= n; but no provision was made for getting the mass afloat, nor was any thing sa= id about the management of the towing vessel in a sea-way. In order to get it afloat, launching ways half a mile in length would have been necessary, and their construction through the surf impossible.
For lowering the obelisk = the French method was the only precedent. The English operations began with the obelisk lying on the sea-shore. There is no record of how the ancients lowe= red theirs; and it is probable that obelisks were never removed from an erect position, and that only those that had fallen were removed from where the ancient Egyptians placed them. The French method is fully described further= on. It has the advantage of being subjected to the severest test at a moment wh= en the breaking of any essential part of the system would have been least like= ly to result disastrously to the obelisk; and the conspicuous disadvantage of multiplication of parts essential to safety, and division of responsibility= at the critical moments. In devising a new plan for lowering the obelisk it was essential that the turning structure should be made available for lowering = and erecting; that it should be made in pieces of moderate weight and dimensions for facility of transport and handling; that it may be erected and taken ap= art without destroying it; that it should be adaptable to
8 Removal of the
dimensions of the obelisk= varying considerably from those given in books, which did not agree; and that it may have some value for other uses after the obelisk had been erected.
The accompanying drawings= (Plates ii and iii) present a front- and a side-view of the structure. The first sh= ows the obelisk clasped at its centre of gravity in a pair of trunnions; these = rest on steel towers having masonry foundations. The towers are formed of I beams held in position by screw bolts through angle plates, flat plates, angle and channel bars. The horizontal steel beams forming the bottom of the structure rest on wooden beams which lie on the top of the masonry foundations. The wooden beams were designed for increasing or diminishing the height of the = towers to correspond with that of the centre of gravity, which could not be determ= ined until accurate measurements had been made of the obelisk. The heaviest piec= es of the turning structure are the trunnions; each one weighs twelve thousand five hundred and seventy pounds; next to these are the pillow-blocks, each weighing three thousand seven hundred pounds; the head-pieces weigh sevente= en hundred and fifty pounds each; and the beams vary from thirteen hundred and sixty to eleven hundred and ninety pounds each.
The device for lifting the obelisk clear of the pedestal and transferring its weight to the turning structure was a system of screws and turn-buckles. Tie-rods connected the l= ower edges of the trunnion-plates with beams under the bottom of the obelisk. Ea= ch tie-rod was in two sections, and on each end of each section there was cut a screw. The two sections were connected by a turn-buckle, and the upper and lower ends of the rods were held in position through the trunnion-plates and heel-beams by large nuts. As there were four tie-rods on each side the syst= em comprised thirty-two screws, each with a diameter of three inches, which we= re capable of lifting at least double the weight of the obelisk with a large factor of safety.
To prevent the obelisk fr= om slipping through the trunnions after it was horizontal, lips were cast on the inside vertical edges of the trunnions, to carry heavy iron plates; these were hel= d in position by three steel bolts on each side, passing from one trunnion to the other, which also served as additional support. The trunnions were further = held in position by three iron bolts on each side, making twelve in all. These b= olts were not tightened until the obelisk had been lifted clear of its supports = and high enough to allow the heel to swing clear of the pedestal when turning, = as it was necessary, in order to lift it, that it should pass freely through t= he trunnions.
Although the section of t= he obelisk through the centre of gravity was found by computation to be strong enough to support the weight of the ends, with additions of twenty-eight to= ns suspended at the centre of gravity of each end, it was determined not to ta= ke any risk, in view of the length of time the syenite had been exposed to atmospheric influences and the possibility of deterioration. The simple dev= ice of trussing the ends of the shaft with steel cables was adopted as being mo= st effective. Thirty tons of the weight of each section was in this manner transferred to the point of suspension. The truss and verticals are shown on Plate iii.
For lowering the obelisk =
to the
ground after it was horizontal two plans were devised, and the selection le=
ft
to circumstances. One was by means of an inclined plane, the other by means=
of
hydraulic pumps placed on stacks of timber built up under the ends. The
inclined plane would have been adopted if the obelisk had been transported
overland to the port for embarkation; but as this was not permitted, the pl=
an
adopted was that shown on Plate iii. The hydraulic pumps were fitted with l=
owering
valves, designed by Richard Dudgeon, of
There remained only the l=
and
transport of the obelisk to provide for to complete my plans for its removal
from
ARTOTYPE. THE STAGING. HARROUN A BIERSTADT. N.Y=
.
November 5, 1879. =
&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p; Plate
VI
Removal of the
Lascari, to move the pede=
stal of
the statue of Peter the Great from the
Carburi's system was adop= ted. And in order to insure the obelisk against possible injury during its overland transport, and especially over yielding ground, two iron trusses were desig= ned to form a carriage or cradle into which it was to have been lowered and to = have remained until it was embarked.
REMOVING TH=
E OBELISK
FROM
On August 4, 1879, execut=
ion of
the foregoing plans was begun. A contract for the construction of the turni=
ng
structure and transporting cradle was entered into with the firm of John A.
Roebling's Sons, of
Every possible effort to = charter an American steamer was made in the interval between August 4th and 26th, b= ut not one available for the work could be secured.
We reached
From
The French waited about
twenty-five years and the English nearly seventy-five before removing the
obelisks they had selected for removal. There was a feeling in
Our arrival was the signa= l for the beginning of an agitation by the foreign residents to prevent its remov= al. Violently abusive articles were published in newspapers, meetings were held, and petitions to the Khedive were circulated for signature; threats of pers= onal violence against any one who attempted to commence the work of removal were made openly and by letter, and every other means of frightening us resorted= to. One incident of this nature that occurred on the day after our arrival is recalled, in order to contrast it with another that occurred on the day of = our departure seven months later. On both occasions I was passing through the street frequented by the younger merchants and brokers as a rendezvous, on = my way to the telegraph office; on the first, I was greeted with a storm of hi= sses and a succession of choice epithets; on the last, scores of these very men crowded around me, congratulating me on my final success and wishing me a pleasant and safe voyage.
10 Removal of the
$$$ After having establis= hed ourselves at Alexandria in apartments near to the site of the obelisk we we= nt to Cairo, and at an hour previously appointed, accompanied by Vice-Consul-General Comanos, we had an audience of the Khedive. He received= us very cordially, and made inquiries about the plans for removing and transpo= rting the obelisk, cautiously and delicately expressing anxiety that it should no= t be taken down unless we were sure of removing it. This, we assured him, there = was no reason to doubt. After a long and very frank discussion about European influences on Egyptian affairs, he promised that orders would be sent to the Governor of Alexandria to formally deliver up the obelisk. Visits were made= to all the Ministers, who received us very kindly, and offered, in the usual Eastern manner, to do all sorts of things, which we well understood as with= out meaning. Riaz Pacha, Minister of Foreign Affairs and President of the Counc= il of Ministers, gave directions that the order to the Governor of Alexandria should be made out without delay. The following is a translation.
To His Excellency the Gov=
ernor of
Alexandria: In the time of the ex-Khedive the Egyptian government gave
Cleopatra's Needle, now standing on the sea-shore of Alexandria, to the Uni=
ted
States of America, to be erected in the city of New York. His Excellency Ch=
érif
Pacha, who was then Minister of Foreign Affairs, communicated the fact to t=
he
United States Consul-General in a dispatch dated May 18, 1879. An American
officer having been sent here to receive and remove the said Cleopatra's
Needle, and His Highness the Khedive having confirmed the gift by a decree,=
I
hasten to instruct you to deliver that monument immediately to the said
officer, and to offer him the same assistance for removing it from its site=
and
embarking it as was offered at the time of removing the other obelisk that =
was
given to the English government. All expenses will be paid by the officer of
the
(Signed) MOUS= TAPHA RIAZ, Minister of Foreign Affairs.
We returned to Alexandria=
by the
first train after the receipt of this order, and on arrival there we lost no
time in presenting it to the Governor, and as soon as he had read it we urg=
ed
him to execute it at once by a formal transfer of the obelisk. This was all
accomplished within three days after our arrival. Considering with whom we =
were
dealing there was reason for great satisfaction at the promptness with which
possession of the obelisk had been secured. As long as it remained in the
control of the Egyptian government there were reasons for anticipating pres=
sure
from the European consuls and resident foreigners to prevent its transfer; =
but
the transfer was effected so quickly and so quietly that these gentlemen ha=
d no
time to act in concert and with effect before it was too late. To their
protests and petitions subsequently presented, the Khedive and his Ministers
answered: "Too late; Cleopatra's Needle is the possession of the
Although the Governor had formally transferred the obelisk, he had stipulated that work should not be commenced for a day or two, and kindly suggested that the interval could be profitably spent in making our preparations. After a lapse of four days ano= ther visit was paid to him, and he authorized us to commence operations, and exc= used the delay on the ground of a legal complication about the land around the obelisk that he had been obliged to enquire into.
At noon on October 27th, = a force of laborers having begun clearing away the ground, an incident occurred tha= t is related in the following letter.
H. E. THE GOVERNOR OF
SIR: I r= egret extremely that it has become once more necessary for me to have recourse to your good-will and your duty to assist me in prosecuting the work with whic= h I am entrusted by the government of the United States. Yesterday, having rece= ived authority from you, I set some men to work to remove the paving stones that surround the obelisk, the owner of the stones making no objection whatever. Another individual arrived, however, and ordered the work stopped. Arriving myself a few moments afterward, I learned that the man claimed possession of the ground and would allow no one to work there. He also added that if we persisted he would apply to the Italian Consul, whose janissaries would be = sent to eject us from the premises. Not recognizing his right to interfere, but = not wishing to bring about such a disturbance, I went to see the Italian Vice-Consul, accompanied by the Consul of the United
ARTOTYPE. THE OBELISK ENCASED AND STAYED. HARRO=
UN A BIERSTADT, N.Y.
The Hoisting Shears with Trunnions suspended to=
them.
Plate VII
Removal of the
States, to ask an explana= tion. He informed me that any Italian subject occupying a property belonging to him = had a right to his protection, and that he would protect him, even by force of arms. I thought it strange that he should dare to prevent by main force what your Excellency had authorized me to do; but before notifying my government that the Italian Vice-Consul had defied the orders of the Egyptian governme= nt, and that I am thus stopped in the execution of a work with which I am charg= ed, I thought it best to try to arrange it amicably, so as not to trouble your Excellency. During the dispute on the ground I had offered to the soi-disant proprietor to pay him a= rent, just as though it really belonged to him; but he refused point-blank to rent the ground to me, and informed me through his lawyer that he would not perm= it the operations for removing the obelisk. Nevertheless, I begged the Italian Vice-Consul to try his best to settle the matter, and he promised to give m= e an answer by four o'clock this afternoon. If he does not succeed I shall be obliged to request your Excellency to protect me against the Italian janiss= aries. Failing that, I shall be compelled to telegraph to my government that I have been forcibly ejected, and that Egyptian authority has failed to protect me= .
I beg yo= ur Excellency to so direct affairs as to enable me to begin operations at once, because it is needless to say that if the matter should take an official fo= rm between the two governments the situation would only become more grave.
I am, si= r, with great respect, your obedient servant,
(Signed) HENR=
Y H.
GORRINGE,
In a subsequent interview= with the Governor, he explained that the legal complication he had been investig= ating, that caused the delay in authorizing us to begin work, was the claim that t= he land around the obelisk was the property of some Italians; and in further explanation he related the circumstances substantially as follows:
An Italian having been gr=
anted
authority by Mohammed Ali Pacha, then ruler of
Four fifths of the claims=
of
foreigners against the Egyptain government have no firmer basis than the one
here cited, and at least four fifths of the foreign residents of
The Governor expressed su=
rprise
at the presumption of the Italian Consul, and requested time to communicate
with the Minister of Foreign Affairs at
In reply to this the Ital= ian Consul informed our consular agent that the claimant had accepted my offer = to lease the ground, and proposed to appoint arbitrators to fix on a suitable = sum. This was agreed to, arbitrators were selected, and the lease effected before night. Although there could have been no question as to the result of a determination to proceed without leasing the land, it was deemed advisable = to get absolute control of the ground that must necessarily be covered with the works, so as to have a right to exclude from it undesirable persons.
12 Removal of the
On the morning of October= 29th work was begun by one hundred Arabs, varying from ten to seventy years of a= ge, divided into three gangs. The middle-aged dug and filled baskets, the old lifted them to the backs of the young, who carried them to the shore and emptied them into the surf. By November 6th an excavation of seventeen hund= red and thirty cubic yards had been completed. It had laid bare the pedestal and steps, and made a space large enough to construct a caisson in which to transport the obelisk to the port for embarkation. Several interesting fragments of statuary, a number of coins, and a few scarabee and other anti= que objects were found by the workmen, to whom liberal rewards were paid for ea= ch article delivered. Men accustomed to the work were employed to search the b= each for other small objects that having escaped detection would probably be was= hed up by the surf. In this way many interesting bronze fragments were recovere= d.
The base of the obelisk a=
nd the
position of one of the metal supports are shown on Plate iv, on the right. =
This
is copied from a photograph taken at the time the
Plate iv also shows the
excavation and the condition of the base and steps when they were uncovered.
The masonry on top of the pedestal around the base of the obelisk, shown in=
the
picture on the left, was put there about the time the
The bottom of the lower s= tep was found to be nearly at mean sea level; as the foundation could not have sunk= so nearly uniformly, it is certain that there has been a subsidence of the gro= und since the obelisk was erected; and if the level of the lower step was at the same height as the surface is at present, this subsidence is about seventeen feet in nineteen hundred years. Down to the level of the water there was nothing but loose earth and sand, mixed with all sorts of fragments of colu= mns and statuary and pottery. In several places remains of old walls were met w= ith. Surrounding the steps were fragments of a mosaic pavement, composed of alternate squares of white and dark marble. The sea end of the pit was left open down to the remains of an ancient massive wall that ran nearly parallel with the shore and close to the water. This wall served as a breakwater for= the pit when the surf was high.
While the excavations wer=
e in
progress another attempt was made to prevent the removal of the obelisk,
through a creditor of the Egyptian government who applied to the
ARTOTYPE. TURNING THE OBELISK. HARROUN & BI=
ERSTADT.
N.Y.
December 6, 1879 &=
nbsp; &nbs=
p; &=
nbsp; Plate
VIII
Removal of the
$$$ Soon after this affai=
r had
quieted down some of the consuls-general in Cairo, at the instigation of so=
me
resident European archaeologists, made an attempt to have the work of remov=
al
suspended until the matter could be referred to their governments. It appea=
rs
that by the terms of a convention entered into with several of the European
powers, the Egyptian government agreed to prevent the exportation of any ob=
ject
of antiquity. No attention had been paid to this convention when the English
removed the fallen obelisk; and its provisions were commonly violated by the
consuls and archaeologists themselves in the shipment of articles to
To put an end to these an= noyances I determined to push the work of removal forward as rapidly as possible by working night and day, so as to get the obelisk off its pedestal. Every eff= ort was devoted to this end, and it was accomplished within a month from the day the turning structure arrived.
PREPARATION= S FOR TURNING THE OBELISK.
While the pit was being d= ug a staging was erected around the obelisk for sheathing it with planks, in ord= er to protect the hieroglyphs from injury. (Plate vi.) The sheathing was held together by iron bands, similar to the hoops of a barrel. The top band was heavier than the others, and had a loop at each angle, into which were shac= kled four steel wire cables. These were secured to anchors at suitable distances from the base of the obelisk, and tightened so as to support it until it was secured in the turning structure. The masonry and concrete piers on which t= his was to stand were commenced as soon as the pit was dug, and in order to have them dry quickly hydraulic cement was used. These piers are shown on Plates= ii and iii. As soon as the staging had been removed four long spars were place= d in position, opposite the angles of the obelisk, to form derricks for hoisting= the pieces of the turning structure into position. Plate vii illustrates the pl= an adopted for supporting the obelisk, the sheathing banded around it, and the hoisting shears with the trunnions suspended to them. For convenience in placing the trunnions on the pillow-blocks, they were hoisted first and left hanging until the turning structure had been erected.
The machinery and materia=
l for
removing the obelisk were shipped from
The Arabs were very noisy= and attracted a large and increasing crowd, who followed the procession through= the town. For this an American missionary roundly abused us from a borrowed pul= pit, and took advantage of the occasion to denounce the removal of the obelisk a= s a work of the Devil. This act of "Christian charity" was of no consequence, beyond the amusement it afforded the editors and readers of lo= cal newspapers, who seized on it with much eagerness as evidence of the prevail= ing sentiment of Americans. In explanation of the missionary's condition of min= d on the subject it may be well to state on his own authority that he wanted the money that was being spent on the removal given to his mission. In connecti= on with this question of Sunday-work, which was commented on in a rational man= ner by many friends, it is well to recall the fact that the Mohammedan and Christian Sabbaths are on different days. It was impossible to observe both; and a respect for the opinions of both sects led to the rule that work woul= d be carried on without intermission, and that the workmen were at liberty to se= lect their own Sunday and observe it in
14 Removal of the
their own fashion. Arab Mohammedans and Maltese and European Christians formed the majority of the = men employed. The former spent Friday, their Sabbath, in a rational manner, sleeping during the early part of the day, attending services at the mosque= at noon, and devoting the afternoon to social intercourse and amusement The Christians, almost to a man, would devote the thirty-six hours from Saturday evening to Monday morning in drinking, gambling, fighting, and other excess= es, and return to work drunk, sleepy, and bruised.
By December 2d the turning structure had been placed in position, and so admirably were the several pa= rts fitted that it was not even necessary to ream out a bolt hole. 1 The process of lifting the obel= isk clear of the pedestal and disengaging the metal supports or crabs occupied = us until the evening of December 5th. With the bolts that clamped the trunnions together loosened so as to allow the obelisk to pass freely up through them, levers inserted in the turn-buckles of the tie-rods were turned simultaneou= sly with the nuts on the upper and lower ends of the tie-rods. Some anxiety was caused by the buckling of the heel-beams, due to imperfect bearing against = the bottom of the obelisk. After this had been provided against by wedges drive= n in the vacant spaces, the lifting was successfully and easily accomplished. The operation of lifting, here briefly described, will be made clear by referri= ng to Plate ii, where the turn-buckles in the tie-rods C are shown inside of the steel towers, about midway between the trunnions B, and the heel-beams= D. And on Plate iii the ends of the tie-rods are seen through the brackets on the trunnions and also through the ends of the heel-beams.
Before turning the obelisk
horizontal the steel wire-rope truss A,
shown on Plates iii, vii, and viii, was placed in position and tightened by
means of screws and nuts to an estimated strain of sixty tons; thereby
relieving the section of the obelisk through the point of suspension of this
amount of the weight of the ends, and insuring it against fracture when it =
was
horizontal. Plates vii and viii also show a stack of timber piled to receive
the upper section of the obelisk should the tackles that were provided to k=
eep
control of the turning unexpectedly gave way. These tackles were led from a
strap round the bottom of the obelisk to posts led into the masonry towers.
They were, theoretically, capable of raising fifteen tons. New rope and blo=
cks
of the best quality obtainable in
TURNING THE= OBELISK.
On the morning of Decembe= r 4th an attempt was made to pull the upper end of the obelisk over by means of tack= les. This attempt failed, owing to the further bending of the heel-beams, which caused the bottom of the obelisk to bind against the top of one of the crab= s. The impression prevailed that the turning structure had settled and was therefore of inadequate strength to sustain the weight. Several engineers a= nd others strongly advised abandoning the attempt to place the obelisk horizon= tal in the manner proposed; and letters were received protesting against the destruction of so valuable a monument by any further attempt to remove it T= hese expressions did not affect in any way the confidence I felt in a speedy termination of this, the first stage of the work, although they caused me g= reat chagrin, and aroused every one associated with me in the work to an extra exertion in order to prove them senseless.
Removing the crabs was re= ndered very difficult by the lead which had been poured into the mortices in the pedestal while molten. The angles of the dowels of the crabs had notches in them (see Plate vi), and the bottom of the mortise was larger than the top. These were devices of the Roman engineer to prevent the removal of the crab= s, and they were very effective. The process of lifting the obelisk, already described,
1
The contract for this work was sublet by John A. Roebling's Sons to the Pho=
enix
Iron Works of Trenton, to which all credit is due for its admirable executi=
on.
ARTOTYPE. THE OBELISK HORIZONTAL. HARROUN &=
BIERSTADT.
N.Y.
December 6, 1879. =
&nb=
sp; =
P=
late
IX
Removal of the
was again resorted to, an= d having raised it clear of the crab the bottom was pushed over to seaward until the obelisk was in the position shown on Plate viii. In this position it remain= ed seventeen hours without affecting any part of the structure in which it was suspended.
Rumors of a possible
demonstration by the foreign residents when the obelisk was to be placed
horizontal had been circulated until they reached Rear-Admiral Aslambekoff,=
of
the Russian Imperial Navy, who was in the
His Excellency, Zulficar = Pacha, Governor of Alexandria, the Egyptian officials, and a few acquaintances were notified that the turning would take place at 9 A.M. of the 6th. But his Excellency did not arrive until 11 A.M. As soon as he had reached the platf= orm provided for invited persons, the word was given to slack the tackles. A la= rge crowd of Greeks, Italians, and other Europeans had gathered in the vicinity, and occupied every available spot from which the movement could be seen. Wh= ile we were waiting for the Governor, the crowd was noisy and at times unruly w= hen they were prevented from going within the inclosure. But at the instant the= obelisk began to move there was absolute silence and stillness. As it slowly turned= not a sound but the rendering of the ropes around the posts and an occasional c= reak of the structure could be heard. Immediately following a creak louder than = any previous one, the motion was suddenly arrested, then there was a sharp snap= - one of the tackles had parted. Instantly the order was given to slack the o= ther tackle rapidly, using it merely to retard the motion and not to arrest it; = but the man attending the fall had lost his wits, and instead of slackening, he held it fast and it very soon broke. The obelisk was at that moment about h= alf over; it moved slowly at first, and then more and more rapidly, until it st= ruck the stack of timbers, rebounded twice, and came to rest in the position sho= wn on Plate viii. There was intense excitement; many of the Arabs and Greeks a= bout the grounds had fled precipitously when the obelisk began to move rapidly; = and when it rested on the stack of timber uninjured there arose a prolonged che= er, which was the first friendly manifestation shown by the Alexandrians.
The explanation given for= the breaking of the first tackle by the man attending it was, that he looked up= to see what the noise was, and in doing so involuntarily checked the passage of the rope through his hands; this brought the whole strain on his tackle and caused it to break. The other man was properly giving his whole attention to the command, and was unconscious of the accident until he saw that his companion had fled precipitately from under the obelisk, leaving him alone. Surely his loss of self-control was excusable. It was to provide against su= ch contingencies that the timber stack was built. The two upper tiers of plank were crushed; aside from this no loss or injury to any person or any thing resulted from the successful accomplishment of the first essential feature = of the work of removal.
Simultaneously with the
preparations for turning, other equally important parts of the work were be=
ing
pushed forward; notably the construction of a wooden box or caisson in which
the obelisk was to be carried by sea to the port, and the clearing away of
ruins from, and grading of the sea-bed along, the route over which it had t=
o be
launched. By way of explanation it is necessary to recall the fact that an =
iron
truss-cradle, moving on cannon-balls instead of wheels, in channel irons
instead of on an ordinary rail, had been designed, made in the
Soon after our arrival at=
16 Removal of the
trol of them to the forei=
gn merchants.
He agreed to ascertain the probable result of an application made to these
merchants and to inform us. Several days afterward he advised us not to make
the application until every other method of getting the obelisk to the port=
had
been tried and had failed. It appears that the foreign merchants had determ=
ined
not to allow the obelisk to be moved through the city, giving as a reason t=
he
probability of its crushing in the sewers. Guarantees of repairing all dama=
ge
done were of no avail; the transporting cradle, costing $5,100, had to be
thrown away, and the expensive and very dangerous method of sea transport i=
n a
wooden caisson a distance of ten miles was the only resource. The expense w=
as
least of all in the construction of the caisson, which cost only $2,200; it=
was
chiefly in the preparations for launching it over a shallow bank cumbered w=
ith
heavy blocks of syenite and granite; the massive submerged foundations of o=
ne
of the famous palaces of Alexandria were directly in the way. These obstruc=
tions
could only be removed by means of divers, a serious undertaking in smooth
water, and a most discouraging and almost hopeless task to accomplish on an
open coast on which the surf was breaking two thirds of the time. Diving
operations were commenced on November 5, 1879, and continued, whenever the =
sea
would permit, until March 18, 1880. A pier with derricks for lifting out the
blocks had to be constructed. The estimated weight of material removed is o=
ne
hundred and seventy tons. The pieces ranged from three to seven tons in wei=
ght.
In
Plate iii shows the frame= of the caisson in course of construction, and Plate viii shows the end sections ne= arly completed in the pit. The floor timbers of these sections were made to form= a part of the timber stacks on which the obelisk was lowered, as shown in Pla= te iii. Work on the middle section could not be commenced until the pedestal, steps, and foundation had been removed; and their removal could not be accomplished until the turning structure had been released and taken down, = and its foundation piers demolished.
LOWERING TH= E OBELISK.
The preparations for rele= asing the machinery and for lowering the obelisk from its elevated position, forty-three feet above the bottom of the pit, into the caisson are illustra= ted on Plate iii. After the obelisk had been placed horizontal, the upper secti= on was temporarily supported on two spars under the pyramidion. The stack of timber placed to receive it was then removed. After several experiments in building the stacks, the plan illustrated in Plate iii was finally adopted. Planks three inches thick, nine inches wide, and sixteen feet long, were pi= led in groups of three, at right angles to each other, up to the level of the t= op of the pedestal; the lengths were then fourteen feet for two thirds the remaining height, and finally twelve feet for the remainder. Heavy timber, diagonal shores were placed against the sides and ends of the piles to insu= re stability. Oak beams were slung by iron rods under the obelisk, and fastene= d to it at the points against which the pistons of the pumps were to bear; and o= ther beams were placed on top of the piles for the pumps to stand on, so as to distribute the bearing over the whole pile uniformly. The tops of the stacks were cut down through the middle to give room enough for the pumps to be worked, - (see Plate iii), - the ends being left to receive the weight of t= he obelisk when it was necessary to shift the pumps down. The pumps were fitted with lowering valves, an indispensable substitute for the ordinary method of tripping the plunger when releasing the strain from the piston. By means of these valves the liquid in the cylinder is allowed to escape to the chamber= as rapidly or as slowly as the operator pleases, thereby allowing the piston to descend at any desired speed.
CITY AND
WATER ROUTE= PROPOSED
PLATE X.
Removal of the
$$$ Very great inconvenie= nce resulted from the use of small instead of large timber for the stacks, and = it may well be asked why small timber was used. Relying on the order of Riaz P= acha to the Governor, to "offer him (the officer sent to remove the obelisk) the same assistance for removing it from its site and embarking it as was offered at the time of removing the other obelisk that was given to the Eng= lish government," and knowing that the timber used by the English was still= in the government store-house, no effort was made to find other timber until t= he time for lowering the obelisk had nearly arrived. Application for the loan = of government timber was made. The officer in charge happened to be a European, and he managed to evade the order, even after it had been reiterated, by de= lays and other means, until it was too late. The obelisk was ready for turning, timber for lowering it had to be provided, and the only kind available was = the soft planks that were bought at an exorbitant rate. Here again the vicious obstruction of Europeans failed to retard the work, and had no other effect than to increase the cost of its execution. In this instance the unnecessary expense for timber amounted to $4,300.
The operation of releasin= g the turning structure was very troublesome, owing to the elasticity of the stac= ks. The total compression in the forty-three feet was twenty-two and a half inc= hes under the weight of the obelisk. As soon as the weight had been transferred= to the stacks, the towers and trunnions were removed, and demolition of the masonry piers commenced.
The operation of lowering= was as follows: The pistons of the pumps were forced out to within four inches of their limit of fourteen inches; blocking was then supplied to whatever space intervened between the caps and the oak beam under the obelisk; the piston = was then forced out the remaining four inches, or as much as was needed to lift= the obelisk clear of the blocking on the ends of the stacks, on which it had be= en landed while the trunnions and towers were being removed; nine inches of th= is blocking was then gradually taken away, while the pistons of the pumps were allowed to descend slowly; when nearly down to their limit, removing the blocking was stopped, and the obelisk once more rested on it with the pumps free. The planks that were parallel with the direction of the obelisk had t= o be sawed in two places to allow of removing the middle section so that the pum= ps might be lowered nine inches. Those that were laid in the other direction c= ould be removed without being cut. When the pumps had been lowered the process a= bove described was repeated. The average rate of lowering was about three feet p= er day. It must, however, be remarked that owing to the height of the stacks a= nd to insure safety, work was not carried on simultaneously at both ends.
It was difficult to maint=
ain
uniformity of pressure on the pistons; and instead of pumps capable of sust=
aining
sixty tons each, it would have been much better to have had them capable of
sustaining one hundred. Considerable delay resulted from the disabling of t=
hree
of the pumps; the system was new to the mechanics of
Demolishing the foundatio= n piers without blasting was also troublesome, the cement having set to a degree entirely unexpected. As soon as they had been demolished the pit was enlarg= ed on the east side, and the pedestal steps and foundation moved out from under the obelisk and placed in the enlargement. The pedestal was raised clear of= the steps by driving steel wedges under it until there was room enough for the = end of a bent steel bar or link to be inserted. (See Fig. L, Plate xi.) Hydraulic pumps acting on the upper part of this = bar or link then raised the pedestal clear of the steps and held it suspended u= ntil channel irons and cannon balls could be placed underneath. The pedestal was then lowered on top of the channel irons and balls. It was moved with the greatest ease over a track of channel irons prolonged to the position assig= ned it. A section through the pedestal and channel iron tracks with the balls in position is shown on Plate xi, Fig. M.
This plate also shows the position in which each piece forming the steps and foundation was found, and gives the form and dimensions of all the essential pieces of the structure, including the pedestal. The curious features of the foundation are the forms and positions of certain pieces of syenite, and the marks and characters th= at are cut on other pieces that occupy the axis and east angle of the structur= e.
18 Removal of the
Whatever their significan= ce there is something striking in their arrangement, and almost any explanation is m= ore reasonable than the assumption that it was accidental.
THE MASONIC= EMBLEMS.
The pieces forming the st= eps and all but four of those inclosed by them are a hard limestone of grayish-white color. Three of the four exceptions are syenite from the same quarry as the obelisk and pedestal (Plate xi, Figs. A, B, C); the other one, E, is soft limestone entirely free from discolorations and as purely white as the best statuary marble. The foundation below the lower step is composed of so= ft sandstone blocks, rough-hewn and of irregular form, with three exceptions; these three had been carefully dressed and had had figures cut in relief on= the sides (Figs. P, G, H). Of the three pieces of syenite, two, A and B, are carefully cut and had been polished; the other, C, is roug= h and irregular, the upper part having been gouged by tools into an unnatural and conspicuously uneven surface. One of the polished pieces, A, is an imperfect cube, that is, the height is less than the s= ides in measurement; the other is of remarkable shape, more easily comprehended = from the drawing B on Plate xi than = from any possible description. The upper part is hewn to form a long and a short arm, at right angles, similar to the mechanic's tool called a builder's squ= are, or in French l'angle. At the ju= nction of the lower part with the vertical faces of the arms there are three beads= , or convex surfaces of unequal dimensions; and around the lower edges of the si= des there is a concave surface or groove. The assumption that it had formed a p= art of some ancient building, from the ruins of which it was taken to fill up a vacant space under the obelisk, would not be reasonable, chiefly because its form is unsuited for such a purpose, as will be very evident by examining t= he drawing. With reference to the rough piece of syenite there are two proofs = that the roughness and irregularity were intentionally given to its upper surfac= e: one of these is the tool marks; the other is its singularity in this respec= t, every other piece of the steps and foundation had the upper and lower surfa= ces dressed to give a good bearing for the layers above and below.
Assuming that the forms o= f these pieces of syenite, in connection with the fact that they are syenite while = all the other pieces are limestone, have some significance, an explanation may = be sought in their actual and relative positions. The polished cube occupied the east angle of the upper tier, and stood on the end of the long arm of the polish= ed square; this extended across the S.E. face of the structure parallel with t= he inner edges of the second tier or lower step; the short arm extended half-w= ay across the S.W. face, and touched the rough block of syenite which occupied= the west angle of the same tier. If there is any thing within the limits of our knowledge and understanding that serves to explain the forms and arrangemen= t of these three pieces it seems unreasonable to reject it until some better explanation is offered. One striking peculiarity existed in the manner of laying the polished cube. While every other part of the structure was laid = in white mortar, this one was placed on yellow cement, and the spaces around it were not filled in, as all other spaces were, with fragments of hard limest= one and white mortar.
The piece of white limest= one was found on the lower part of the piece of syenite out of which the square was cut. The cube of syenite (A) re= sted partly on the long arm of the square (B,) and partly on the piece of white limestone (E). On the block of hard gray limestone adjacent to it (D) an iron trowel and a= lead plummet (K) were found. The= se implements could not have been left accidentally by the workmen who built t= he foundation, for the trowel is firmly cemented to the surface of the stone. = They are not modern, and could not have been placed where they were found at any time after the re-erection of the obelisk, B.C. 22.
After removing all the pi= eces forming the steps and those enclosed by them, numbering in all forty-three,= two tiers of the foundation were removed. The only piece of the first tier that= was dressed occupied the east angle. This piece is shown on Plate xi, marked H. Two of the sides have a figure = in relief, extending through the middle, that resembles a snake in form. At th= e angle of these sides are two spiral figures in relief also resembling snakes. The upper part of the stone at this angle projects above
SECTION.
I. STEEL CLAMP INCASED N = LEAD.
L. BUDGEONS HYDRAULIC PUM= P AND LINK.
A. POLISHED CUBE OF SYENI= TE.
D. POLISHED
C. ROUGH AND IRREGULAR BL= OCK OF SYENITE.
D. HARD LIMESTONE WITH TR= OWEL CEMENTED TO SURFACE.
E. SOFT UMESTONE VERY WHI= TE AND ENTIRELY FREE PROM SPOTS.
F. AXIS STONE WITH FIGURE= S.
G. MARKED STONE
H. CORNER STONE FOUND UND= ER EAST ANGLE OF LOWER STEP.
K. LEAD PLUMMET FOUND NEA= R TROWEL.
M. SECTION THROUGH PEDEST= AL AND CHANNEL IRON TRACK.
PLAN.
STEPS AND PEDESTAL. =
; &n=
bsp; PLATE
XI.
Removal of the
the surface; and where the spirals meet there is an angular recess below it. The projection and recess form a group of three miniature steps above the spirals. In the face of the stone that was found adjacent to this one there is a diamond-shaped recess.= No other mark was found on any piece of this tier.
In the tier next below, a= ll of the pieces were rough and irregularly laid except two; one marked F in Plate xi occupied the axis of= the structure, and the other marked G was adjacent to it. One face of the axis stone F has had a group of lines and a group of figures carved on it, the latter in relief; and another face has an arc of a very large circle extending across= it. As far as it is possible to distinguish the group of lines they may be divi= ded into three parts. The upper part appears to consist of three parallel lines= of unequal length; the middle part consists of two parallel lines, the interval between them divided into equal spaces as if to form a scale; the lower part has a line forming with a part of the lower line of the scale, as far as it= can be traced, a figure resembling the cubit measure of the ancient Egyptians. = One of the group of figures resembles a builder's square, or angle; another is = the segment of a circle or a semicircle; both of these forms are hieroglyphical characters; the other is more like a spherical triangle than any thing else= ; it is manifestly a part of some figure that is nearly obliterated.
The marked stone G adjacent to the axis stone F has one of its sides carefully dressed, the others being rough. On the dressed side there are two rows of parallel grooves about one eighth of an inch in depth and the same in width; the upper row contains nine groups with three grooves in each, and the lower row five groups with three grooves in each. The grooves are cut diagonally across the face of the stone in two directions; every alternate group of the upper row intersects one of the lower row, and forms with it an obtuse angl= e. A glance at the drawing will make this clear.
The rapid inflow of water prevented excavation below the lower tier shown on Plate xi, which appeared= to be the last one that was composed of large stones.
The foundation and steps = were removed with great care; each piece was measured and numbered as it was lif= ted out, and a corresponding number marked on a drawing made at the time, of wh= ich Plate xi is a reproduction.
The striking similarity b= etween the forms and actual and relative positions of the pieces here described and those of the emblems of Freemasonry, led to the appointment of a committee = of Freemasons, by the Grand Lodge of Egypt, to examine them; and after discuss= ion and deliberation, the following conclusions were announced: The polished cu= be found in the east angle corresponds with the Masonic emblem designated the Perfect Ashler. The polished square corresponds with the emblem of that nam= e. The rough block found in the west angle corresponds with the Rough Ashler. = The stone with figures resembling snakes is emblematic of Wisdom. The axis ston= e is the Trestle-Board; and the marked stone adjacent to it bears the Master's M= ark. The two implements, the iron trowel and lead plummet, are also emblematic of Freemasonry. It is worthy of record that the Masonic character of the foundation had been affirmed before either of these implements was discover= ed. The piece of soft white limestone that was found under the polished cube (E, Plate xi) has been regarded as = the symbol of Purity, and as having been placed in the centre of the eighteen pieces forming the lower step to designate the word of the eighteenth degre= e.
Mr. Gaston L. Feuardent, =
of
"I have no doubt tha= t the stone with the relief inscriptions, found in the lower tier of the foundati= on of the obelisk, was placed there entirely by accident among the rough stones forming the lower strata. If the people who built the foundation had desire= d to bury there some record, they would not have selected a mere fragment, but w= ould have, as they usually did, placed there a record made and shaped in the most intelligible manner.
"The actual preserva= tion of the iron trowel and the lead weight shows how little damage was suffered by= the objects placed in the foundation; and there is ample evidence in the appear= ance of the stone itself, its uniformity of color, and its shape, to show that it was found in the same condition as when it was originally placed there, exc= ept a few scratches accidentally and recently put on it. Therefore I believe th= at the workmen took a fragment from some monument and placed it where it was found, after having cut it into shape to fit the place.
20 Removal of the
$$$ "I believe that = a wrong interpretation was given to the characters cut in the stone, on account of = the position it occupied in the foundation; that is to say, that its deciphering was attempted while keeping the stone in its horizontal position instead of= placing it vertically as ought to have been done.
"The many vertical a=
nd
horizontal lines on the side of the stone represent to me part of the origi=
nal
ornamentation, forming a kind of frame, of which the other portions are los=
t.
The two hieroglyphic signs now existing at the middle of the stone represen=
t to
me (first) half a sphere and (second) the top part of a figure which origin=
ally
represented three sides of a square, and these signs are meant to represent=
in
hieroglyphics the word '
"I see clearly that = most of the surface of the inscribed side of the stone was damaged or taken away be= fore being placed in the foundation, and the many accidents appearing on the pre= sent damaged surface of the stone must have led to false interpretation in its d= eciphering, as is frequently the case in reading ancient inscriptions found on monument= s in a poor state of preservation."
The conclusions of Mr. Fe=
uardent
are entitled to the greatest weight. It will be noted by instructed Freemas=
ons
that he interprets the hieroglyphical figures that still remain on the surf=
ace,
distinct enough to be recognized, as meaning "
As differences of opinion= on all subjects of interest are inevitable, there are some Freemasons who regard t= he arrangement and forms of the pieces of the base of the obelisk as having no Masonic significance. Those who do not belong to the Order are hardly capab= le of judging.
THE CAISSON= .
Completing the caisson and lowering the obelisk into it occupied but a short time after the foundation= had been moved out of the way. The caisson with the obelisk in it had to be pla= ced on the launching ways, which were laid at an inclination of seven per cent., and extended out a distance of one hundred and ten yards from the low-water line of the shore to a depth of seven feet. Plate xii illustrates the form = of the caisson and the method of securing the obelisk in it. The caisson was n= othing but a large box eighty-three feet long, twenty-two feet wide at one end, th= irty feet wide at the other end, and eleven feet deep on the outside. It was giv= en two keels and two keelsons; the former to act as guides in launching, the latter to form a bed for the obelisk to rest on, and both to give it additi= onal strength. The dimensions were determined by its weight with the obelisk in = it, and the depth of water at the end of the launching ways, which was about se= ven feet at mean level of the tide.
LOWERING TH= E CAISSON ON THE LAUNCHING WAYS.
The accompanying figure illustrates the method of lowering the caisson with the obelisk in it on the launching ways. It was pivoted at the point (A) of intersection of its keels with the launching ways, which = were laid in sections. The pivot was an oak beam, rounded on the lower side to f= it into the curves of the pillow-blocks (C) of the turning structure, that had been placed on the blocking (D) underneath the caisson. The agg= regate weight of the caisson and its contents was three hundred and seventeen tons= . To provide adequate bearing surface for the pivot, it was found necessary to excavate some distance below the waterlevel, and pack pieces of heavy timber close together over an area twenty-five feet square. A similar bearing surf= ace or foundation (E) was provided = for the hydraulic pumps (P) that we= re to lower the sea end of the caisson to its position on the ways. The difficult= ies of this operation were much increased by the contracted space in which the = work must be done, the want of light, and above all the encroachment of the sea.= The break-water had necessarily been removed to place the launching ways in position; and the surf almost continuously poured a large volume of water i= nto the pit. Powerful pumps were kept at work without reducing the water-level = to any great extent.
I regard this part of the= work, that is, the operation of placing the caisson on the launching ways and launching it, as attended with more embarrassments and risks than any other= . We were restricted
CAISSON AFLOAT
SECTION THROUGH CAISSON AND OBELISK.
PREPARATIONS FOR LAUNCHING -
PLATE XII.
PIVOT FOR LOWERING CAISSON ON LAUNCHING WAYS.
A. ANCHORS
B. TIMBER BACKING
P. HYDRAULIC PUMPS
T. PIVON
ANCHOR FOR HYDRAULIC JACK= S TO PUSH CAISSON AFLOAT.
Removal of the
to an inadequate space for
carrying on the work conveniently; we were operating on an exposed coast in=
the
stormiest season (March), with the sea breaking dangerously at least two th=
irds
of the time; and we were without sufficient hydraulic power to lower the sea
end of the caisson without great risk. Hydraulic pumps available for the wo=
rk
could not be obtained nearer than
RÉSU= MÉ OF OPERATIONS FROM DECEMBER 6TH TO MARCH 18TH.
The time that had elapsed=
from
December 6th, when the obelisk was placed horizontal, to March 18th, when it
was ready for launching, was occupied in building the stacks of timber for
lowering it, releasing the turning structure, lowering the obelisk from a
height of forty-three feet, demolishing the foundation walls of the towers,
removing the pedestal, steps, and foundation to make room for building the
caisson and placing it on the ways, and building and laying the ways. It was
not possible to carry on these different operations simultaneously. Their
accomplishment in less than ninety working days, with an almost continuous =
surf
breaking on the shore, constantly embarrassing and frequently suspending wo=
rk,
seems at this interval of time to have been very expeditious. The diving
operations, already alluded to, for clearing a track for the launching ways,
were carried on continuously when the state of the sea would permit; but it=
was
a common occurrence for one day of heavy surf to destroy the results of many
days' work. Nothing more disheartening can be imagined than to witness the
destruction in a few hours of the results of many days of costly labor with=
out
the possibility of preventing it. The foreign merchants of
LAUNCHING T= HE CAISSON.
There was every reason to=
feel
assured that the caisson would slide down the ways after having been starte=
d.
An abundance of lubricant was used on the ways to facilitate it, and every
precaution taken against fouling of the sliding surfaces. A final examinati=
on
of all parts, including those submerged, was made on the morning of March 1=
8th,
and at 11 A.M. of that day the lashings that held the caisson were removed.=
A
powerful tug was waiting to tow it around to the port. The smaller hydraulic
pumps, which had been placed in position to give it a start, were brought i=
nto
action, and under pressure from them the caisson began to move very slowly =
at
first, then more rapidly, and after it had slid a distance of twenty feet it
abruptly stopped sliding. A tow-line was run out to the tug, and two anchors
were planted off shore with cables leading to the caisson. The combined for=
ce
of the tug and threefold purchases on the cables did not move it an inch. At
this critical time the sea, which had been smooth, began to rise rapidly, a=
nd
the tug was obliged to seek shelter in
22 Removal of the
by shoring the frames aga=
inst the
obelisk so as to resist the vigorous blows of the waves as they broke over it When the gale subside=
d, an
examination showed that no damage had been done. The water was pumped out of
the caisson, and pushing it down the ways was resumed. Finally, on March 31=
st,
at 10 A.M., our efforts were rewarded, and by 3 P.M. the caisson was safely
moored in the
PURCHASE OF= THE STEAMER "DESSOUG."
While the operations of l=
owering
the obelisk and launching the caisson had been progressing, preparations we=
re
being made for embarking the obelisk on the steamer "Dessoug." Th=
is
vessel had been purchased from the Egyptian government expressly for
transporting the obelisk to
ARTOTYPE. EMBARKING THE PEDESTAL.
PLATE XIII
Removal of the
way it deserved; and in o=
rder to
bring matters to a crisis formal notice was given to the Ministry at
The nationality of the
"Dessoug" was a delicate question to settle. Under the laws of th=
e
The following is the only "document" I should have been able to produce, had the "ship= 's papers" been demanded.
24 Removal of the
In consi= deration of the sum of £5,100 sterling paid by Captain Gorringe, the Director-General of Posts, duly authorized by the Egyptian government, transfers the S.S. "Dessoug," with her equipment, into his possession, and recognizes that he is the sole proprietor from this moment.=
The Director-= General of Posts,
CAILLARD.
THE EMBARKA= TION OF THE OBELISK DELAYED.
One of the conditions of =
the
purchase of the "Dessoug" was that the government floating-dock
should be used for embarking the obelisk as soon as it was ready for embark=
ation.
The English cylinder containing the
Nearly five weeks elapsed= before the dock was again disengaged. The caisson containing the obelisk was, howe= ver, placed in it on April 12th, by lowering the dock to a depth of seven feet, which did not affect the small steamers beyond washing out their filthy hol= ds and destroying some of the vermin for which they are justly celebrated. The official referred to, fought hard to prevent even this being done, and would not yield, in spite of peremptory orders from the Ministry in Cairo, until I had consented to the docking of another vessel before the "Dessoug&quo= t; was placed in the dock. This I had to do, as the caisson was leaking badly = and there was danger of its being sunk by accident or design as long as it was afloat. As soon as it was in the dock it was demolished, not so much to adv= ance the work of embarkation as to insure the obelisk not being removed from the= dock until it had been embarked in the "Dessoug."
There was a widespread be=
lief in
TRANSPORTIN= G AND EMBARKING THE PEDESTAL AND STEPS.
It had been intended to u=
se the
caisson that took the obelisk to the port, for removing the pedestal and st=
eps.
To avoid delay and utilize the time we were obliged to wait for the dock, we
chartered a lighter that had been used in the construction of the breakwate=
r of
ARTOTYPE. EMBARKING THE OBELISK. HARROUN & =
BIERSTADT.
N. Y.
Plate XIV
PLATE XV.
SECTION
PLAN
B. STEEL BEAMS.
T. TIMBER PLATFORM.
C. CHANNEL IRON TRACK.
S. NEW STEP OF FOREMAST. =
A. BILGE BLOCKS AND POSIT= ION OF TIMBER PACKING.
D. BOTTOM OP DRYDOCK.
E. CHANNEL IRONS AND BALL= S.
F. HEEL BEAMS.
P. HYDRAULIC PUMPS.
G. IRON PLATES.
SLUNG OBELISK IN STEAMER'S HOLD
EMBARKING THE OBELISK
Removal of the
ture were also placed on = the deck of the lighter, which had been designed to sustain a load of two hundred to= ns. The aggregate load placed on it was one hundred and seventy tons. Every thi= ng having been secured for the trip by sea around to the port, the lighter was successfully launched and towed around on May 1st.
The pedestal weighs nearl=
y fifty
tons. It had to be placed in the after-hatchway, on an iron frame or stand =
that
had been prepared for it and constructed so as to distribute the weight ove=
r a
larger area than that of the side or base. There was just room enough in the
hatchway to admit the pedestal sideways. To get it into the ship it had to =
be
turned over on its side first, and then lifted thirty feet above the deck of
the lighter to clear the bulwarks of the "Dessoug." The most powe=
rful
crane in
The pedestal was slung wi= th four parts of steel-wire cable, one and a half inches in diameter, capable, theoretically, of sustaining three times its weight. The lighter was hauled under the purchases, between the floating derrick and the quay; the purchas= es were hooked to the wire cable on one side of the pedestal, which was quickly turned over, and gradually lifted clear of the lighter without indications = of excessive strain on any thing. The lifting continued until the pedestal was thirty feet in the air and high enough to clear the steamer's rail. The lig= hter having been hauled out, the stern of the steamer was being hauled under whe= n a sharp sound was heard and the pedestal was observed to be oscillating. It w= as known positively that nothing had touched it to cause oscillation or vibrat= ion. If it had fallen while the steamer's stern was under it the destruction of = that end of the vessel would have been the result. The "Dessoug" was hauled ahead as rapidly as possible; when her stern was well clear and noth= ing remained between the pedestal and the water, an examination was made, and o= ne of the four parts of the steel-wire rope with which it was slung was found = to have stranded. Only two of the seven strands remained uninjured. The pedest= al was then lowered in the full expectation that it would fall into the water, whence it could be recovered without serious difficulty. But the two strands held on; and the lighter having been hauled underneath, the pedestal was on= ce more safely landed on her deck. The cause of the stranding of the wire rope= has never been explained. On the day following. May 6th, the pedestal was slung with a part of the "Dessoug's" bower chain cable, by which it was hoisted to the requisite height; and after the steamer had been placed in position, it was lowered into the hatchway and landed on the stand without incident. (See Plate xiii.)
EMBARKATION= OF THE OBELISK.
During the four months th= at elapsed between the purchase of the steamer and arrival of the obelisk in t= he port, preparations had been made to embark the obelisk with dispatch. A platform had been constructed in the forehold by bolting the steel beams (B, Plate xv) of the turning struct= ure to the frames of the vessel, and building on it a timber bed (T, Plate xv) on which the channel-iron tracks (C, Plate xv) could be placed in any direction desired. The steel beams gave great additional longitudinal strength to the hull, and served to distribute the weight of the obelisk over the whole
26 Removal of the
structure. Without them t= he weight would have been concentrated on the keelson. Other preparations consisted in removing the single row of stanchions that held up the lower d= eck from over the keelsons, and substituting for them two rows, one on each sid= e, over the bilge keelsons. The foremast was unstepped, and that part below the lower deck cut off. A new step on the lower deck was provided and the mast replaced. The frames that had to be removed to make the aperture for admitt= ing the obelisk had all been cut, and the pieces for replacing them had been shaped, drilled, and fitted to their places with screw bolts. The plates ab= ove the water-line had been removed, and a large supply of tools provided for cutting off and driving out rivets, and for replacing them.
On May 10th the "Des=
soug"
entered the dock. A foreman shipwright from
When the caisson containi= ng the obelisk had been placed in the dock, it was placed at this angle with the a= xis of the dock. And when the "Dessoug" was hauled in, her bow was ha= uled up to the proper distance from the base of the obelisk, and held there unti= l it had landed on the keel blocks; so that, when the dock had been pumped out, = the relative positions of the vessel and the obelisk were exactly as they were designed to be.
While the aperture was be= ing opened, gangs of carpenters were engaged in packing timber under the forward run of the steamer's hull, and under the track of the obelisk, so as to pre= vent straining of the frames. (Plate xv.) Only those who were engaged in this wo= rk can realize the difficulty of shaping the timbers to fit closely to the iro= n, and this consumed a large part of the time occupied in preparing to embark = the obelisk. It was so thoroughly executed, however, that not one rivet or seam admitted a drop of water after the vessel was afloat, a result not even dre= amed of. It was expected that the vessel would leak freely in all seams under the track of the obelisk, and extra provision had been made to pump out the wat= er during the voyage.
The space that intervened= between the obelisk and the aperture was bridged over with heavy timbers, supported= on very long oak beams laid on the flooring of the dock, directly over the tru= sses D, Plate xv, that extended acro= ss the bottom of the dock. The bed of the track was thus a continuous one from whe= re the obelisk had been landed on the dock, through the aperture, and into the hold. As soon as this track had been completed, the obelisk was raised by t= he hydraulic pumps, and while suspended on them the channel irons and cannon-balls E were placed under it on each sid= e, near the edges. Soft wood was packed in between the upper channel iron and = the obelisk to insure uniform pressure on the balls. The obelisk was then lande= d on the channel irons. The balls were 5 1/2 inches in diameter, and placed at intervals of 18 inches. Plates xiv and xv give a better idea than can possi= bly be given in words, of the general plan for embarking the obelisk. Plate xiv= is taken from a photograph made while the obelisk was actually in motion, and = just as its base was entering the aperture.
The power employed for mo= ving it was two hydraulic pumps (P) pus= hing against the outer end, and at no time was it necessary to exert more than f= ive tons pressure in order to start it. The time occupied in opening the apertu= re, laying the track, blocking under the vessel, and placing the obelisk on the channel irons and balls, was ten days; the time occupied in embarking the obelisk was eight hours.
ARTOTYPE. THE STEAMER DESSOUG WITH THE OBELISK =
ON
BOARD READY FOR DEPARTURE FROM
PLATE XVI
Removal of the
$$$ The ship's frames were replaced as fast as there was room for them to be fitted into position, and almost as soon as the point of the pyramidion was within the vessel the last frame was up and riveted.
As soon as the obelisk was entirely inside of the hold it was lifted clear of the track, which was then removed from under it. There was hardly room enough to lift the weight clea= r of the channel irons; the work of removing them and the balls was tedious and trying beyond description. There was so little room to spare that all operations inside of the vessel were greatly embarrassed and delayed.
Plate xv illustrates the
apparatus for turning the obelisk to parallel with the steamer's keel, with=
the
axis directly amidships. The bending of the heel beams of the turning
structure, it will be remembered, had caused me much chagrin when the weigh=
t of
the obelisk had been transferred to them (see page 14). The bent keel beams=
(F) were utilized in the arrangemen=
t of
the "turn-table," shown under each end of the obelisk in this fig=
ure.
The obelisk was landed on them, with soft wood intervening to prevent injur=
y to
the edges; underneath the keel beams were the iron plates G, also belonging to the turning structure. These are shown on
Plate ii in the position they were used while turning the obelisk horizonta=
l in
PREPARING F= OR THE VOYAGE.
On June 1, 1881, three we=
eks from
the day the vessel entered the dock to embark the obelisk, she was floated =
out
with the obelisk on board. She was immediately hauled under the arsenal she=
ars,
to re-embark her ballast and equipments that had been removed prior to ente=
ring
the dock, and to embark the pieces forming the base and steps of the obelis=
k.
The largest of these pieces weighed seven tons, and the smallest nearly a t=
on.
A force of the best shipwrights that could be hired in
A judicious distribution = of the pieces forming the steps and base, the ballast, and the pieces forming the turning structure, and other heavy material, brought the vessel to a good t= rim, and insured easy motion in a sea-way. Additional coal-bunkers were provided= by building bulkheads between the upper and the second decks.
Providing a crew and secu=
ring a
reasonable rate of insurance for the voyage had been the cause of endless
trouble and negotiation from the day the vessel was purchased until the day=
she
sailed. As there are no commercial steam-vessels of the
28 Removal of the
obliged to send to
The embarkation of every =
thing
but coal was completed by June 7th. On the 8th the vessel was hauled away f=
rom
the quay and moored to buoys. On that day and the next, five hundred tons of
coal were taken on board. On the 9th and 11th I visited
On my return to
ARTOTYPE. DISEMBARKING THE PEDESTAL.
PLATE XVII
Removal of the
to feel the swell and to = roll. To Lieutenant Schroeder and myself the open sea, with the comparative rest and relief that it brought, was acceptable and enjoyable beyond expression.
THE VOYAGE.=
The wind freshened and th=
e sea
increased gradually as we drew away from the land. The behavior of the vess=
el
was most satisfactory; her pitching motion was slow and easy, her rolling e=
xceptionally
gentle. Perfect confidence in the efficiency of the stowage and the ability=
of
the steamer to make the voyage with no greater risk than is involved in any
similar voyage, was quickly acquired by the crew, who settled down to the
monotonous routine of an ordinary merchant-steamer. The head-wind and sea
continued for four days. During one night it blew a moderate gale, and while
off the coast of
We sailed from
A curious incident in this
connection is the persistency with which I insisted on having this section =
of
the shaft delivered to me from the arsenal in
During the six days we we=
re
replacing the broken shaft the progress of the vessel, under sail alone, to=
ward
30 Removal of the
twelve days out from
SECRETARY OF THE NAVY,
Steamer "Dessoug," with obelisk, broke crank shaft July 6th, latitude 37°, longitude 47°. Spare shaft is being fitted; probable detention= ten days. Until repairs are completed will try to keep between parallels 37° and 38°.
The dispatch reached
An incident occurred on J= uly 10th which caused me more anxiety than any thing else during the voyage, much mo= re than the breaking of the shaft The weather had been squally, with heavy rain all day. Water-spouts were seen to form and dissipate without completing the column several times during the day. One formed directly to windward of the vessel, and after appearing to dissipate, it suddenly reformed much larger = than before, and began moving directly toward us. Every precaution was taken to cover the hatches and skylights and open the bulwark ports, so as to exclude the water from below. After watching it closely it was evident that we were= in for a deluge unless the course of the vessel could be changed. This was impossible owing to the lack of wind, which had in the meantime entirely di= ed out. There was nothing to do but to await the deluge calmly, for we had no cannon to fire and break the spout. It kept us in suspense for about five minutes, and then abruptly changed its course, passed about fifty yards ahe= ad of us, and broke with some noise about a thousand yards from the vessel. The danger feared was in the probable bursting in of our decks by the weight of= the column of water which appeared at least fifty feet in height.
On July 13th, 14th, and 1= 5th we experienced a westerly gale, which blew very hard from S.W. during the nigh= t of the 14th and day of the 15th, with a high sea that almost arrested our prog= ress entirely. The behavior of the vessel was exceptionally good, as far as her motion was concerned, but she shipped two seas, among many others, which did considerable damage to boats and skylights. Very close watch was kept of the obelisk and its fastenings, but not the least motion was detected in any th= ing connected with them. With the fullest confidence that the vessel was able to stand any weather, she was held to her course and driven through the gale as hard as the boilers would permit, so as to reach port on the day set for our arrival - not later than July 20th, - and to avoid the usual but needless anxieties experienced by landsmen when vessels are overdue.
On the morning of July 19=
th we
took on board Pilot Murphy, from N. Y. Pilot-boat A.M. Lawrence, No. 4. On =
that
evening we stood in toward Fire Island, and made a pre-arranged signal which
caused us to be reported in
SELECTING T= HE SITE.
Before our departure from=
the
ARTOTYPE. TRUCKING THE PEDESTAL.
Copyright, 1881, by HARROUN & BIERSTADT,
PLATE XVIII
Removal of the
W.H. Hurlbert, and myself=
. Mr. W.H.
Vanderbilt had expressed a preference for the Central Park, in the vicinity=
of
the
At the regular meeting of= the Board of Commissioners of the Department of Parks on May 5, 1879, a communication was presented from the Honorable Henry G. Stebbins, in behalf= of the gentlemen interested in the removal of the obelisk, asking that the site they recommended may be formally selected by the Department. This was unanimously agreed to, and the desired permission duly recorded. Soon after= the arrival of the "Dessoug" this decision of the Board was reconside= red, and the question remained unsettled until July 27th. On that day, after discussion and examination of the other sites urged on the Board, a final decision was reached, designating the summit of Graywacke Knoll as the spot upon which the obelisk was to stand.
DISEMBARKIN= G AND TRANSPORTING THE PEDESTAL.
Circumstances made it eas=
y to
select a landing-place and a route for the obelisk. The rapid tidal currents
and short intervals of slack water made a landing on the
The accompanying Plate (x= vii) shows the pedestal suspended to the derrick. While so sus-
32 Removal of the
pended the steamer was ha=
uled
ahead, and when she was out of the way, the arm of the derrick was swung
around, and the pedestal landed on the wharf, as near as possible to the sh=
ore.
From this point it was moved by sliding it on heavy timbers (skids) to a
convenient place about five hundred feet distant, there to await the partial
rebuilding of a truck that was to carry it to the
Plate xviii illustrates t=
he
method of suspending the pedestal on the truck. Difficulty was experienced =
in
several places in keeping the wheels from sinking into the pavements. They =
had
only to sink nine inches for the chain slings, by which the stone was suspe=
nded
to the beams, to touch the ground. Whenever this occurred the slings had to=
be
slackened until the truck was released, and the wheels placed on timber lai=
d on
the pavement, and the stone again suspended. Thirty-two horses in sixteen p=
airs
were attached to the truck for hauling it. The first forward movement was
invariably given by hydraulic pumps applied to the tire of the rear wheels.=
As
soon as the truck was in motion the horses were started and kept going on a
slow trot until the wheels again sank into the pavements. The route was thr=
ough
THE FOUNDAT= ION.
It was not until August 5= th that any action was taken by the Department of Parks to prepare the Graywacke Kn= oll for the foundation. On that day four laborers of the Department commenced removing the young trees that stood on it and clearing away the surface. A = few days later the work was suspended without apparent reason. The invariable custom of the Department had been to prepare foundations for the reception = of monuments and statuary contributed by individuals to the adornment of the c= ity. In this case the custom was violated. Anxious that the foundation should be prepared before winter set in, I sought almost daily at the Department for = the requisite authority to proceed with the work at my own expense. This was withheld until August 27th, and then granted under onerous conditions that involved a large increase in the cost of the work of placing the obelisk on= the site assigned it.
The earth having been rem=
oved
from the top of the knoll, the surface of the granite was levelled and the
cavities filled with cement. A thin layer of this was then laid over the
granite, and the foundation was replaced exactly as it had stood in
A number of lead boxes of
different shapes and sizes had been prepared to fit into available spaces
enclosed by the steps, and into these were placed the various articles
contributed by the Departments in
ARTOTYPE. LAYING THE CORNER-STONE. E.
Removal of the
of our civilization. I ma=
de an
effort to secure a complete telephone system, but failed. I asked the repre=
sentative
of the American Bible Society to contribute the New Testament, or any part =
of
it, in all the ancient and modern languages and dialects into which it had =
been
translated and published. He referred me to the book-store where I could buy
them. I did buy them; and they were carefully deposited in a lead case, whe=
re
they will be preserved for an indefinite period. One of the persons connect=
ed
with this Society displayed much zeal in the effort to have the names of the
officers of the Society deposited with the New Testament. He did not succee=
d. I
made application to the
The Departments at Washin= gton contributed the following named articles which were duly deposited in copper cases hermetically sealed, enclosed in lead cases carefully soldered, and t= hese again in a mass of cement:
THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE. =
- A copy
of Federal and State Constitutions, colonial charters, and other organic la=
ws
of the
THE TREASURY DEPARTMENT. =
- A full
set of medals of the Presidents of the
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIO=
R. -
Official Register of the
WAR DEPARTMENT. - Officia= l Army Register, 1880, corrected to September 17th. Signal Office International Bulletin. Tri-daily weather maps. Monthly weather record for July, 1880. General order announcing death of General Myer.
NAVY DEPARTMENT. - Navy R=
egisters
for January and July, 1880. Report of the Secretary of the Navy for 1879.
Report of the "Polaris' " cruise in the Arctic regions. Model of =
the
"
THE SOCIETY FOR THE PREVE= NTION OF CRUELTY TO ANIMALS, through the President, Henry Bergh, furnished a parcel = of documents relating to the Society.
ANGLO-SAXON LODGE, No. 13= 7, contributed a complete set of the emblems and jewels of the Order of Freemasons, in silver.
Mr. WILLIAM HENRY HURLBER=
T contributed
a small box, the contents of which is known only to himself, and a gold pla=
te
on which is engraved the essential facts relating to the removal of the
Alexandrian obelisk to
A copy of Webster's Unabr=
idged
Dictionary, the works of William Shakespeare, New York City Directory, a ma=
p of
the city. Telegraphic Determination of Longitudes in the West Indies, Nauti=
cal
Almanac for 1880, Haydn's Dictionary of Dates, Wilkinson's
34 Removal of the
metals used in the indust=
rial
arts, different kinds of screws, samples of boring and cutting tools for wo=
od
and iron, several sizes of steel-wire rope, and a hydraulic pump, were among
the articles deposited. The hydraulic pump was made and contributed by Rich=
ard
Dudgeon, of
By October 10th the found= ation and steps were laid and in place with the exception of the polished cube of syenite (Fig. A, Plate xi), whi= ch was reserved for the Masonic ceremonies of laying the foundation-stone, this be= ing the last piece to be placed before the pedestal was moved into position.
THE MASONIC CEREMONIES.
Most Worshipful Jesse B. =
Anthony,
Grand Master of Masons in the State of
OFFICE OF THE=
GRAND
MASTER OF MASONS IN THE STATE OF
To the Masters, Wardens, and Brethren of the several Lodges in
Having a=
ccepted
an invitation to lay the corner-stone of the Egyptian obelisk about to be
placed in Central Park, New York City, the ceremonies of which will take pl=
ace
in the afternoon of Saturday, October 2d, 1
it is desirable that the fraternity of Free and Accepted Masons should
generally unite in recognition of the compliment paid our Society in thus
becoming connected with the noble enterprise of placing this historical
monument of Egypt in the metropolitan city. You are therefore most earnestly
requested to support the officers of the Grand Lodge on this occasion, and =
make
it a memorable event in the annals of the craft in the
I have a=
ppointed
Right Worshipful E.M.L. Ehlers as Grand Marshal of the Day, who will issue =
the
necessary orders incident to the parade, and due publicity will be given to=
the
same. All lodges proposing to parade will please report promptly to the Gra=
nd
Marshal at
Fraternally, = JESSE B. ANTHONY, Grand Master.
In accordance therewith s=
pecial
meetings of the different lodges and commanderies in
The numb=
er of
Freemasons that paraded for the ceremony was nearly nine thousand. It is
estimated that from
"BR= ETHREN: We have assembled to-day for the purpose of laying the corner-stone of the foundation which is to again support the ancient monument known as Cleopatr= a's Needle. The occasion is one of which, as a
OBELISK ON PONTOONS ENTERING LANDING STAGE AT <=
st1:Street
w:st=3D"on">
PLAN OF DISEMBARKING STAGE.
SECTION OF DISEMBARKING STAGE.
PLATE XIX.
Removal of the
fraternity, we may well b= e proud, and while it is but true we engage in a labor which has been the custom of = our fraternity from time immemorial when such service has been requested, yet a= s a matter of history connecting our Society with the national character of this work, we may regard it as the event of a lifetime and its record of great importance to our history as a craft. Coming thus publicly before the world= as members of an organization which commends itself to the favorable considera= tion of all candid and unprejudiced minds, it is creditable to you that as individual members, as lodges, and as commanderies you have responded so no= bly to the call and by your presence given your assistance to the work. The wor= k is before us, and in accordance with our earliest Masonic lesson we will, befo= re entering upon this undertaking, unite with Rev. and R. W. Bro. C. H. Hall, = Grand Chaplain, in an invocation to the Deity."
The usual ceremonies having been concluded, the Grand Master delivered the following address:
"Br=
ethren:
Standing as we do upon ground which is ever to be memorable from the
associations connected with the historical monument about to be replaced up=
on
its original foundation, of which we have to-day laid the corner-stone in
accordance with our forms and ceremonies, you will pardon me if in my remar=
ks I
depart somewhat from the usual course on such occasions. The importance of =
this
labor to our history as a craft; the honor conferred upon our fraternity by
thus being linked with the national importance of this successful achieveme=
nt
of the removal, transportation, and yet to be accomplished fact of again
placing the obelisk on the foundation-stone; the universal interest in this
addition to the monuments which adorn and beautify this city; the fact that
this monolith represents to us the work of the operative workmen of centuri=
es
ago, and recalls to our minds most prominently the history of the past, dem=
and
that we turn our thoughts beyond the events and occurrences of the present
moment to the ages that are gone, of which this obelisk is a venerable reli=
c.
This monument in its associations brings forcibly before us that period of
which at present, we know so little and of which the researches of the scho=
lar,
the calculation of the astronomer, the study of the rocks by the geologist,=
and
the skill of the engineer, are each year adding to our information and
startling us with wonderful results. This trophy comes from that land, the
history of which, was long lost in the mist and obscurities of ancient fable
and tradition, - a land of wonderful creations of human power and genius, t=
hat
has been, and long will continue to be, a place of interest and curiosity to
the learned. Egypt itself is a book of history, - one of God's great monume=
ntal
records, on the face of which He has written with His own hand many of the
strange events of the past. It was the birthplace of literature, the cradle=
of
science and art, the garden and garner of the world. The people of those da=
ys
excelled in many respects the advanced growth of the present century. Could=
we
but know that which time will yet unveil, we should be astonished at the re=
velation
and ashamed of our littleness. The Supreme Master, the great Architect, in =
the
design upon the eternal trestle-board, traced each cycle of the progress of=
the
universe, inspired the people with the idea to be worked out, and in His
wisdom, even though ages have intervened, the prophecy or design has been or
will be fulfilled. 'The ways of the Almighty are indeed wonderful.' Let us =
for
a moment consider some points in the history of Egypt which are intimately
associated with the principles of our fraternity as a society of workmen, o=
r as
conservators of the liberal arts and sciences. In the branches of decorative
art and the science of architecture they were undoubtedly far in advance of=
us
at the present day, and could we bring to light that which is buried from o=
ur
sight by the devastations of war, the sacking of the old cities, could we o=
pen
the grave made by the growth of years we should be struck with awe and
astonishment at the wondrous magnificence of ancient times. The character of
Egyptian architecture is that of massive grandeur and severe simplicity, as
exhibited in the sculptors' well-defined outlines and in the colossal
dimensions of their temples and the enormous blocks of material employed in
their construction. The great object of the builders seems to have been that
=
the strength and durability portrayed in the prodigious magnitude of their
structures should seem to typify their greatness. The architectural types of
all other structures of antiquity sink into insignificance when compared wi=
th
those of
36 Removal of the
the world. The labors of = the ancients in the science of astronomy cannot be despised. If the ancient philosophers groped where modern minds have seen more clearly, the events of time have proven that they appreciated the fact that the sun, planets, and stars were governed by fixed, immovable laws, and that there could be no variation from the great plan designed by the Almighty. The Egyptian priest= hood 2,500 years before Christ had their calendar and periods proportioned to the processional cycle of the equinoxes. Tables have accumulated for over 3,000 years which now enable astronomers to predict with certainty the exact posi= tion each star in the solar system will occupy at a given moment. There may be a slight deviation of dates, but not sufficient to invalidate the fact that t= hey had a correct knowledge of the laws governing the operation of the solar system.
"Th=
e great
pyramid is more than science. It is the embodiment of a great revelation. '=
The
measurements, joint lines, and minute but exact markings, calculated at the
rate of one pyramid unit or inch a year, agree with the past events of hist=
ory,
which must have been a prophetic revelation when built into its chronologic=
al
passages.' If they have been correct in the past the inference is that they
will be in the future. The investigations of astronomers have demonstrated =
the
fact that the great pyramid was designed as an astronomical stone clock or =
ancient
observatory, erected by inspiration of the Most High; for it cannot be
attributed to accident that at exact periods of time of long intervals betw=
een -
a thousand years and over - a certain star, the time-keeper of the ancients=
, is
in such a position as to shine down the entrance passage of the great pyram=
id.
This event is calculated by astronomers to occur during the coming year at a
time which corresponds with the record engraved by the mystical lines on the
stone. Jeremiah proclaimed: 'The great, the mighty God; great in counsel and
mighty in works, which has set signs and wonders in the
"
ARTOTYPE. DISEMBARKING THE OBELISK.
Copyright, 1881, by HARROUN & BIERSTADT,
Plate XX
Removal of the
the fraternity of which w=
e are
members. Masonry may be divided into two periods: the operative and
speculative. It was originally a school of architecture and a promoter of t=
he
sciences. In its operative character Masonry applied the unlimited resource=
s of
architectural skill to develop Divine ideas through symbolized stone. It
awakened the emotional element of the people in the exquisite temples of
worship, and it elevated their aspirations in art productions of wondrous
beauty and uniformity. These guilds travelled from place to place engaging =
in
the work, and in all sections is to be found that uniformity of detail which
demonstrates that they were combined into societies to carry out a well-def=
ined
and arranged system. There have been operative societies in all ages of the
world. They flourished in
"I =
touch
upon the point because it has been so prominently brought before the public=
in
connection with this obelisk, and especially because in the judgment of many
they seem to have a direct allusion to our fraternity. In considering these
discoveries from a Masonic standpoint we must eliminate from our minds the
Masonry of to-day as now organized. 'History,' says
38 Removal of the
in the support of their t= heories given us much that is visionary. We all know that when we enter the field of speculation there is really no limit to the extent it may be carried. Cast = your eyes upon the fleeting clouds of the firmament as they pass along, give the imagination full play, and you create many fantastic and strange pictures; = curb the imagination, look again, they are after all only clouds. Do not underst= and me as detracting in the least degree from the importance of these discoveri= es. They may have within them elements which may prove much, but I do not think= we should hastily decide that they are conclusive.
"The antiquity of Masonry in its principles we must with one voice concede; for = the spirit of our institution includes all that is good and elevating to the hu= man race, and, as a system of morals, ranks with religion, leaving each one in = that respect to be governed by the dictates of his own conscience and in accorda= nce with his peculiar belief. I should be glad if from the discoveries which ha= ve been, or may yet be made, we might be able to successfully trace the histor= y of our institution back through the past, for we all have a particular venerat= ion for age. It is a principle which is imbued into our feelings at early child= hood and grows with our years. In the proper regard which we have for antiquity = do not let us rest upon and be content with that; the present is given for our field. We are to improve our opportunities, labor in the carrying out of the vital principles of our organization, and by so doing make a record which s= hall endure through the ages to come, so that when the monuments and temples have crumbled to dust, the good deeds of Masonry shall stand out on its escutche= on brighter and brighter with the passing years. The effect of these discoveri= es will be productive of one result at least. It will awaken new zeal in the student, and it is possible that some things which may now seem to be curio= us may lead to further discoveries which will demonstrate a connection between= the ancient and modern that we are not yet prepared to admit. You will understa= nd that I am expressing individual views. When I first heard of these discover= ies I gave them no consideration whatever, and while I have had no opportunity = to thoroughly examine them, yet there are some peculiarities which seem to me worthy of the careful consideration of the Masonic student. Let them be tes= ted by the crucible of time, which may yet eliminate the dross and present the truth in its purity. The world we live in is made up of the occurrences of = the past, and it is the work of the investigator, the geologist, the astronomer, the philosopher, and the student in any specialty, to examine, to dig out, = to look into, to consider, and to analyze that which has been covered up by the operations of nature or the lapse of time. Every year presents new facts, develops new truths, which enlighten and render intelligible many things wh= ich have for ages been shrouded in darkness, or subject to the claim of speculation. Our world, which seems complete in itself and is remarkable for its achievements, appliances, and results, has passed through wonderful cha= nges; and while we boast of the intelligence of the nineteenth century, yet when = we uncover and bring to light the buried treasures of the past, we find that e= ven with our boasted superiority we do not equal the skill of the ancients. The monuments of the past are to be considered by us as representatives of some grand historical event in the history of those nations, or as memorials of their knowledge perpetuated in the form of stone. The history of the world = has not yet been written, neither has the history of Masonry, and even though '= the mills of God grind slowly,' yet all incongruities will finally be reduced t= o an even and consistent nature, and the almighty power of truth shall prevail. = In conclusion, brethren, there is nothing done in Masonry that is not for a purpose and is not designed to impress its lessons upon us. What is the des= ign upon the trestle-board to-day? What has been brought prominently before you= on this occasion? What thought is uppermost in your minds? Is it not that a ma= n's work in this world lives long after he has laid down the implements of labo= r, and that his influence does not entirely cease with the termination of life= 's powers? This obelisk erected thousands of years ago is not without its less= on to us of to-day. The ancient workman did not build for an age, but for eternity. So with us, brethren; we may not consider that our efforts amount= to much of themselves, but nevertheless every one has his influence, and in a greater or lesser degree we contribute to the aggregate whole. Let it be our endeavor therefore to lay the foundation of character on a broad, sure, and deep foundation; let it be such as will bear the application of the plumb, square, and level; let us continue to build upon that foundation a character which is above reproach in the sight of Him Who ruleth all things. And, when finally we have completed our task, erected a monument of moral grandeur and symmetry, achieved something which is for the welfare and advancement of the human race, then in after years the coming generations will treasure our memory, imitate our example, point to our deeds, and draw inspiration from = our age as worthy of their veneration. Such a monument will be more enduring th= an even that of stone; and the chiselled record, long after the tracings upon = the stone shall have become obliterated, will stand out in its original sharpne= ss, telling of grand enterprises and noble works, which are the real monuments = of a successful life. Let us therefore labor faithfully in the present, looking forward to the reward promised to him who performs his whole duty, and the = past, present, and future of each and every one will entitle him to the salutatio= n: 'Well done, good and faithful servant.'"
The bene= diction was then pronounced by R. W. and Rev. Brother J. Bradford Cleaver, Grand Chaplain, and the ceremonies were concluded.
The only thing remaining = to complete the structure on which the obelisk was to stand was to move the pedestal from its temporary resting-place near by on the west side of the foundation to its
CROSS SETION THROUGH OBELISK AND PONTOONS.
SIDE ELEVATION OF OBELISK AND PONTOONS.
DRAWN BY ??? ALLAIRE. &nb=
sp; =
&nb=
sp; PLATE
XXI.
Removal of the
proper position. This was accomplished on October 11th. Building the masonry piers for the turning structure (Plates xxvii and xxviii, G) was pushed forward rapidly. By November 30th the turning structure was erec= ted on them ready for the obelisk.
DISEMBARKIN= G THE OBELISK.
Almost the first thing th=
at
occupied my attention on arriving in
At first I thought of tak=
ing the
"Dessoug" to
Disembarking the obelisk =
while
the "Dessoug" was on a marine railway was entirely practicable an=
d as
easily accomplished as if the steamer were in a dock. But getting the obeli=
sk
afloat with moderate expense after it had been disembarked, so as to remove=
it
to the foot of
Before communicating my p=
lans to
any one, I visited incognito all the marine railways on the shores of New Y=
ork
Bay, and fixed on a new one at
40 Removal of the
illustration and advertis=
ement in
the Daily Graphic had attracted=
my
attention to it. The proprietor had no knowledge of my plans until the term=
s of
an agreement had been entered into for the occupation of his slip. Had he t=
hen
changed his mind I had two other marine railways in view, the proprietors of
which were ready to accept my offer. Every thing was arranged satisfactoril=
y.
The "Dessoug's" bow was hauled out of water on August 21st, at
Lawler's Marine Railway, on the east
While this was in progres= s a disembarking stage on piles had been prepared adjacent to the marine railwa= y to receive the obelisk. Plate xix illustrates the plan and section of the disembarking stage, and shows the relative positions of the steamer's bow (= A), the marine railway (B), and the disembarking stage and= its approach (C). Two rows of piles= were driven from a point close to the railway right under the aperture in the steamer's bow, to a distance of seventy feet, and at an angle with the line= of the railway equal to that at which the obelisk had to leave the steamer's h= old. Capping and cross-beams were placed on these piles, to form the approach to= the disembarking stage. The latter comprised three parallel rows of piles, twen= ty feet apart. The centre row had double the number of piles in the outside ro= ws. Over each pile of the outside rows and every alternate one of the middle row heavy cross-timbers were placed; and on these, longitudinal pieces were lai= d to form the bed for the channel iron tracks, prolonged into the steamer's hold. This arrangement of the cross-timbers was due to the impossibility of purchasing suitable timber long enough to extend across the whole width of = the staging. The spaces between the rows could not be reduced in width, as suit= able pontoons of less than twenty feet beam could not be obtained. The staging a= nd approach were given the same incline as the platform in the steamer's hold,= which was the same as that of the marine railway.
The obelisk having been s=
lued
inside of the steamer, in identically the same manner as it had been slued =
in
The report that the obeli=
sk was
to be disembarked brought down to
REMOVAL FRO=
M STATEN
ISLAND TO
On September 13th the pon= toons, that had been prepared for the operation of lifting the obelisk from the staging, were placed under the cross-timbers and between the rows of piling= at low tide. Water was let into them to prevent their rising with the flood ti= de. On the following day they were pumped out. As the tide rose they naturally = rose with it and lifted the obelisk. About two hours before high-water the cross-timbers were clear of the capping, and the obelisk was once more aflo= at. Owing to lack of space the positions of the pontoons had not been properly adjusted. It was found that they did not float on even keels. To effect this adjustment they were hauled fifteen feet toward the shore; and water was admitted to them while in this position, so as to land the cross-timbers sustaining the obelisk on the capping this distance from their original positions. This operation consumed the short interval of high-water, and nothing more was attempted until the 16th. The wind on the 15th was such as= to cause a considerable sea in the bay, in which it would have been imprudent = to float the obelisk on the pontoons. The delay was utilized in removing the a= pproach to
ARTOTYPE. THE OBELISK CROSSING THE
Copyright, 1881, by HARROUN & BIERSTADT,
PLATE XXII
Removal of the
the disembarking stage, a= nd clearing a passage for the caissons to be hauled out of the slip directly astern, instead of ahead first and then astern as had been intended.
In the forenoon of Septem= ber 16th, every thing being ready and the weather favorable, the pontoons were pumped= out at low-water and adjusted to their proper position under the obelisk. The rising tide caused them to gradually raise the cross-timbers clear of the capping on the piles until the weight of the obelisk had been transferred f= rom the stage. At high-water, 4 P.M., they were hauled out of the slip into the bay, bearing the obelisk on their decks (see Plate xxi). The next half hour= was spent in lashing them together by means of chains passed through the wells = in each and under their bottoms, as shown in Plate xxi, cross-section through = obelisk and pontoons. The side elevation of obelisk and pontoons on this plate shows the pumps that had been placed to free the pontoons of water, and the metho= d of securing the obelisk by shores from the recesses of its hieroglyphs to the decks of the pontoons.
A landing-stage had been =
prepared
for the obelisk at the foot of
The time of high-water at=
the
foot of
CROSSING TH=
E
The Hudson River Railway =
tracks
skirt the river bank at the point where the obelisk was landed; passenger
trains pass at very frequent intervals, the longest time between trains bei=
ng
an hour and a half about noon. To have blocked the road at this point for m=
ore
than two or three hours would have involved serious loss and much serious
inconvenience to travellers. Preparations for transferring the obelisk from=
the
landing-stage across the track to the roadway of
42 Removal of the
facilitate and hasten the
crossing was neglected. Orders had been given by the railway officials to s=
top all
trains at 11 A.M. Immediately after the passage of the last train that was
allowed by, the temporary bridge was thrown across the track; in one hour a=
nd
twenty minutes subsequently the obelisk was resting on the roadway of
THE LAND TR= ANSPORT.
The landing-stage had nec=
essarily
been built at an angle with the direction of
The apparatus used for mo= ving the obelisk across the railway, and invariably up to the time it reached the roadway of Ninety-sixth Street, is illustrated on the accompanying drawing, which is a section through it, showing the cross-timbers (A) that were placed on the ground to distribute the weight over= a large area, the track timbers (B) on which the lower iron channel tracks (C) were placed and adjusted, the cannon-balls (D) and the upper iron channels (E)= on which the obelisk rested. The great advantage of substituting iron channels= and cannon-balls for the ordinary wheels, axles, and tracks, was in diminishing= the friction to a minimum and increasing the resistance of the rollers to a maximum. There was, however, one difficulty experienced with this method th= at could not be overcome at moderate cost. The bottom of iron channels of ordinary dimensions was found to be insufficiently thick to resist the pressure, and= the iron channels were literally split into two angle irons by the cannon-balls= . To remedy this defect three-quarter-inch flat iron plates were riveted to the bottom of the iron channels, but even this was found to be insufficient. Ev= ery effort was made to procure iron channels of the required size with thicker bottoms, but none could be found nor could any be made unless machinery was made expressly to roll them. This was out of the question.
It became necessary, ther=
efore,
to change the method of moving the obelisk. Nothing offered so many advanta=
ges
as the ordinary cradle, rollers and track of a marine railway, which were
substituted for the iron channels and cannon-balls. The idea first suggested
itself to me in
The system in use on mari= ne railways and adopted for the land transport of the obelisk is illustrated on Plate xxiv. It comprised a cradle (= G) a ways (W) and rollers (R). The cradle is
PLATE XXIII
ROUTE OF THE OBELISK.
Removal of the
formed of two parallel be= ams, long enough to contain the obelisk and engine, about eighty feet, held toge= ther with through bolts, (I) and held apart by wooden struts, not shown on the drawing. Suitable fastenings were secured to the forward end of the cradle to hook or shackle the movable purchase block on. The lower faces of the cradle beams and upper faces of t= he ways beams were grooved through the middle and shod on each side of the gro= ove with flat irons (H). The ways b= eams were kept independent of each other, to facilitate shifting them along the route after the obelisk had passed over them. The rollers were grouped in "boxes" of the form shown on the accompanying figure. The side pi= eces (P) were two-inch plank, twelve inches deep and six feet long, held together by wooden struts (S) having shoulders on the inside = and keys through the ends. Iron thimbles (T) were let into the plank, to reduce the friction of the ends of the rollers = (R). These rollers were cast with a flange around the middle, that fitted into the grooves of the cradle and wa= ys beams and acted as a guide. The motive power of an ordinary marine railway = is stationary. That of the obelisk railway was a pile-driver engine fastened to the forward end of the cradle and moving with it and, therefore, with the obelisk. It is evident that the rollers would travel over half the distance advanced by the obelisk and cradle, and that the ways were stationary. To h= ave laid continuous ways from the river to the park would have been a useless expense. Six double lengths of ways beams and one and a half double lengths= of roller boxes were provided. Gangs of men were employed grading the track ah= ead of the obelisk by placing cross-timbers and crib-work for the ways beams to= lie on, others moving the timbers and other material ahead for the grading, oth= ers sinking anchors for the stationary purchase block to be shackled to, and pi= cked men were employed placing the ways beams and adjusting them to the exact gr= ade on which the next advance of the obelisk was to be made.
The preparations for the =
first
advance lasted until September 30th. Rainy weather, difficulty in finding
suitable men, and other causes delayed the work, and the obelisk did not re=
ach
the
A change of grade and tur=
n of
ninety degrees were the next things to be accomplished after reaching the <=
st1:Street
w:st=3D"on">
Instead of lowering the w= ays on blocking they were lowered on large timbers placed diagonally across the st= reet so as to form a plane on which the obelisk and its railway could be slued. Strips of half inch iron were placed between the ways timbers and diagonal timbers, to reduce friction. Powerful purchases operating in opposite directions were applied to the ends of the obelisk and its
44 Removal of the
railway, and the whole sl= ued around by November 3d, after six days and nights of tedious and unsatisfact= ory work.
It was evident that a more
expeditious method of making the remaining eleven turns and part turns
necessary in order to reach the site must be designed. The
The apparatus comprises t= wo circles of iron channels, with cannon-balls between, and a hundred-ton hydraulic pump under the large end of the obelisk as a pivot, and two secti= ons of iron channels bent to arcs of different radii under the middle and the s= mall end. The upper channels of the two latter were long enough to project a lit= tle beyond the ways beams; the lower ones covered an angle of ninety degrees. A purchase was applied to the small end of the obelisk, and the power necessa= ry to effect the turn was equivalent to that required for lifting only two ton= s. The end of the railway bearing the engine was allowed to slide on a beam sh= od with iron.
From the intersection of =
The turn southward down <=
st1:Street
w:st=3D"on">
The trestle extended a di=
stance
of eight hundred and ninety feet from the roadway of
THE LAND TRANSPORTATION
SECTION THROUGH A-B
TURNING APPARATUS
THE TRESTLE IN
Plate XXIV
Removal of the
forty-eight feet. The siz= es of the timber for verticals, cross-pieces, and stringer-pieces varied from twe= lve to sixteen inches square, according to the height and other circumstances. = It was commenced about October 1st, and completed just as the obelisk reached the lower end during the last week in December. Several sections of the "Dessoug's" bower cable were shackled together and extended along= the entire length of the trestle; one end was secured to a large steel pin that= had been let into a hole drilled in the rock a short distance west of the site. This served as a pennant for the pulling purchase, the stationary block of which was shackled into the links of the cable, and shifted farther along w= hen the obelisk cradle had been pulled up to it.
A heavy fall of snow on D= ecember 28th, followed by intense cold, delayed the operation of hauling the obelis= k up the trestle several days, and it did not reach its destination until Januar= y 5, 1881. On that day the centre of gravity was placed directly over the axis of the pedestal and foundation, and its long and tedious land journey was at an end. It had travelled 10,906 feet in 112 days, or at the rate of about ninety-seven feet a day.
SUSPENDING = THE OBELISK IN THE TURNING STRUCTURE.
The cradle and engine were released by raising and suspending the obelisk on hydraulic pumps in the ma= nner illustrated on Plate xxiv, lower figure. Double bents had been placed in the trestle, on each side of the turning structure, for the hydraulic pumps to stand on that were to raise the ends of the obelisk, and extra single bents were placed on the pedestal for other pumps to stand on to aid in lifting a= nd supporting it. The aggregate lifting power of the seven hydraulic pumps used for this operation was four hundred and sixty tons, about double the weight= of the obelisk. The apparatus used for applying two of the pumps to the large = end was an iron yoke, shown on the lower figure in Plate xxiv, consisting of two wrought-iron beams, eight inches wide, six inches deep, and nine feet long, placed underneath and projecting on each side of the obelisk far enough to allow of two steel bolts, each three inches in diameter, to pass through the ends of each beam. The upper ends of the bolts passed through iron plates t= wo feet long, six inches thick, and eight inches wide. The pistons of the pumps acted against the lower sides of these plates, which were adjustable to the requisite height by means of nuts screwed on both ends of the bolts.
Every thing having been c=
leared
away between the lower side of the obelisk and the stringer-pieces of the
trestle, the trunnions were hoisted by a pair of shears on one side and a b=
oon
derrick on the other, and carefully adjusted to the centre of gravity of the
obelisk. Plate xxviii, enlarged section through the centre of gravity,
illustrates the method of clasping the obelisk in the trunnion plates. Stri=
ps
of very soft wood were placed against the stone to prevent injury by the ir=
on;
the plates P were then slid into
position, between the lips E an=
d the
wood; the bolts H were rove thr=
ough
the lugs in the trunnion plates, and nuts screwed over the threads in both =
ends
as tight as possible. The truss T,
the same as that used in
The ancient Egyptians had
invariably placed the obelisks they erected directly on the pedestals. The Romans had invariab=
ly
mounted those they removed on metal supports, leaving a space between the
obelisk and pedestal. My desire was to give the obelisk the greatest possib=
le
stability, while restoring it and its accessories as nearly as possible to =
the
exact conditions that existed in
46 Removal of the
the pedestal, and place t= he metal supports under the corners. The bottom was imperfect from injuries received before I took charge of it, and not over two thirds of its area would come = in contact with the pedestal. To give it a bearing surface equal to that which= it would have if the corners had not been broken off, flanges had been cast on= the bottoms of the crabs nearly equal to the difference of the area of the bott= om of the obelisk as it is and as it was originally. Recesses R, Plate xxviii, end view of base, were cut into the rounded pa= rt of the bottom for the upper bearing on the crabs. These had been reproduced from plaster casts of the originals, perfected by Mr. Theodore Baur, sculpt= or, with great skill and feeling. The new crabs were cast at my expense in the Brooklyn Navy Yard, Commodore G. H. Cooper, U.S.N., Commandant, by permissi= on of the Honorable Nathan Goff, Secretary of the Navy, under the immediate and careful supervision of Chief Engineer Charles H. Loring. Artistic moulders could not be found to complete this work. It was done mainly by the ordinary brass-moulders of the Navy Yard, to whose skill the results bear ample testimony. The metal is a bronze as nearly as possible the same as that of = the crabs cast by the Romans nineteen centuries ago. The average weight of the = new crabs is nine hundred and twenty-two pounds each.
The decision to place the=
bottom
of the obelisk directly in contact with the pedestal necessarily involved a
change of plan from the reverse method of raising it in
The clamps were hoisted a= nd placed in position on January 18th. The bolts (I) passing through the ends were provided with threads over whi= ch nuts were screwed to bind them tightly against the stone. It is evident that the metal that fitted into the recesses of the hieroglyphs and around the c= orners of the obelisk would prevent the clamps from sliding toward the trunnions w= hen the tie-rods had been placed in position and tightened. For the same reason= the obelisk could not slip downward after it had been turned to a vertical position, until the tie-rods (C= ) had been lengthened by revolving the turn-buckles (K).
The work of demolishing t= he trestle had been proceeding rapidly, and by January 20th all the bents, except the double one, shown on Plate xxvii, under the forward end of the obelisk, had been removed.
The composition clamps ha=
d given
the large end of the obelisk preponderance enough to overcome the friction =
of
the trunnions in the pillow-blocks while the obelisk was horizontal. Tackles
were led from both ends to suitable places to insure perfect control; and by
the forenoon of January 20th the obelisk was ready to be placed vertically =
on its
pedestal. Noon of January 22d had previously been fixed on for the operatio=
n.
To thoroughly test every thing and be reassured that there would be no
unforeseen difficulty, an experimental turn was made at 11 o'clock P.M. of =
the
20th. The obelisk was then replaced in a horizontal position, and remained
suspended on the turning structure through the violent gale of January 21st,
that left its mark on so many things in and around
RE-ERECTING= THE OBELISK.
NOON JANUAR= Y 22, 1881.
Long before the hour fixe= d on for turning the obelisk, spectators had occupied every available space in the p= ark and its vicinity from which a good view could be obtained. In spite of the piercing cold wind and thick bed of snow that lay on the ground, ladies for= med at least half of the
IRON CHANNELS AND MARINE RAILWAY
Removal of the
ten thousand persons esti=
mated as
the number who witnessed the operation. A cordon of park-keepers encircled =
the
immediate vicinity of the site, and with difficulty kept the crowd from
encroaching within the space reserved for workmen. A platform had been erec=
ted
on the north side of this space for the accommodation of distinguished pers=
ons
and officials. A battalion of sailors and marines from the Navy Yard, Brook=
lyn,
under the command of Lieutenant-Commander W.H. Whiting, U.S. Navy, and
A few minutes before noon= the Hon. Wm. M. Evarts, Secretary of State, the Honorable Nathan Goff, Secretar= y of the Navy, and Mr. William Henry Hurlbert, Editor of the New York World, drove up to the foot of Graywacke Knoll, dismounted, and took positions reserved for them on the platform. The men stationed at the fall of the down-haul tackle from the base, and those stationed at the fall of the lowering tackle from the top of the obelisk, h= ad been previously instructed to haul down and slack away, respectively, when I held my hand up, and as long as it was held up, and to stop as soon as I lowered my hand. After a moment's conversation with Mr. Evarts the signal w= as given, and the obelisk slowly turned, the spectators preserving a silence t= hat was almost unnatural. When the obelisk had changed from the horizontal to an angle of about forty-five degrees, I gave the signal to hold it in that position while Mr. Edward Bierstadt made a photograph for which he had made preparations. This seemed to break the spell that bound the spectators in silence, and when the signal was given to continue the turning there arose a loud cheer which was prolonged until the shaft stood erect. It is something= to have witnessed the manipulation of a mass weighing nearly two hundred and twenty tons changing its position majestically, yet as easily and steadily = as if it were without weight. It was to me an inexpressible relief to feel tha= t my work was complete, and that no accident or incident had happened that would make my countrymen regret that I had been intrusted with the work of removi= ng and re-erecting in their metropolis one of the most famous monuments of the= Old World and the most ancient and interesting relic of the past on the American Continent. Only five minutes elapsed from the first signal to the time the obelisk was vertical. As it reached this position the Marine Band played the national airs while the battalion presented arms. Congratulations followed,= and the spectators very soon dispersed.
After the grounds had been
cleared the hydraulic pumps (A,=
Plate
xxviii) were placed in position under the clamps (B) on each corner of the pedestal. The obelisk was once more
supended on them, the bolts of the trunnions were slackened, the turn-buckl=
es
of the tie-rods revolved, and the obelisk lowered by the pumps and turn-buc=
kles
until it rested on the pedestal. Adjusting it so as to have the axis corres=
pond
with that of the shaft, heating the surfaces that were to come in contact s=
o as
to fit them for a thin layer of cement, and spreading this cement uniformly=
in
the severe cold that prevailed during that afternoon, delayed the work until
eight o'clock in the evening, at which hour the obelisk was finally landed =
on
the pedestal and released from the turning structure. Fifteen months had
elapsed from the day the work of removal began in
48 Removal of the
three hundred and eighty = miles by water, and eleven thousand five hundred and twenty feet by land; had been lowered thirty-nine feet, and lifted two hundred and thirty feet.
Removing the machinery,
demolishing the foundation walls and workshops, and clearing away the debris
from Graywacke Knoll, were all accomplished within ten days after the obeli=
sk
was re-erected. Placing and securing the crabs in position was a tedious
process, owing to continued freezing weather, and occupied us ten days long=
er.
To give the upper part of the metal a uniform bearing, molten lead was pour=
ed
into the vacant spaces and caulked in around the edges. To render their rem=
oval
impossible without destroying the pedestal, molten lead was poured into the
mortices around the dowels projecting downward from the lower side of the
flanges, through holes bored in them for the purpose. The crabs are not orn=
aments
only; they serve to give the bottom of the obelisk a bearing surface on the
pedestal nearly equal to the area of its base if the corners had not been
broken off. To pull the obelisk over without first raising it clear of the
pedestal would require a force applied to its centre of gravity equivalent =
to
that required for lifting seventy-eight tons. The maximum pressure that cou=
ld
be exerted by wind blowing with the force of a hurricane on the obelisk wou=
ld
be equivalent to that required to lift fifteen tons. This pressure would be
exerted uniformly over the whole of one face or its equivalent The factor of
stability is therefore very great. It would require an exceptionally severe
earthquake, one that would leave very few buildings in
THE PRESENT= ATION CEREMONIES.
The ceremony of formally
presenting the obelisk to
The following detailed ac= count of the ceremony and incidents connected therewith is reproduced from the New York World of February 23d. It= would be impossible for me to make a better record of the facts. It would be embarrassing for me to relate such as have a personal bearing, and it seems= as if the record would be incomplete without them.
The tide=
in the
direction of
At 2.10 = o'clock, a platoon of park policemen having meantime been pressed into service, the doors leading to the museum were opened and the holders of tickets were admitted. It was the crush of a favorite opera night ten times intensified. Presently, however, as the hopelessness of obtaining an entrance began to d= awn upon the unticketed, the ways broadened and the invited company was ushered into the hall. At the east end of the main floor a platform capable of seat= ing sixty or seventy persons had been erected. Facing this platform were
ARTOTYPE.
COPYRIGHT, 1880, BY
TRANSPORTING THE OBELISK
Plate XXV
Removal of the
a number of chairs reserv=
ed for
the holders of special tickets. The intervening space between the reserved =
rows
and the four walls of the building was quickly filled. It was a thoroughly
amiable throng, however, which had taken possession of the building, and
understanding that accommodations were of necessity limited, contented itse=
lf
in good-humor. The scene through any one of the great windows in the front =
of
the building would at this moment have done good to the gracious heart of h=
is
generous Highness the ex-Khedive Ismaïl. Clear cut against a cloudless=
sky
rose the graceful lines of the monolith. Thousands of people, made very sma=
ll
by contrast with the towering shaft, crowded around its base and pressed one
another on the sloping hill. Closer at hand, between the throng of devotees=
at
the base of the monument and the
At a lit= tle after half past 2 P.M. Mr. Evarts, leaning upon the arm of Mr. John Taylor Johnston, ascended the platform. His appearance was the signal for an outbu= rst of applause, which had not ceased when all the gentlemen who followed him h= ad found seats. Immediately behind Secretary Evarts and Mr. Johnston were Chancellor Howard Crosby and Chief-Justice Daly, the former wearing the bla= ck silk faced with violet velvet robe of his office. The platform soon became fully occupied. His Honor, W.R. Grace, the Mayor, who was to receive the gi= ft, was seated next to Secretary Evarts, who was to present it.
Mr. John=
Taylor
Johnston, the President of the museum, presided. Mr. Evarts was given a sea=
t at
his right. President Barnard, with Lieutenant-Commander Gorringe at his sid=
e,
sat on Mr. Johnston's left. Dr. Crosby, at the request of Mr.
"Al= mighty God, our Heavenly Father, Who hast given to us a goodly heritage in this la= nd of liberty and peace, and hast afforded us opportunity and means for growth= in wisdom and knowledge, we desire to lift up our hearts to Thee with humble a= nd grateful acknowledgment of Thy mercies and to ask for Thy continued favor. = We thank Thee for the prosperity of our beloved city, for its health and thrif= t, for its wealth and enterprise, and for its institutions of charity and education. We thank Thee for the centres of refined culture Thou hast enabl= ed our citizens to establish by which to elevate and enlighten the public mind, and now this day we do give Thee our hearty thanks that Thou hast permitted= the enterprise which connects us with an extreme antiquity to be brought to a successful termination; and we pray Thee, most gracious Lord, that those who have been especially instrumental in forwarding this work may be rewarded by seeing its utility, both as an ornament and a teacher among us, adorning the city, while it contrasts our light and privileges with the darkness and tyr= anny of the older time. We beseech Thee, Almighty God, to accept our petition for Jesus' sake. Amen."
Next the= hymn, written expressly for the occasion by Mr. Richard Watson Gilder, was finely sung by Mr. Thomas' trained choir in the north gallery, which was conducted= by Mr. George F. Bristow and Mr. William G. Dietrich. The hymn, which had been adapted by Mr. Thomas to the music of Luther's hymn, "Ein' Feste Burg," is as follows:
Great Go= d, to Whom since time began
The wor= ld has prayed and striven;
Maker of= stars, and earth, and man -
To Thee= our praise is given!
Here, b= y this ancient Sign
Of Thin= e own Light Divine,
We lift= to Thee our eyes,
Thou Dw= eller of the skies -
Hear us= , O God in heaven!
Older th= an Nilus' mighty flood
Into the mid-sea pouring,
Or than = the sea, Thou God hast stood -
Thou God Whom we're adoring.
Waters and stormy blasts
Haste w= hen Thou bid'st them haste;
Silent,= and hid, and still,
Thou se= ndest good and ill:
Thy way= s are past exploring.
In myria= d forms, by myriad names.
Men see= k to bind and mould Thee;
But Thou= dost melt, like wax in flames,
The cor= ds that would enfold Thee.
Who mad= est life and light,
Bring'st morning after night,
Who all= things did'st create -
No maje= sty, nor state,
Nor wor= d, nor world can hold Thee.
Great Go= d, to Whom since time began
The wor= ld has prayed and striven;
Maker of= stars, and earth, and man -
To Thee= our praise is given!
Of suns= Thou art the Sun,
Eternal= , Holy One:
Who can= us help save Thou?
To Thee= alone, alone we bow -
O hear = us, God in heaven!
50 Removal of the
$$$ An introductory address by Mr. Henry G. Stebbins, the Chairman of the Committe= e of Arrangements, was to have followed the singing of the hymn, but Mr. Stebbins was not able, as will be seen by the following letter, to be present:
"
"A. S. SULLIVAN, Esq= .
"DE=
AR SIR:
I had hoped and expected until to-day to perform the duties assigned to me =
by
the committee in charge of the arrangements in the formal presentation of t=
he
obelisk in
"Yours= , very sincerely,
"H.G. STEBBINS."
Mr. John= Taylor Johnston then introduced Mr. Evarts, who was received with hearty applause,= and who in the following address formally presented the obelisk to the city:
MR. PRESIDENT, LADIES AND
GENTLEMEN: I responded with pleasure to the call of the committee to take s=
uch
part in the installation of the obelisk as they in their judgment thought
suitable. My relation to the occasion and my service before you are natural=
ly
and necessarily mainly official and ceremonial, for I have had no personal
share in the first construction of this obelisk, nor in any of its movements
since; and in the great transaction so creditable to ourselves and our age =
by
which it has been acquired, by which it has been transported, and by which =
it
has been placed on this site, I have had only an official and ceremonial sh=
are.
I think it is something like twelve years ago that one of our distinguished
fellow-citizens, the head of one of the principal journals of the country,
being in the Mediterranean on the occasion of the opening of the Suez Canal,
and being in the company of the Khedive of Egypt, learned from him that the=
re
was no insurmountable obstacle in Egyptian mystery or Egyptian pride against
the obelisk's being sent across the ocean, if only an obelisk could be supp=
osed
capable of making the voyage. This idea, cherished for some years, at last =
began
to put itself in the course of execution. In the first year, I think, of my
administration of the Department of State some preliminary considerations on
the subject were taken between that gentleman and myself; but it was not un=
til
the visit of our excellent and faithful Consul-General in
ARTOTYPE. OBELISK CROSSING THE
Copyright, 1881, by HARROUN & BIERSTADT,
Plate XXVI
Removal of the
Commander Gorringe undert=
akes to
do he will accomplish. Lieutenant-Commander Gorringe reached
"Th=
is is
not the first obelisk that has left its home in
52 Removal of the
adventurers of the sea, p=
icking
up the abandoned obelisk, towed it in and afterward libelled it in the
"Our
obelisk is here. It is here - and now, Mr. Mayor, I have the honor to trans=
fer
to the keeping of the city of
"Tu= rning to modern obelisks we see what has happened within the brief time in which one= of them for
ARTOTYPE. TURNING THE OBELISK.
PLATE XXVII
Removal of the
half a century has stood =
in the
Place de la Concorde. In this fifty years it has seen the monarchy followed=
by
the empire, and that empire yield to the republic. But observe how little t=
hose
forms of government - how little those great men of the earth - are in the
action of modern civilization. How has
At the conclusion of Mr. Evarts' address. Mayor Grace, who was seated just behind President Barnard, arose to respond on behalf of the city, and, bowing to M= r. Evarts and the ladies upon the platform, said:
"SI=
R: On
behalf of the city of
Mr. A. S. Sullivan then rose to present the medals struck in commemoration of the occasion. "On behalf of the American Numismatic and Archaeological Soc= iety of New York," he said, "I have now to fulfil a commission without which our proceedings would almost fail to express in rounded proportions t= he significance, the utility, and the beauty of these stately ceremonies. Yond= er cuts the Western sky a memorial stone which has hitherto been a beacon unde= r an Eastern sky. While, as I speak, its shadow, from the sinking sun, moves tow= ard us, it seems to people this museum, from the dim past of the Orient, with w= eird myths and mysteries and splendid legends. That monolith was an emblem of De= ity. The kings and priests who set it up have been mummies for thirty centuries,= and their sun-worship is giving place to the adoration of the 'Lux Benigna et Divina' of the
54 Removal of the
true revelation. Their mo=
nument
has been moved to the new continent to be an ever-speaking witness to the
continuity and unity of human thought. It is the fittest of all possible
sentinels at the portal of our future great archaeological temple. An
appreciative token of the liberal financial donor, Mr. William H. Vanderbil=
t,
and of the skilful and indefatigable engineer, Lieutenant-Commander H. H. G=
orringe,
U.S.N., to whose mediary agency we owe this souvenir of Egyptian methods, h=
as
been stamped upon medals to commemorate this occasion medalically,
artistically, and historically. The first impressions from the die in silve=
r,
in the name of the distinguished society already named, and in view of this
assembly, I now deliver to Mr. Vanderbilt and to Lieutenant-Commander Gorri=
nge,
whose great services to the cause of art and historic enlightenment are her=
eby
recognized by all the educational circles of
As he sp= oke Mr. Sullivan removed from its paper folds a long flat box of handsome workmansh= ip, which he handed unopened to Commander Gorringe amid the applause of the audience. Commander Gorringe, hearing cries of his name from all parts of t= he hall, signified by a gesture to Mr. Johnston his disinclination to speak. M= r. Sullivan, saying that the absence of Mr. W. H. Vanderbilt was deeply regret= ted by him and, he had no doubt, by all present, also handed a box, similar to = the one presented to Commander Gorringe, to a gentleman who took charge of it f= or Mr. Vanderbilt. The medals contained in these boxes were similar in charact= er to those which were immediately afterward presented to the boys from the pu= blic schools, wrought only in more precious metal. Mr. Sullivan then addressing = the hundred boys, who had risen to their feet and whose bright faces were turned attentively toward him, continued:
"Bu=
t there
remains the closing and not the least important feature in the design of th=
is
celebration. I turn to the gallery above us and I see one hundred faces of =
as
many bright boys of
As the c= rowded condition of the building rendered it impracticable for the boys to come do= wn to the platform to receive their medals Mr. Sullivan handed them over to the care of a teacher appointed by President Walker, of the Board of Education,= to receive and distribute them. Each medal was encased in heavy paper made into the shape of a little book, which books contained upon their outside covers= a copy of the inscription on the pyramidion of the obelisk and the seal of the American Numismatic and Archaeological Society in the name of which the med= als were presented, together with the following inscription: "Presented to= - on behalf of the American Numismatic and Archaeological Society of the City of= New York, by Robert Hewitt, Jr." The inner covers of the books contained t= he following memoranda:
"Th=
e object
of this medal is to commemorate the erection of the Egyptian obelisk in the=
"An
aphorism borrowed from the poet Publius Syrus has been placed upon it as
conveying this idea. The legend is, 'Discipulus
est priori posterior dies,' which may be freely translated, 'Let the fu=
ture
profit by the lessons of the past.' In the field the obelisk is seen a litt=
le
toward the right; in the background the sun is represented rising over the =
sea,
being an allegory recalling the ancient association of the obelisk with the
worship of the sun, and at the same time also representing a part of the ar=
ms
of the State of
An inner=
border,
ornamented with stars, representing the States of the Union, separates some=
what
the legend from the subject, and the ground of the outer circle, on which t=
he
motto is placed, is filled in with the conventional lotos, cut in low relief
under the lettering, appropriately suggesting a souvenir of
ARTOTYPE. COPYRIGHT, BY H. H. GORRINGE, 1882. E=
.
TURNING THE OBELISK.
Plate XXVIIa
Removal of the
The reve= rse side of the medal bears the following inscription:
PRESENTED TO THE
UNITED STATES
BY
ISMAÏL, KHEDIVE OF
1881.
QUARRIED A T SYENE
AND ERECTED AT
THOTHMES III.
RE-ERECTED A T
UNDER AUGUSTUS.
REMOVED TO
THROUGH THE LIBERALITY OF
W. H. VANDERBILT,
BY THE SKILL OF
LIEUT.-COM. H. H. GORRINGE, U.S.N.
The bron= ze crabs placed at each corner of the obelisk are the substitutes of the original on= es placed there by the Romans; they bear the following legends, which it seems appropriate to reproduce here as matters of historical record:
First c= rab, first claw:
(Outside.) &= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; (Inside.)
L. H KAIG
BAPBAPOG ANE1HKE &nbs=
p; &=
nbsp; &nbs=
p; &=
nbsp; AVGVSTI
CAESARIS
APXITEKTON OKNT0G &=
nbsp; &nbs=
p; &=
nbsp; &nbs=
p; BARBARVS
PRAEF
AONTIOK &=
nbsp; &nbs=
p; &=
nbsp; &nbs=
p; &=
nbsp; &nbs=
p; AEGYPTI
POSVIT
ARCHITECTANTE PONTIO
(Reproduced from the original.)
Second = claw (cartouch of Thothmes III):
Quarried=
at
Second = crab, first claw:
Removed =
to
Second = claw:
Removed =
to the
Third c= rab, first claw:
Presente=
d to the
Second claw:
Rutherfo=
rd
Burchard Hayes, President; William Maxwell Evarts, Secretary of State of th=
e
Fourth = crab, first claw:
The cost=
of
removing from
Second = claw:
Lieutena= nt-Commander Henry H. Gorringe, United States Navy, designed the plans for and superinte= nded the removal and re-erection.
The sing= ing of "Old Hundred" followed the presentation of medals and terminated = the ceremonies.
The following are the nam= es of the medal recipients:
William = H. Vanderbilt.
Lieutena=
nt-Commander
Henry H.
Matthew = Francis Farrell, Thomas G. Killeen, Clifford Bishop, Clarence G. Christie, George E. Clark, Eli Schreyer, George Cornell, Edward A. Bruen, Richard Schumacher, William Mitchell, John E. Timmons, Jesse Rosenthal, Josiah Ramsey Wray, Wil= liam Klottman, Max Joseph Zahed, Adam Kellerman, Samuel J. Koplik, Herman O. Boh= len, Charles Keller, Saly Frankenberg, Frank Pokarny, Diederich F. B. Winter, Fl= oyd S. Neely, Charles Geigerman, Julius Charles Bernheim, John McKie, William A. Painter, Hugo Reichart, Charles Strodl, Frederick Biermann, Julius W. M&uum= l;ller, Gabriel Ettinger, Herman Kaufman, Alexander Donald, Henry L. C. Wenk, Julius Reinecke, Edward P. Shields, Andrew Wieland, Herbert Joseph Carr, Robert J. Dyatt, Peter C. Brady, George H. Huneke, Samuel S. M. Pettit, Charles Knapp, William Arthur Gage, George Philip Kohlman, Michael Stern, Charles H. Overb= eck, Henry A. Sherman, Theodore H. Banks, Frank B. Poor, Julius Grunow, Charles Schalkenstein, William L. Saulpaugh, Horatio N. Flanagan, Samuel Linderman, Charles E. See, John W.
56 Removal of the
Wood, Henry H. Jackson, F= rank Jones, Julius Rogaliner, George G. Isaacs, Joseph P. Hannigan, Eugene O'Bri= en, Reuben Muller, James Cavanagh Brady, Henry Powell, William O. Holly, Daniel Quinn, William A. Dabbie, Frederick H. Gumming, Robert E. Dowling, James Houghton Strong, Eugene Henry Hoeber, Robert Fitch Shedden, Joseph Jacob My= ers, Charles Warren Holton, Herbert C. McKenzie, Charles W. Irving, Cornelius Ca= rbonell, Adam F. Pentz, Martin Strauss, Benjamin Veit, David A. Poller, Thomas Willi= am Timpson, George Urstadt, Charles Ellworth Atwater, Henry M. Walter, William= C. Littlewood, Frank Loomis Eckerson, Arthur J. Lawrence, David Willard Lamber= son, Samuel Whitney Dunscomb, Charles Alexander Clinton, William Russell Bennett, Garret Schenck Roome, William C. Guth, Alfred W. Pinneo, David D. Jacobus, Abbert Finkelstein, Emlin Frecklin.
It remains only to state = the cost, to complete the record of the removal of the obelisk.
The actual net expenditur=
e for
material and labor for the whole operation aggregated eighty-six thousand s=
ix
hundred and three dollars ($86,603). Of this sum fifty-seven thousand eight
hundred and seventy-one dollars ($57,871) were expended on the obelisk, and
twenty-eight thousand seven hundred and thirty-two dollars ($28,732) on the
pedestal, steps, and foundation. The incidental and contingent expenditures=
, in
which are included interest, commissions for use of money, and backsheesh, amounted to fifteen th=
ousand
nine hundred and seventy-three dollars ($15,973) additional. By backsheesh is meant the various am=
ounts
paid to different persons whose good-will was necessary to success, and who=
se
ill-will would have involved delays and lawsuits that would have been
ultimately more costly. The total cost was therefore one hundred and two
thousand five hundred and seventy-six dollars ($102,576). Mr. Vanderbilt had
agreed to pay seventy-five thousand dollars ($75,000) when the obelisk had =
been
re-erected in
As to the steamer "D=
essoug":
The money to purchase, refit, and operate her was advanced by two friends,
under an agreement with me that I was to have absolute control of her until=
the
obelisk had been disembarked. In consideration for this I agreed to pay them
thirteen hundred pounds sterling (£1,300, $6,327) "for freight a=
nd
other charges for transporting, from
After the obelisk had been
disembarked at
A favorable opportunity t=
o sell
the steamer to a foreign company, to ply between New York and West India po=
rts
under foreign register and flag, occurred very soon after the obelisk had b=
een
disembarked. It seemed, however, desirable that the vessel, identified as s=
he
was with the work of removing the obelisk, should have an American register=
. To
accomplish this a special act of Congress was necessary. Soon after Congress
met I visited
JOINT RESOLUTION authoriz= ing the inspection and issue of an American register to the Egyptian steamship &quo= t;Dessoug."
Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, = That the Secretary of the Treasury be, and is hereby, authorized to issue an American register to the steamship
1
See Correspondence, p. 5.
PLATE XVIII.
ENLARGED SECTION THROUGH CENTER OF GRAVITY.
A. HYDRAULIC JACKS
B. COMPOSITION CLAMPS
C. TIE-RODS
D. TIMBER
E. LIPS
F. PLATES
G. MASONRY
H. TRUNNION BOLTS
I. CLAMP BOLTS
K. TURN BUCKLES
L. LUGS
R. RECESSES
T. TRUSS
LOWERING ON THE PEDESTAL<= /p>
SIDE VIEW OF THE SAME
END VIEW OF BASE
PLACING THE OBELISK ON ITS PEDESTAL IN THE
Removal of the
"Dessoug," of E= gyptian nationality but of American ownership; and that the inspection of her machi= nery and hull shall be restricted by the inspectors of steam-vessels simply to t= he inquiry as to their safety for the conveyance of passengers, without refere= nce to the mode or place of their construction; and that a special certificate = of inspection may be issued for said steamship.
I took a copy of this to =
the
Honorable William M. Evarts, Secretary of State, who gave me the following
letter to Senator Matt W. Ransom, of
DEPARTMENT OF= STATE, WASHINGTON, Jan. 5, 1881.
SIR: I h= ave the honor to bring to your attention, and, through your committee, that of the Senate, the eminent propriety of procuring the passage of an act granting an American register to the steamer "Dessoug," purchased by Lieutenant-Commander H. H. Gorringe, of the United States Navy, and employe= d by him in the successful transportation of the obelisk known as "Cleopatr= a's Needle" from Alexandria, Egypt, to New York.
The circumstances under which the obelisk was presented by the government of Eg= ypt to the city of New York are so familiar that I need merely advert to the brilliant service rendered by Lieutenant-Commander Gorringe, involving the assumption of considerable personal risk on his part, and notably so in the purchase and alteration of a sea-going steamer for the transportation of the monolith.
The sent= iment of national pride naturally felt in this successful achievement, coupled with = the international character of Mr. Gorringe's service, makes it fitting that so= me appropriate action should be taken by Congress in the premises, and in no w= ay could this be more appropriately done than by permanently identifying the vessel in question with the country and flag to which she has rendered so signal a service.
I am inf=
ormed
that the prominent merchants and ship-owners of
The acco= mpanying draft of a bill has been prepared as suitable to the desired end, subject to the consideration and approval of your committee, to which I earnestly comm= end it.
I have the = honor to be, sir, your obedient servant,
W. M. EVARTS,= Secretary of State.
The resolution was passed=
by the
Senate on January 28, 1881; by the House on February 1, 1881, and approved =
by
the President on February 8, 1881. Senator Francis Kiernan and Representati=
ves
Anson G. McCook, of
The "Dessoug" w= as sold to the Ocean Steamship Co. of Savannah, for a less sum than that offered for her by the foreign company. This fact is recorded in order to prove that the value of the vessel was not enhanced by granting her an American register, = as was stated in some of the newspapers at the time and has never been denied.
The following was introdu=
ced in
the House of Representatives by the Honorable Abram S. Hewitt, of
JOINT RESOLUTION tenderin=
g the
thanks of the people of the
Whereas, the Khedive of Egypt pres= ented to the United States the ancient Egyptian obelisk known as Cleopatra's Need= le, which has been removed and re-erected in the city of New York, thus placing= in the
58 Removal of the
possession of the people = of the United States one of the most famous monuments of the Old World and one of = the earliest records of civilization; Be it therefore,
Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, that= the thanks of the people of the United States are hereby tendered to His Highne= ss, the Khedive of Egypt, for a gift which only the oldest of nations could make and the youngest can most highly prize.
APPROVED, January 12, 1881.
ARTOTYPE. COPYRIGHT BY E. BIERSTADT, 1881.
THE
CHAPTER II.
THE ARCHAEOLOGY OF THE
SYMBOLISM.<= /p>
IN the ancient Egyptian m= ythology the Supreme Creator was worshipped through His attributes as they appeared = to men's minds. The sun was regarded as more nearly representing Him than any other apprehensible object. The religion of the Egyptians was, therefore, essentially sun-worship. Almost endless was the variety of their deities - endless as the variety of the Creator's attributes. They worshipped these deities much as a great many people of the present time bow to and adore inanimate representations of their spiritual conceptions. The main differen= ce is that the objects adored by the Egyptians as representing the attributes = of the Divine Creator were invariably the creations of nature, - man, and other animals, birds, reptiles, and fishes, while the objects adored by many devo= tees of the present day are invariably the creations of man. On the subject of ancient Egyptian belief the reader is referred to the many works in which i= t is discussed more fully and instructively than the author is capable of discus= sing it. James Bonwick's "Egyptian Belief and Modern Thought" is an admirable résumé of the subject.
An obelisk appears to hav= e been symbolic of the highest attributes of nature, - generation and reproduction, that is to say, re-creation. There is no evidence that it was an object of adoration in itself. Obelisks invariably bore the sculptured representation= s of the gods to whom they were dedicated and of the kings who erected them. Both were worshipped. The assumption that an obelisk was itself an object of adoration seems to be founded on the sculptures on scarabee, representing h= uman figures in the attitude of adoration before an obelisk. On one scarab there= is engraved a sphinx and two men kneeling, one on either side of an obelisk, w= hich bears the prenomen of Thothmes III. Parker states that the kneeling figure "on each side of the obelisk is the king, - Thothmes III, in a royal garment, worshipping the obelisk." If this were correct we would have = the anomaly of the king worshipping himself. The relation of the kings to the g= ods is aptly compared by Bonwick to the attitude of the heads of certain Christ= ian sects toward the founders of Christianity.
Infallibility and supreme=
power
over the world and its inhabitants were claimed by the Pharoahs as they are=
by
the Popes and Patriarchs. The claims of the latter in this regard were
acknowledged for a few centuries, those of the former for many. The Egyptian
kings assumed divine power and prerogatives, personated the Deity, were ado=
red
while living, and worshipped after death. Obelisks seem to have borne the s=
ame
relation to the living kings as did the pyramids to those who had passed fr=
om
life to a state of transition or inaction termed death. Some of the early
sculptures in
59
60 Archaeology of the
Nile and pyramids only on= the west bank, the one has been regarded as allegorical of the rising, as the o= ther is of the setting sun, aptly representing the living and the departed monar= chs.
The sacred character of t= he obelisk is proven by its invariable association with the Egyptian temples. = In this respect the obelisk and sphinx are alike. The temples were not complete without them, yet they formed no part of the temple; they were exterior accessories - a part of the system of Egyptian architecture as it embodies = the profound thought of the Egyptian religion. This association of the obelisk = and sphinx leads naturally to another conclusion as to their significance. The sphinx is believed to have been designed to represent the highest developme= nt of physical and intellectual force, the body of a lion, combining activity, grace, and strength, with the head of a man, the most intellectual of creat= ed beings. The obelisk is believed to represent the most essential and mysteri= ous power of nature, - that of re-production.
In the museum of the Louv=
re, in
The obelisk seems to have= been the special representative of the king and sovereign pontiff in Egyptian sa= cred architecture. On the shaft are engraved his titles, a record of his victori= es, and an assertion of his supreme power over the lives and property of his subjects. On the surmounting pyramidion are representatives of the gods conferring these titles and powers on the king, who is frequently represent= ed as a sphinx. Every thing tends to associate the obelisk with king-worship as its material purpose, and with the power of generation and re-creation as i= ts symbolic meaning.
The obelisk is not exclus=
ively
Egyptian. Essentially the same form is found in
Bononi and others have id=
entified
the idol which Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego declined to worship as an
obelisk. "It was not only a representative of the divinity of the
sovereign himself, but bore idolatrous emblems. To bow to it was an
acknowledgment of the false gods and a recognition of Nebuchadnezzar as a g=
od.
*** Captain Selby found near
Obelisks represent in Egy= ptian sacred architecture exactly the same idea as church towers with surmounting steeples represent in that of to-day. The tower corresponds to the shaft of= the obelisk, the steeple to the pyramidion. The form and proportions are differ= ent because modified by the fancy of man through centuries; but it is a striking fact that if these relics of the distant past are traced through their modifications we return to the obelisk. The position with reference to the temple or church is identical; and while it is customary at the present tim= e to place but one steeple on churches, the two towers are preserved, and stand,= as did obelisks in Egyptian architecture, one on each side of the entrance to = the sanctuary of the temple or church, of which they form an essential part.
The material of which obe=
lisks
were made, red syenite, may have had a symbolic reference to the color of t=
he
sun's rays as seen by the Egyptians through the hazy atmosphere that pervad=
es
the valley of the
FORM.
An obelisk is a monolithic quadrilateral shaft terminating in a pyramidion. The proportions are not fi= xed; they vary even in those erected in one reign. The size and proportions were probably
1
Bonwick, p. 300.
Archaeology of the
determined solely by the =
mass
that had been removed from the quarry. The sides of many are not even of
uniform dimensions. The obelisks of
It is worthy of note that= the shaft of the New York obelisk would come to a point if it was twice as long= as it is; that the height of the pyramidion is equal to the width of the shaft= at the bottom; and that the width of the top of the shaft is two thirds that of the bottom. How far these features may extend to obelisks generally cannot = be determined until accurate dimensions are known.
The sides of the shaft are
inscribed with vertical rows of hieroglyphical characters. The faces of the
pyramidion contain figures and inscriptions. All are in intaglio relievo. Every part of the surface was originally
polished. Some of the obelisks in
Of the three characterist= ic forms of Egyptian monuments - the obelisk, the sphinx, and the pyramid - the firs= t is the only one that has been universally adopted. It is a curious evidence of= the force of habit, and the imperishable influence exerted over the world by ea= rly Egyptian civilization, doctrines, and beliefs, that the obelisk is to-day t= he most common form of sepulchral monument. While the scarab symbolized resurrection itself the obelisk symbolized the power behind resurrection, - that of re-creation, and thus becomes the most appropriate of all forms to = mark the graves of those who believe in a future state.
THE INSCRIP= TIONS.
Plate XXX, the four faces= of the pyramidion, is a reproduction of sq= ueezes made directly from the obelisk. The figures and inscriptions were blackened= on the squeezes, which were then photographed. We have therefore an absolutely accurate copy of the figures and hieroglyphical characters that remain after twenty-five centuries of exposure to atmospheric influences. The vacant
1
See Chapter III.
62 Archaeology of the
spaces in the upper rows = of hieroglyphs in the oblongs under the sphinxes, and between the oblongs and = the seated figures in the two upper squares, indicate where the hieroglyphs have been obliterated.
The Rosetta stone' furnis=
hed a
key to the meaning of certain characters and groups in hieroglyphical writi=
ngs.
This has been made the basis of all translations. While it must be admitted
that there has been an approach to correct rendering in modern languages of
many of the hieroglyphical writings and inscriptions, it is certain that the
grouping of characters and their values in different relative positions are=
not
as yet sufficiently understood to warrant accepting the translations as
accurate. It is also certain that the Egyptian mind had reached a stage of
development in all branches of human knowledge far beyond that indicated by=
the
translations of the inscriptions on the monuments. To accept as accurate th=
e translation
of the inscriptions on the
The meaning of the sculpt=
ures on
the pyramidion of the
The squeezes of the pyram= idion were made by Mr. H. de Morgan, who has kindly furnished me for publication = the following explanation and translation that he has reached after prolonged s= tudy and careful comparison of the sculptures with the figures of identified dei= ties in Egyptian mythology.
In the left hand upper
What remains of the hiero= glyphs in this square has been literally translated by Mr. de Morgan as follows: *= ** giver, Ra-men-Kheper, gracious God, lord of the world, giver of life, belov= ed by Tum, master of the world. The word Ra-men-Kheper is enclosed in an oval = with a line tangent to the lower end, that is known as a cartouch. It is the prenomen of the king, Thothmes III.
On the upper right square= the god is Ra. 6 Enclosed by the oblong under the sphinx are the
1
Discovered in 1799 by Captain Bouchard, an engineer officer of the French a=
rmy.
2
Parker, p. 43.
3
Records of the Past, vol. x, p. 22.
4
The great sphinx at Gizeh was dedicated to Harmachis.
5
Atum was especially the god of
6
Ra, like Atum, was one of the sun-gods of Egyptian mythology. Ra appears to
have chiefly represented the mid-day sun. To describe Ra in all his phases
would be equivalent to writing a treatise on Egyptian gods. It is recorded =
of
Ra that he was "born of Neith, but not engendered"; also, that he
came from the side of his mother. There is a striking similarity between th=
e Ra
of Egyptian mythology and the Son of Christianity. Ra seems to have formed =
the
connecting link between the spiritual and material world. He was almost
universally worshipped throughout
![](3D"Obelisks_Gorringe1882_files/image020.gif")
=
THE FOUR FACES OF THE PYRAMIDION.
Egyptian Obelisk,
Copyright. 1881 by HARROUN & BIERSTADT,
Plate XXX
Archaeology of the
titles and prenomen of th= e king, that have been translated thus: Son of the sun, Ra-men-Kheper, Strong Bull, Horus. One character is wanting. The horizontal and vertical lines under th= ese titles represent the royal standard. The hieroglyphs between the sceptre and oblong of this square are partly obliterated; those that remain mean nothin= g in themselves. The horizontal row on top is also incomplete; what remains indicates that they have essentially the same meaning as the hieroglyphs similarly situated in the left upper square.
In the lower left-hand sq= uare the inscription on top is nearly complete. It has been translated thus: Giver of life, Ra-men-Kheper, gracious god, master of the world, giver of life, Horu= s-Ra, lord of the world, god, lord of heaven. The group of hieroglyphs between the sceptre and oblong signifies that the king makes presents to Ra.
In the lower right-hand s= quare there is apparently nothing wanting. The inscription on top reads: Ra-men-Kheper, king of lower and upper Egypt, master of the world, gracious= god of Heliopolis, king, giver of life, stability, and power, beloved of Atum, = lord of Heliopolis, gracious god, lord of the temple. The inscription between the oblong and seated figure reads: He made presents of libations to Noun, who = has made him giver of life.
It is probable that the
sculptures and hieroglyphs on the four faces of the pyramidion are simply
dedicatory to the two gods, Ra and Atum; to Ra as god of heaven, and Atum as
god of
Plate xxxi, the four side= s of the obelisk, will enable the student of hieroglyphs to seek a more satisfactory translation than the author can furnish. The translation of Chabas is as follows:
|
NORTH SID= E. |
||
|
LEFT. |
CENTRE. |
RIGHT. |
|
The kingly HORUS, Strong Bull, Beloved of the goddess, Ma, the King of Upper and RA-OUSOR-MA-SOTEP-EN-RA, 1 Lord of panegyrics like his father, 2 PTAH TOTANEN, Son of the Sun, RAMESSOU MERIAMEN. Ra has generated him to adorn festively to furnish abundantly the temples of him who
generated him. The lord of the two lands RA-OUSOR-MA-SOTEP-EN-RA, 1 Son of the Sun, Ramessou Meriamen, (invested with life) stability and happiness.<= o:p> |
The kingly Horus lifting up the Hat; (White Crown,) the King of Upper and Golden Hawk, who has struck the kings of all lands approach=
ing
him; after the commandment of his father, RA. Victory over the entire world, and valiance of sword are at the mouth of his =
hands
for the extension of the limits of the Son of the Sun, THOTHMES, Vivifier. |
The kingly HORUS, Strong Bull, Son of TUM, the King of Upper and the Lord of Diadems, who protects Son of the Sun, RAMESSOU MERIAMEN, king, warlike, who has acted with his own hands, in the face of the whole earth, the Lord of the two lands, RA-OUSOR-MA-SOTEP-EN-RA, 1 Son of the Sun, RAMESSOU MERIAMEN, the stable. 3 |
head
of Ra on two of the four faces of the pyramidion should have been so nearly
obliterated, while the head of Atum has been so well preserved. It is barely
possible that the head of Ra may have been gilded, while that of Atum was o=
nly
polished like the rest of the surfaces, and that this gilding may have been=
the
cause of the obliteration.
1
Prenomen of Ramses II.
2
Lord of Festivals.
3
Inscription incomplete.
64 Archaeology of the
|
EAST SIDE= . |
||
|
LEFT. |
CENTRE. |
RIGHT. |
|
The kingly HORUS, The Strong Bull, Son of Kheper-Ra, 1 the King of Upper and RA-OUSOR-MA-SOTEP-EN-RA, Golden Hawk, of abundant years, (very) victorious, Son of the Sun, RAMESSOU MERIAMEN, who issued from the womb, to take the crowns of the sun; whom the sun generated to be (the) sole Lord, =
Lord
of the two lands, RA-OUSOR-MA-SOTEP-EN-RA, Son of the Sun, RAMESSOU MERIAMEN, the splendor of OSIRIS, like the sun. |
The kingly HORUS, Strong Bull, crowned in the Lord of Diadems, whose royalty is expanded, like (that of) the Sun. (Beloved of TUM, Lord of Son of his loins, THOTH created him, THOTHMES.) 2 They created him in the great abode, from the perfection of their limbs, so that he will make an extended royalty for
centuries. The King of Upper and RA-MEN-KHEPER, Beloved of TUM, the great god, and the gods of his circle, giving all life, stability, and happiness like= the sun for ever. |
The kingly HORUS, Strong Bull, Beloved of MA, the King of Upper and RA-OUSOR-MA-SOTEP-EN-RA, (who is) a sun, generator of gods, Possessor of the two lands, Son of the Sun, RAMESSOU MERIAMEN, a noble youth of kindness like Aten 3 blazing from the horizon. Lord of the two lands, RA-OUSOR-MA-SOTEP-EN-RA, Son of the Sun, RAMESSOU MERIAMEN, the splendor of OSIRIS, Vivifier. |
|
SOUTH SID= E. |
||
|
LEFT. |
CENTRE. |
RIGHT. |
|
The kingly HORUS, Strong Bull, Son of the Sun, the King of Upper and RA-OUSOR-MA-SOTEP-EN-RA, Golden Hawk, ................ Son of the Sun, RAMESSOU MERIAMEN 4 ................ |
The kingly HORUS, Strong Bull, crowned in the King of Upper and RA-MEN-KHEPER. 4
... |
The kingly HORUS, Strong Bull, Beloved of Ma, the King of Upper and RA-OUSOR-MA-SOTEP-EN-RA, (who is) a sun, generator of gods, ................ Lord of the two lands RAMESSOU MERIAMEN. 4 . ................ |
|
WEST SIDE= . |
||
|
LEFT. |
CENTRE. |
RIGHT. 6 |
|
The kingly HORUS, Strong Bull, Beloved ... the King of Upper and RA-OUSOR-MA-SOTEP-EN-RA. Lord of panegyries like his father Ptah, Lord of … RAMESSOU MERIAMEN. 5 |
The kingly HORUS, Strong Bull, crowned in the King of Upper and RA-MEN-KHEPER. 4 |
|
1
The Creator.
2
"This cartouch is very curious and interesting, as the phrase is
calculated to form the name of Thothmes with the last word of each
column."
3
The solar disk.
4
Remainder illegible or not translated.
5
Remainder illegible or not translated.
6
Illegible.
ARTOTYPE. THE FOUR SIDES OF THE OBELISK. BIERST=
ADT.
N.Y.
Plate XXXI
Archaeology of the
$$$ The following is the
translation of Brugsch Bey, first published in the New York Herald of Febru=
ary
22, 1880. Dr. Brugsch thus describes the sculptures on the pyramidion: On t=
he
north face, corresponding to the lower left
"T= he Strong Bull,
Who man= ifests himself
King
In the = Thebaïd,
The Son= of the Sun:
Thutmes.
"Over the body may b= e read: -
"T= he Gracious God,
Lord of= the Two Worlds,
King of=
Upper
and
Ra-men-= kheper." .....
On the west face, which
corresponds with the lower right
The sculptures and inscri=
ptions
on the south face, corresponding to the upper left
On the east face, corresp= onding with the upper right square, he states that "The representation and the text inscribed upon the pylon are the same as those on Face A. The Sun-God = is this time called 'Hormakhu' - t= hat is, the Harmaïs or Harmachis of the Greeks.
"The King's titles a= re: -
"T= he Gracious God,
The Lor= d of the Two Worlds:
Ra-men-= kheper.
"The offering to the= god is indicated by the inscription: -
"G= ift of Wine."
|
NORTH SID= E OF SHAFT. |
||
|
TEXT OF T= HE LEFT-HAND LINE. |
TEXT OF T= HE CENTRE LINE. |
TEXT OF T= HE RIGHT-HAND LINK. |
|
Horus: the Strong Bull. Friend of Justice. King of Upper and Lord of the Periods of Thirty ye=
ars. Like his Father Ptah-Tanen [the God of The Son of the Sun: Ramessu Meri=
-amun 3 [that is to say, the Friend of the Go=
d Amon
of The Sun created him. To
Cause Great Rejoicing in the City of On, and to fill with Riches the
Sanctuaries of his Creator. |
[Name of the Royal Standard.] Horus: Magnified and Enlightened=
by
the Crown of [The Official Standard.] The King of Upper and Ra-men-kheper. [The T=
itle of
the Victorious.] The Golden Horus. The Strong of Arm, Who beat the Kings of Foreign Na=
tions |
Horus: the Strong Bull. The Son of Tum. The King of Upper and Ra-user-ma. The Lord of the Diadems of the Vultu=
re and
of the Serpent. Protector of Chastiser of Foreign Nations. The Son of the Sun, Ramessu Meri=
-amun.
The Conqueror, Who with his Own Arms Performed Great Deeds |
1
Thothmes.
2
See Plate xxx.
3
In the Greek lists of Manethos containing the names of the Pharaohs this na=
me Meri-amun is written Miamun.
66 Archaeology of the
|
NORTH SID= E OF SHAFT. - (Continued.) |
||
|
TEXT OF T= HE LEFT-HAND LINK. |
TEXT OF T= HE CENTRE LINE. |
TEXT OF T= HE RIGHT-HAND LINE. |
|
The Lord of the Two Worlds:
Ra-user-ma. The The Son of the Sun: Ramessu Meri=
-amun.
Who gives Life of all Stability =
and
Purity To-day as ever after. |
Who were numbered by hundreds of
thousands, For his Father, the Sun-God Ra,
ordained for him Victories over all Lands. Mighty Power Was concentrated at the points o=
f his
hands To widen the Boundaries of Egypt=
. [The Family Name.] The Son of the Sun Thutmes ..... Who gives Life of all Stability =
and
Purity To-day as ever after. |
In
the face of The Entire World Assembled. The Lord of the Two Worlds:
Ra-user-ma, The The Son of the Sun • Rames=
su
Meri-amun, Who gives Life of all Stability =
and
Purity To-day as ever after. |
|
EAST SIDE= . |
||
|
TEXT OF T= HE LEFT-HAND LINE. |
TEXT OF T= HE CENTRE LINE. |
TEXT OF T= HE RIGHT-HAND LINE. |
|
Horus: the Strong Bull, Son of the Sun-God Kheper [that is, of him who exists]. The King of Upper and Ra-user-ma, The The Golden Horus: Rich in Years; Grand in Victorie=
s. The Son of the Sun: Ramessu Meri=
-amun.
He came out from the Belly, To receive the Crowns from the S=
un-God
Ra, Who created him to be the Sole
Monarch. The Lord of the Two Worlds:
Ra-user-ma, The The Son of the Sun: Ramessu Meri=
-amun.
The Reflected Splendor of The God Tum Like the Sun. |
[Name =
of the
Royal Standard.] Horus:
the Strong Bull, Who manifested himself as King in
Thebaïd. [The C=
rown
Title.] The Lord of the Diadems of the V=
ulture
and of the Serpent. His Kingdom is as lasting as is =
the Sun
in the Heavens. [The
Family Name, enclosed in an elliptical circle and containing a curious
allusion to the meaning of the name Thutmes.] The Creature of the God Tum, Lor=
d of
the City of On, The Son who came out from his Be=
lly,
and whom The God Thut formed. [MES.] They created him in the Grand Ha=
ll [of the After the model of their own bod=
y, Being conscious of the Great Dee=
ds he
was to accomplish: He, whose Kingdom should be of l=
ong
duration. [The Official Title.] The King of Upper and Ra-men-Kheper, Friend of the Great God Tum, and=
of The Circle of his Divinities. He who gives Life of all Stability and Purity=
To-day as ever after. |
Horus: the Strong Bull, Friend of the Sun-God Ra, The King of Upper and Ra-user-ma, The He has taken possession of the T=
wo
Worlds. The Son of the Sun; Ramessu Meri=
-amun,
A handsome and Kind-Hearted Yout=
h; He is as resplendent as is The Solar Orb in the Horizon. The Lord of the Two Worlds;
Ra-user-ma, The The Son of the Sun: Ramessu Meri=
-amun.
The Reflected Splendor of The God Tum Who gives Life. |
Archaeology of the
|
SOUTH SID= E. |
||
|
TEXT OF T= HE LEFT-HAND LINE. |
TEXT OF T= HE CENTRE LINE. |
TEXT OF T= HE RIGHT-HAND LINE. |
|
[So ef=
faced as
to be illegible.] |
[Name =
of the
Royal Standard.] Horus: the Strong Bull, Friend of the Sun-God Ra. [The Official Title.] The King of Upper and Ra-men-kheper ..... ........ ........ |
Horus: the Strong Bull, The Companion and Friend of Just=
ice. The King of Upper and Ra-user-ma: Lord of the Periods of Thirty ye=
ars, Like his Father, the God Ptah; <= o:p> Lord of the White Wall [name of the Citadel of The Son of the Sun: Ramessu Meri=
-amun.
The God: the Divine Being. The Terrestrial Star of the City=
of
the Sun-God Ra, Which is sustained by the deeds =
of The Lord of the Two Worlds:
Ra-user-ma. The Son of the Sun: Ramessu Meri=
-amun,
Who gives Life. |
|
WEST SIDE= . |
||
|
TEXT OF T= HE LEFT-HAND LINE. |
TEXT OF T= HE CENTRE LINE. |
TEXT OF T= HE RIGHT-HAND LINE. |
|
Horus: the Strong Bull, Friend of Justice. The King of Upper and The Son of the Sun; The Creature of the Gods, Who [has taken possession of) th=
e Two
Worlds. The Son of the Sun: Ra-user-ma
Meri-amun; The Friend of the City of the Su=
n; Never before was done what he di=
d for
the City of On. His Memory is forever fixed in t=
he
City of The Lord of the Two Worlds:
Ra-user-ma. The The Son of the Sun [Ramessu Meri-amun] Who gives Life. |
[Name =
of the
Royal Standard.] Horus: the Strong Bull, Who manifested himself as King =
in the
Thebaïd. [Offic=
ial
Title.] The King of Upper and Ra-men-kheper,
Who
caused Great
Rejoicing In the House of the Sun-God Ra =
- [That is Who
created The
Beauty of the Sun Disk; The
Day when for the first time was
made ........ ........ ........ |
Horus: the Strong Bull, The Son of the Sun-God Ra. The King of Upper and Ra-user-ma The
The Golden Horus: Rich in Years; Grand in Victorie=
s. The Son of the Sun: Ramessu Meri=
-amun.
.... ........ ........ The Lord of the Two Worlds Ra-user-ma The The Son of the Sun [Ramessu Meri-amun] ........
Like the Sun. |
"At= the foot of the four faces of the obelisk there is a horizontal line of text wh= ich reads: 'May he live! The gracious god: Ra-user-ma - The chosen one of the s= un - The gracious god - Ramessu Meri-amun.'"
In expla= nation of the above it is well to "remark that all Egyptian kings had five distinct appellations, which were always preceded by five titles." The= se titles are:
1. The Name of the Royal Standard, preced= ed and indicated by the words, "Horus= ," or "Horus, the Sun." =
2. The Official Title, preceded by the wo=
rds,
"The King of Upper and
3. The Crown Title, preceded by the words, "The Lord of the Diadems of the Vulture and of the Serpent Ouraios."
68 Archaeology of the
4. The Family Name, indicated by the expression, "The Son of the Sun."
5. The T= itle of "The Victorious," preceded by the words, "The Golden Horus."
On the n= orth, west, and east faces, near the bottom, is the cartouch of Usorken I, in much smaller characters than the other inscriptions.
Dr. Brug=
sch
expresses the opinion that Ramses II was the father, by adoption, of Moses.=
He
states that of the names of Thothmes III, Ramses II, and Usorken I, inscrib=
ed
on the
HISTORICAL.= 1
The obelisk now standing =
in
Pliny, who seems to give =
names to
the Egyptian kings according to his own fancy, says that these obelisks were
the work of Mesphres. "There are two other obelisks which were in Caes=
ar's
Near the modern
Wilkinson calls
1
Kircher, OEdipus, vol. iii, p. 339. Norden, pl. viii, ix. Descr. de l'&Eacu=
te;gypte,
Antiq., vol. v, pl. 32. 33. Lenormant, Musée, pl. xxix, xxx. Denon, =
pl.
ix. Champollion, Monuments, t. iv, pl. ccccxliv.
2
Parker, p. 43.
3
See Gen. xvi, 7. Shur, which Gesenius thinks to be
4
On (Gen. xli, 45). In Jeremiah xliii, 13, it is called "Beth-shemesh,&=
quot;
i.e., "the abode of the
sun," - a name which the Septuagint here employs as the name of the
temple. (W. Smith, Dict. of the Bible.) The Egyptians called the city Annu,=
i.e., "pointed columns,"=
or
"obelisks." (Brugsch.)
5
Astronomy and all branches of science were studied here. - Wilkinson.
Archaeology of the
has written its praises. =
Hither
came Pythagoras, Plato, and Eudoxus for Egyptian training. It is thought th=
at
from the records preserved in the temple, Manetho collected his history of =
the
ancient Egyptian kings. 1 At t=
he
period of the Ptolemies,
The renowned
Thus, at the great
The sacred animals venera=
ted at
this temple were the white or light-colored bull Mnevis (sacred to Ra, as A=
pis
was sacred to Ptah), and lions of light-colored, lustrous skin, - sacred to=
Ra.
Here, too, was the fabled home of the
There is no record of the=
first
building of this temple, so great is its antiquity. 2 With the single exception of the shrine of Ptah at
An ancient Egyptian manus=
cript
now preserved in the
The existence of the pres=
ent
obelisk of
It was the daughter of a = priest of this temple, - the "Priest of On," Potiphera, i.e., dedicated
1
Long,
2
Cooper (p. 22) says it was "founded" [built] by kings of the first
six dynasties.
3
According to Manetho, the bull Mnevis was first worshipped here in the reig=
n of
Kaiechos, the second king of the ii dynasty. W. Smith, Dict. of the Bible, =
and
Manetho in Wilkinson i, 18.
4
Brugsch, Hist. of
70 Archaeology of the
to Ra, that the Pharaoh, = who according to Rawlinson, was of the xvii dynasty and the last of the Hyksos, gave Joseph to wife. 1
The great conqueror and b=
uilder,
Thothmes III (xviii dynasty), restored or enlarged the ancient temple. An
inscription referred to by Brugsch 2
shows that he surrounded it with a stone enclosure in the forty-seventh yea=
r of
his reign. But, especially, he adorned it with new and splendid obelisks; of
these three now exist, though far removed from their original site, viz.: t=
he
large obelisk at Constantinople, the obelisk of
Around the shrine of the =
sun-god
were erected many other obelisks. =
4
According to Ebers, the greater part of the obelisks removed by the Caesars=
to
Seti I (xix dynasty) was =
also a
builder or restorer of the
A very remarkable model o=
f the
The model is of granite; = it is 44.25 inches long, 34.65 inches wide, and 9.25 inches deep. It shows the do= uble flight of steps ascending to the level of the sanctuary: on either side the= se steps are, first, sockets in which were formerly set models of the great sphinxes guarding the entrance; higher up, on either side, are marked the positions of the statues of the king and of two great obelisks. At the top = of the steps are again, on either side, sockets for two smaller sphinxes. Beyo= nd these are marked the positions of the two great pylons; in front of these pylons were set tall masts or flag-staffs; on the inner sides of the pylons= are seen holes marking the place of the double gate of the sanctuary, beyond wh= ich monarchs and priests alone could pass. Farther on are shown the positions of the great walls enclosing the sanctuary, within which were preserved the morning and the evening barges of the god.
On three sides or edges o=
f the
model are sculptures representing the monarch presenting offerings to the
deity, and inscriptions in finely cut hieroglyphics. The signification of t=
he
separate hieroglyphs has been given by Brugsch, but the arrangement or
collocation of words in the following translation is as given by Hon. W.J.
Shaw, of
1
But Wilkinson (I. 30) says that Joseph arrived in
2
Brugsch, Hist. of
3
Brugsch (i, 404) says that Thothmes III erected obelisks before the great wings of the temple. According to =
an
inscription in the
4
Pliny (Nat. Hist., bk. xxxvi, ch. 14) states that the first obelisk was ere=
cted
by Mesphres, at
![](3D"Obelisks_Gorringe1882_files/image021.gif")
=
ARTOTYPE. ANTIQUE MODEL OF THE
Copyright, 1881, by H. H. GORRINGE,
Plate XXXII
Archaeology of the
At
In the time of Ramses III=
(xix
dynasty) the possessions of the temple were immense. The celebrated Harris
papyrus records the costly presents of this monarch to the shrine, and his =
restorations
at
A remarkable account of a=
royal
visit to this shrine, and showing how far up the
1
Harmachis (?).
2
It is to be hoped that some eminent Egyptologist may be able to furnish a m=
ore
satisfactory translation from the plate.
3
Records of the Past, vol. vi, p. 53.
4
Translation in Brugsch's Hist. of Egypt, vol. i, p. 128; also in Records of=
the
Past, vol. ii, p. 79; and Mariette, Notice des Principaux Monuments, etc., =
p.
295.
5
Rawlinson's
6
Brugsch, i, 128.
7
Cook, Records of the Past, ii, 98, translates this: Wreaths "from the =
8
"The great shrine." Cook.
9
"
72 Archaeology of the
seal; no other of any kin= g's shall any more enter in.' While he stood there they prostrated themselves before his majesty, saying: 'O thou, always increasing in empire, may affliction never come to the divine Horus, the friend of the town of On.'&q= uot;
More than seven centuries=
after
this visit of King Piankhi, the Greek geographer Strabo 1 wrote a description of this temple as a type of all Egyptian
temple buildings (Brugsch). "
The precise history of the
decline of
Resuming the history of t=
he
The inscription on one of=
the
bronze crabs that supported the
1
Visited
2
About 100 feet.
3
Strabo, bk. xvii, ch. i.
L. MOUNIER. fecit 1881. [
ARTOTYPE. COPYRIGHT, BY H. H. GORRINGE, 1882. E=
.
Archaeology of the
This temple was one of th=
e most
imposing structures of ancient
In modern times the
The accompanying plate is=
a
portrait photographed directly from her coins, and finished as any other
portrait would be by an artist, who has endeavored to be faithful to the
original. The four coins reproduced below the portrait were found under the
obelisk in
It has been said that the=
se two
obelisks were used at
Although the present
For the earliest notices =
by
different chroniclers of the two obelisks at
1
Sharpe's Hist. of Egypt, vol. ii, p. 96, together with his explanation of F=
ig.
44, in vol. ii, p. 5.
2
For probable date of its fall see article on the
74 Archaeology of the
of the Book of Marvels st=
ates
that they were cut in the mountain of Tarim, or Iarim, at the west of The Arabian physician
Abd-el-Lateef, writing in 1201 (De Sacy), merely mentions that he saw the t=
wo
obelisks near the sea. From this time a long period elapses without any
especial record of these shafts, until the visit of Petrus Bellonius to The plate of Kircher, pub=
lished
in 1652, shows our obelisk as square and unbroken to the base. Paul Lucas,
visiting Norden, travelling in The authors of the Descri=
ption de
l'Égypte report that the shaft had been excavated to its pedestal by=
M.
Conté, 4 but at the tim=
e of
their own examination it was again buried from sight. Their plate shows the
shaft, with its pedestal, resting upon three steps; no bronze crabs are to =
be
seen, but the obelisk is represented as supported or propped upon its pedes=
tal
by fragments of stone. 1
See description of 2
Travels translated from the Dutch and published at 3
Mr. Feuardent's comment on this is that the Baron saw the remnants of the m=
etal
supports attached to the ( 4
I cannot learn at what date M. Conté excavated the pedestal. I have =
gone
through the 5 vols. (9 vols. in 5) of the text of the Description, etc.,
without finding a word on Archaeology of the Denon, 1 in his Atlas, published 1829, presents us with a very neat an=
d draughtsman-like
delineation, in which the pedestal with its three steps appears to have been
drawn with the fidelity of an eye-witness; unfortunately, however, for our
reliance on his accuracy, the base of the shaft is represented as square,
unbroken and flush with the surface of the pedestal. Lenormant, in his Mus&=
eacute;e,
published in 1841, copies the plate of the Description de l'Égypte, =
and
adds the following: "The obelisk rests upon a block of granite, which =
is 6
[Fr.] ft. 1 in. high, and 8 ft. 10 in. in diameter; this pedestal is itself
supported by three granite steps, which project on every side. The base of =
the
monolith, its corners being broken, and being of an irregularly rounded for=
m,
is sustained upon its pedestal by a sort of mason-work (maçonnerie),
which compensates for its inequalities and maintains the stability of the
shaft. This masonry, of more recent date, was intended to replace the piédouches (bracket-pedesta=
ls) of
bronze which anciently supported the monolith while isolating it from its p=
edestal."
At the time of the remova=
l of
this obelisk to The only satisfactory exp=
lanation
that has been given of the adoption of the form of a crab for the metal
supports on which the Romans mounted the obelisks in In exami=
ning
these interesting fragments of bronze, the discovery of which has resulted =
in
establishing the true history of the obelisk now in Therefor=
e, we
may feel certain that the "crabs," placed by the Romans under the
obelisk, were well chosen to give satisfaction both to the Roman and Egypti=
an
peoples. I am ast=
onished
that - since they were first mentioned by Dickson - no European archaeologi=
st
has attempted to explain why they were placed as found. We know,=
however,
that the "crab" is constantly brought in connection with the wors=
hip
of Apollo in ancient times, and we remember it was principally at the begin=
ning
of the Here is =
a coin
of Croton, struck in the sixth century B.C., on which you will see a "=
crab"
in connection with the "tripod" of Apollo. You will remember also=
the
fable of Hercules killing the hydra, where the "crab" is represen=
ted
as an instrument of the hatred of Apollo against Hercules. The demi-god is =
in
the act of fighting the hydra, when an enormous "crab" bites him =
at
the heel; Hercules kills the "crab," which is placed in heaven by
Juno, and where it becomes in the Zodiac, the sign called "Cancer.&quo=
t;
Many antique monuments represent the relation of the "crab" to the
worship of Apollo, and to come back to our favorite pursuit, 1
Denon died in 1825. 76 Archaeology of the "Numismatics," =
there is
that beautiful and highly artistic coin of Amphipolis, on which is represen=
ted
the bust of Apollo, full face, with a large "crab" resting on his
neck. You will=
find in
the Revue Numismatique, of 1863=
, an
article by M. Dupré, in which that coin is engraved; and in the text,
the scientific development of this question. In recalling to my mind that
article, the idea came to me to suggest to you that these images of the
"crabs" are one more proof of the steady and constant aim of the
ancient conquerors of the world to try to assimilate to their own beliefs t=
he
religion of the peoples they had vanquished, and by so doing, to make them =
more
easily friendly to themselves; while, since the Mediaeval times, the idea of
conquerors has always been to impose their own faith on the less fortunate
peoples; and perhaps in this remark we may find an explanation of the
comparatively facile assimilation of annexed countries with that of the Gre=
eks
and Romans. For convenience of the re=
ader the
inscriptions and translation are reproduced here with the notes of Mr.
Feuardent, which are of the greatest interest: - (Inscription.) L. 1 H KAIE<=
/span> BAPBAPO=
E ANE1<=
/span>HKE
&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p; AVGVS=
TI
CAESARIS APXITEK=
TON OKNTOE<=
/span>
&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p; BARBARVS
PRAEF AONTIOK<=
/span>
&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p; &=
nbsp; &nbs=
p; AEGYPTI
POSVIT ARCHITECTANTE PONTIC (Translation.) In the =
eighth
year of Augu=
stus
Caesar Barbaru=
s 2 prefect of Pontius
architect. The shaft supported on th=
e bronze
crabs had been placed by the Roman architect Pontius on a plinth of syenite,
which stood on a base with three steps of hard limestone. The foundation wa=
s a
mass of concrete capped with masonry up to the level of the pavement. A dra=
wing
(Plate xi) and description of these will be found in Chapter I. The plinth =
and
base were removed to 1
This sign is like the Roman letter "L," and is of frequent occurr=
ence
in the Graeco-Egyptian inscriptions. It is to be found in the coins of the
Lagide dynasty as early as the time of Ptolemy Soter, when the Latin langua=
ge
could not yet have been introduced into 2
The presence of the name of Prefect Barbarus in connection with the eighth =
year
of Augustus seems to contradict the suggestion made by Mr. F. Feuardent, in=
his
Numismatique de l'Égypte Anc=
ienne,
that P. Rubrius Barbarus was prefect in B.C. 13; Barbarus was in power in E=
gypt
at least ten years before that date; and Mr. F. Feuardent's authority, viz.:
the inscription of Philae (Wescher: Bullet.
Instit. Archéol., 1879) appears to have misled him. I have not been able to compare this question of=
the
time of power of Barbarus, as written on the obelisk "crab," with=
the
list of prefects published by Franz, in his Corpus
Inscriptionum Graecorum. In regard to the corresponding date of the eight=
h year
of Augustus with that of the Christian era, I suggest that it was daring the
year B.C. 22 that the obelisk was erected at CHAPTER III. REMOVAL OF THE BY LIEUTENANT SEATON SCHROEDER, UNITED STATES NAVY. TO the first Napoleon is
attributed the original thought of endowing
The mere nominal possessi=
on of so
noble a work of art also seemed to satisfy the dignitaries of the succeeding
government for some years, until letters from MM. de la Borde and Champolli=
on
(the younger) recalled the apparently forgotten gift. Drawn to
In November, 1829, the Mi=
nister
wrote to M. de Cerisi, a French officer then in charge of the naval
constructions of
In the meantime Champolli=
on,
travelling through
The first plan of removal
discussed in
77
78 Removal of the
This plan, as is easily s=
een, was
very complicated, and Baron Tupinier, Director of Ports, showed its faults =
most
clearly to the Minister of Marine, whereupon a commission was formed, compo=
sed
of MM. de la Borde, Tupinier, Drovetti, Taylor, Briet, de Mackau, and de
Livron, with Baron d'Haussez as president. These gentlemen, after a long
discussion, recommended that Baron Taylor should be sent to
These preliminaries settl=
ed,
attention was again bestowed upon the methods of executing the various
operations, and a plan advanced by Baron Rolland was approved by the Minist=
er
of Marine, who ordered the construction of the "
Meanwhile Baron Taylor re=
ached
Removal of the
EXCELLENCY:
His High=
ness,
the Viceroy of Egypt, has received from M. le Baron Taylor the dispatch of
which he was the bearer, from the Secretary of State for the Navy and Colon=
ies,
to negotiate in the name of H.M., the King of
His High=
ness,
the Viceroy, has charged me to express to your Excellency the pleasure he f=
eels
in showing his gratitude to
I am ord= ered by His Highness to place the three monuments at the disposal of H.M., the King= of the French, and your Excellency is requested to tender them to His Majesty = in the name of H.H., the Viceroy, Mehemet Ali Pacha.
It is ve= ry flattering to me to be the interpreter of the wishes of my prince on this occasion, and I beg your Excellency to accept the assurance of my most distinguished consideration.
(Signed) BOGH= OZ JOUSSOUF.
On the 25th of June the t=
ransport
"Dromadaire" had arrived at
The change in the governm=
ent of
A change, however, had to= be made in the detail of officers to take charge of the work, as M. Mimerel found t= hat the state of his health was such as to compel him to yield the honor to another, M. Apollinaire LeBas, Naval Constructor, was chosen to take his pl= ace, and it was this officer that lowered, embarked, and afterward re-erected the monument that towers up to such fine effect in the Place de la Concorde. By= a singular coincidence of name and stature, M. LeBas was a man of very diminu= tive proportions, and the smallness of his size appeared in striking contrast wi= th the magnitude of the operations he was called upon to plan and execute. His skill and energy, be it said, proved in inverse proportion to his height. <= /p>
M. LeBas was left perfect=
ly
unhampered as to the mode of procedure in lowering and embarking the obelis=
k,
but was provided with every thing that study and good judgment could point =
to
being necessary. He was also authorized to select a master carpenter, and a
number of other carpenters, smiths, caulkers, joiners, stone-cutters, etc.,
from the dockyard, and the "
The novel craft behaved a=
t sea
much as was expected; with a fair wind she made as much as eight knots, but
when close-hauled her progress was crab-like. Fortunately, the weather was
propitious, as a rule, and on the 3d of May the anchor was dropped in
80 Removal of the
of swift cangiahs and on the 19th of June they started up the Nile from
Rosetta, leaving the "
The month that took them =
to reach
their destination was mainly characterized by difficulties and vexatious de=
lays
purposely caused by the raïs or
captains of the cangiahs who
naturally, perhaps, were anxious to spin out the time as much as possible. =
The
passengers humorously, and not inaptly, compared them to the average
fiacre-driver of Paris, who takes such smiling advantage of a green travell=
er
that may have engaged him by the hour. The governor of
A greenish tint in the wa=
ter,
announcing the commencement of the annual rise, warned our friends bound up=
to
In glowing terms had Cham= pollion written of the city of a hundred gates, containing palaces, sphinxes, and colossal monuments, all bearing witness to a past grandeur and subsequent decadence; enthusiastically had he weighed upon the superior beauty of the westernmost of the two ruddy monoliths, the one on the right hand in enteri= ng the Rameseion. But one thought alone actuated the enterprising little band whose fortunes we are following. For the moment they were interested only i= n a mass of granite weighing some 230 tons, which it devolved upon them to upro= ot and carry away. Mazacqui, the Italian stone-cutter, true to his instincts, saluted the stony giant with a professional tap of his hammer; something seeming to startle him, he repeated the blow, and, after listening attentiv= ely, exclaimed in the jargon only intelligible perhaps to travellers in Mediterranean France: "Moussou, la pietra, elle est félé= e, mais je ne crois pas qu'elle soit routta; lou son est sano; on pourra l'enl= ever pourvu qu'elle tombe piano, ben piano." 1
The fellow was right; the=
defect
was patent, although unmentioned in any known work on
1
"Sir, the stone is cracked, but I do not think it is broken; the sound=
is
good; it can be removed if it falls softly, very softly."
Removal of the
The mason's blow, however, brushed away all doubts with no gentle stroke, and excavations soon revealed that a fissure extended to the base, twelve feet underground, and seemed to penetrate into the stone. Fortunately, as subsequent events proved, the strength of the mass was not seriously impaired, and special care does not = seem to have been necessary to prevent undue strain on that lower part during the operations of lowering and erection. The monolith was simply disfigured to a certain extent; but that seam and the marring of the pyramidion are the only faults to be found with that beautiful shaft.
M. LeBas' orders were to =
bring
home that western obelisk - "the one on the right hand in entering the
Rameseion"; marred or not he had no alternative. An examination of the
ground was commenced the day after they arrived, and two facts were quickly
revealed: the plans that he had been maturing since leaving
Will the reader be as sho= cked as were those Frenchmen on learning afterward that Ibrahim's wonderful zeal was all a hoax? The whole scenic effect - menaces on the one side, prayers and reproaches on the other - proved to have been slyly concocted and theatrica= lly produced - for what? To ensure honest Ibrahim a fair commission on the sale= !
The four sides of the obe=
lisk
faced respectively to N.W., N.E., S.E., and S.W., the first being turned to=
ward
the river. It was quickly decided, therefore, to lower it on its N.W. face =
and
haul it to the barge. This vessel would be grounded at high
M. LeBas' intention at fi=
rst was
to lower the Needle all the way by one simple rotation on an edge of the ba=
se,
as that was found to be approximately on a level with the bench-mark where =
the "
82 Removal of the
of the descent would be e= asy, and that second rotation would at once lower the summit and raise the base to a plane above that of the pedestal. A considerable amount of excavation would thus be saved, and the advantage gained of a down grade to the river.
These essential points determined, it remained to devise the means of executing them. The only mechanical application of power available under the circumstances was fortunately that which suggests itself most readily to the naval mind, name= ly, the pulley. The result to be produced required two systems or series of tac= kles. One would pull the top of the obelisk over toward the river; the other would hold it in check and lower it safely, only beginning to act when the vertic= al through the centre of gravity should pass beyond the axis of rotation.
Pending the arrival of the
material, all that could be done was to tear down the buildings that were in
the way, and prepare the bed for the "
On August 13th all the raïs in the vicinity came tro=
oping
in to herald the approach of a huge craft which some compared to a floating
mosque, and others to a feddam of ground. 1
It was the "
A staging was built to th= e top of the obelisk for the purpose of encasing it with wood and of measuring all i= ts dimensions. As is perhaps known to all, the shape of the Needle is that of a quadrangular truncated pyramid, surmounted by a pyramidion, or small pyrami= d. The dimensions are as follows: -
&n= bsp; = ; &n= bsp; = ; &n= bsp; FEET. INCHES.
Height of main shaft (tru= ncated pyramid) &nbs= p; 68 6.8
Height of pyramidion (imp= erfect) 2 &n= bsp; 6 4.4
Total he= ight &= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; 74 11.2 =
1
A feddam is about two thirds of an acre.
2
If perfect, this pyramidion would be about eight feet in height. As the
Egyptians never left such unfinished work, it seems probable either that the
stone has worn away there, aided perhaps by superficial flaws, or that anot=
her
material was substituted for the granite which was deficient. M. J.J. Hitto=
rf,
who some years later designed the new pedestal in the Place de la Concorde,=
and
the other embellishments of that handsome square, argued powerfully in supp=
ort
of the latter theory, maintaining also that bronze, possibly gilded, appear=
ed,
from its nature, and the undeniable proofs of its analogous use in other Eg=
yptian
monuments, to be the material most suitable to supplying the given want. The
fact of there being a small flat ledge at the base of the pyramidion certai=
nly
gives coloring to the idea, though it is still a mooted point among
Egyptologists whether or not the ancients resorted to that means of perfect=
ing
their monuments.
Removal of the
|
|
|
FEET. |
INCHES. |
|
|
|
FEET. |
INCHES. |
|
Base
of main shaft |
N.E.
side |
8 |
0 |
|
Top
of main shaft |
N.E.
side |
4 |
11 |
|
S.E.
side |
7 |
11.3 |
|
S.E.
side |
5 |
2.2 |
||
|
S.W.
side |
7 |
11.3 |
|
S.W.
side |
4 |
11 |
||
|
N.
W. side |
7 |
11.3 |
|
N.W.
side |
5 |
2.2 |
These data give a volume =
of 2,948
cubic feet for the main shaft, and 54 for the pyramidion, or 3,002 in all.
Assuming the specific gravity of the granite to be 2.66, the weight of the =
A close examination revea=
led that
all the sides of this monolith are not planes; the N.W. and S.E. faces as it
stood at
It is a very curious fact=
that
the sides of the other obelisk, still at
As during the first conte= mplated rotation the entire weight of the obelisk would come on the edge round whic= h it was to revolve, it was necessary to have that edge take on some comparative= ly soft material, which would act as a cushion and save it from being crushed.= It was, therefore, let in to a hea= vy oak cross-log; this was carefully rounded on the outside so as to turn easily i= n a second timber hollowed to correspond; this bottom-piece rested in a mortise= cut like a step in the top and side of the pedestal. Thus was formed a sort of hinge around which the rotation would be operated.
Of the two systems of tac= kles necessary to bring the obelisk safely from the vertical to the horizontal, = we will first examine the apparatus for inclining the obelisk from the vertica= l.
This gear consisted of th= ree capstans to which were taken the hauling parts of as many tackles. The fixed blocks of these tackles were taken to anchors planted in the sand, and the movable blocks to a cable fastened to the obelisk just below the pyramidion. The tackles were sixfold purchases of 6 1/4-inch new untarred rope, rove through sheaves 14 inches in diameter. Each capstan was fitted with sixteen bars, on each of which would be four men.
In hauling on a heavy six= fold purchase the strain on the hauling part is more than double that on the standing part, because of the friction and loss of power resulting from the numerous changes in direction of the various parts. Also, for the same reas= on, to overcome a certain weight at the movable block of a tackle of this size,= the power applied to the hauling part must be one quarter that weight, and not = one sixth. In the case under consideration the weight to be moved (to start the obelisk and appendages from the vertical) was found to be about 52,000 poun= ds. Assuming every man to heave on his capstan-bar with a steady power of 22 pounds, the mean leverage on each bar being 6 1/2 feet, the power transmitt= ed by each capstan to the hauling part of its tackle would be
1
English tons of 2,240 pounds. M. LeBas assumed the specific gravity to be 2=
.70
and found the weight to be 225.87 tons.
2
Mathematically speaking, the versed sine of half the arc.
84 Removal of the
about 5,120 pounds after deducting the loss by friction and by the angular lead of the fall away from the barrel. The quadruple gain in power by the sixfold purchases would incr= ease that to 20,480 pounds exerted by each tackle, or 61,440 pounds in all, - ne= arly 10,000 in excess of the weight. In case of necessity a much greater power c= ould be exerted by encouraging the men to put forth their strength; a man can ex= ert a power of forty pounds on a capstan-bar for several hours.
The maximum power in an o= peration of this kind is only required at first, because the resistance or weight mu= st decrease as the vertical through the centre of gravity approaches the axis = of rotation. When that vertical reaches the axis equilibrium ensues, and after that the duty of the inclining gear is done, and it becomes necessary to ch= eck the mass and allow it to descend gently.
This required an entirely separate system of tackles, which we will designate as the apparatus for lowering the obelisk. It will be readily seen that a series of checking or lowering tackles leading to the top of the obelisk from any point on the gr= ound would be at a favorable angle with it at first, but as the inclination from= the vertical increased, the angle between them and the axis of the monolith wou= ld decrease, finally becoming so small as to bring upon them a strain greater = than could be resisted by the means at hand. To obviate this difficulty recourse= was had to a certain number of spurs or derricks to keep that angle practically constant.
First of all, excavations= were made to the level of the pedestal, and carried toward the river only as far= as the position of the second pivot. In this angle of the pit a heavy platform= was built, from which rose a brick wall to support that second pivot and to pre= vent crushing in of the earth. On this platform was also the fundamental feature= of the whole apparatus, - the axial beam of the spurs.
This axial beam, of which= the lower part was rounded, was placed horizontal in the right angle formed by = the vertical brick wall and the platform. On its plane face were stepped the ei= ght masts or derricks, arranged in two equal groups, one on each side of the obelisk, and laid nearly horizontal with the heads on the opposite side of = the obelisk, - away from the river. The heads of all eight, slightly converging, were connected by a double cross-piece, the entire fabric forming a trapezo= id capable of rotating around its base. At that double cross-beam the head of = each mast was permanently connected with the top of the obelisk by a standing ca= ble or shroud, so that the top of the Needle in descending would pull the heads= of the masts up correspondingly. The power for checking the descent would then= be applied to these spurs' heads. For this eight heavy sixfold purchases were used, the movable treble-blocks being secured to the derrick-heads and shro= uds, and the fixed double-blocks to a heavy framing worked around the pedestal of the other obelisk.
In lowering by these tack= les it would be of paramount importance to always keep exactly the same strain on = all the falls, and this it is impossible for eight men to do when acting independently. The difficulty was overcome by an ingenious though simple device. A large round log was prepared as a roller, with cleats or whelps bolted on to make the surface rough. The hauling parts of the tackles were taken to this roller, a groove being made for each so as to keep them separ= ate; two turns of the ropes were taken around the beam to prevent their slipping= or rendering. In this way the tackles= could only be eased away by the revolution of the beam; the diameter being exactly the same in all the grooves, one revolution of the beam would slack all the tackles equally. It was only necessary to give them all an equal strain bef= ore beginning operations.
From the moment the centr= e of gravity passed outside the axis of rotation, the strain on the derrick-heads and thence on the tackles would increase from zero at the beginning to a maximum when the inclination of the obelisk would be greatest, that is, whe= n it would reach the second pivot. This maximum power was found to be 209,100 po= unds on the tackles, or 26,140 on each. By means of turns of the ropes around im= movable posts and beams, friction was obtained sufficient to reduce the weight requ= ired at the end of each fall to about 28 or 30 pounds, or well within the comman= d of the seaman attending it
VERTICAL PROJECTION OF THE FRENCH APPARATUS FOR
LOWERING AND ERECTING THE
Plate XXXIII.
Removal of the
$$$ The inclination of th= e obelisk from the vertical would necessarily bring about an increase in the horizont= al component of the thrust exerted by it on the pedestal. The thrust exerted by the derricks being in an opposite direction, the platform on which they were stepped was rigidly connected with the pedestal, and a part of the eastward thrust taken up. The strain on the pedestal being in excess of that on the platform, the resultant of the two opposing forces would be neutralized by = the sand and earth against the southeast face of the plinth.
The two apparatus just de=
scribed
are similar to those used later in raising the obelisk again in
The child-like Arabs quic= kly adapted themselves to the new and extraordinary work going on, and a squad = of expert long-sawyers was soon organized and trained. Thoroughly unacquainted with the tool at first, the more intelligent ones were made to practise on trunks of date-palms until their proficiency warranted leaving all such wor= k to them under supervision, and the carpenters of the expedition were saved that labor and remained free to do more delicate work. In spite of the heat and = dust every thing progressed satisfactorily. By the first of September the scaffolding was finished to the top of the obelisk, and the sheathing commenced. This was of 5 1-4 inch plank.
Shortly after, however, a
terrible visitor made its appearance. Cholera, whose approach had been hera=
lded
step by step up the river, suddenly attacked the little colony. Fifteen of =
the
seamen were soon in the extemporized hospital; the Arabs fared worse than t=
he
Europeans, many of them dying suddenly at the close of a day's work.
Communication was also interrupted with
By the 1st of October the sheathing of the obelisk was completed, the axial beam of the derricks in place, and these all ready to be stepped. The shrouds were secured to the t= op of the obelisk and to the derrick-heads, the blocks turned in, and in short the whole apparatus prepared as describ= ed above.
Daylight on the 24th of O= ctober, 1831, found every one at his post, - Arabs at the capstan-bars, seamen at t= he lowering tackles; and as the first beams of the rising sun gilded the colos= sal statue of Memnon, the silence was broken by the words of command. The capst= ans went round, the tackles tightened, and the great mass slowly yielded, drawi= ng after it the derrick-heads which had been fancifully decorated with little flags and palm branches. An angle of eight degrees from the vertical was reached when the whole came to a stand-still; the officer in charge of the capstans reported that their anchors were drawing through the sand. Orders = were given to slack away more rapidly on the opposite side; this being done the rotatory motion recommenced, and very soon the centre of gravity passed bey= ond the plane of the axis and every thing devolved upon the eight picked men th= at controlled the movement. In twenty-five minutes from the time the first ord= er was given to heave, the obelisk touched the beam that was to form the axis = of the second rotation. Nothing had given way; so far perfect success had crow= ned the efforts put forth.
The first great suspense =
was
over, but difficulties were seen ahead as great as had yet been encountered=
, if
not greater. All the wood left for use, excepting the soft trunks of
palm-trees, consisted of six joists, 23 feet long and 7 by 8 inches square,=
and
a few pieces of plank. With this slender stock a timber way had to be
constructed to the bow of the "
86 Removal of the
rested on a flooring made= of transverse pieces of planking spiked to their under side. The whole did not present enough bearing surface to ensure safety, and M. LeBas felt serious doubts as to its answering the purpose. So great were his misgivings, in fa= ct, that he refrained from sending a report of progress until the end of the fi= nal operation.
While this work was being= carried on an examination was made of the heel of the obelisk. It was found that the fissure that had so disconcerted M. LeBas was crossed by two dovetail-shaped mortises, filled with a yellowish dust, the remains of the wooden dogs which must have been driven in before the erection to prevent any possible widening of the crack. 1 The fissure therefore was, beyo= nd doubt, a defect in the stone, as old as the monolith, the antiquity of which was itself well attested by the nomen and prenomen of Ramses II, sculptured under the heel. Various incisions were also found in both pedestals, and on= e of these in the eastern could not fail to attract attention. It was near and parallel to the N.W. side of the block, semicircular on section, and its ax= is lay exactly under that edge of the obelisk. It would seem quite credible therefore that it had served as a receptacle for a wooden axis of rotation = in the erection. The fact of this groove being on the side next to the river, = and it being known that that eastern obelisk was the first of the two erected, = so that the other was not in the way, would also point to the possibility of i= ts having been brought by water to the adjacent bank, and that in the transportation as well as the erection means had been employed perfectly similar to those used more than thirty centuries later in lowering and remo= ving its fellow.
When the section of ways = was completed the master carpenter reported that every particle of wood was use= d, and that if any thing should break he would be unable to repair it.
The centre of gravity bei= ng slightly beyond the new pivot, the second rotation would succeed the first without application of power, except to hold back. It being necessary to ca= st off the shrouds from the obelisk before it should touch the ways, two tackl= es were secured to the derrick-heads and to the pyramidion, near the point, and the shrouds removed. Before allowing the second rotation to tJike place it = was necessary also to provide means to prevent the whole mass slipping and slid= ing back eastward when the lower edge should rise from the mortise in the pedes= tal, which would be sure to occur because of the checking tackles from the derrick-heads leading at such an acute angle with the axis of the Needle. To effect this a block of masonry was built on the pedestal, the side of it touching the heel of the obelisk and curved properly to coincide with the a= rc to be described by it.
These and all other minor= details completed, the head of the monolith was allowed to descend and the heel to = rise from the socket. The entire weight then resting on the log forming the pivo= t, compressed and ground it into the brick wall beneath, and made the latter a= lso settle somewhat into the platform and earth. The monolith being lowered bod= ily by the amount of the compression, took on the end of the sliding ways; this= , of course, sank into the ground under the pressure, and the timber road assume= d a curve convex upward. As the point of the needle descended, the axis of rota= tion gradually changed forward up that curve until it reached the centre of grav= ity, when the whole system was in equilibrium, the Needle lying on an upward slo= pe. Power was applied to raise the heel, four tackles from the derrick-heads be= ing used, with the falls taken to small capstans. It was brought somewhat nearer the horizontal, but soon all efforts proved unavailing to move it. The cable that had been used for inclining it from the perpendicular was then taken r= ound the heel, four heavy tackles clapped on the ends, and the falls taken to capstans manned by forty-eight men each, the object being to rouse the obel= isk up the slope and out of the pit. This gear was ready on the 16th of Novembe= r; they hove on the large capstans and at the same time on the vertical tackle= s on the heel, but to no effect. The men were cheered on, and hove with all their strength; the ropes stretched enormously, and finally two of the tackles parted.
1
The Egyptians frequently resorted to this method of connecting blocks of st=
one;
a number of the slabs in the temples of
EMBARKATION OF THE FRENCH OBELISK.
SECTION.
PLAN.
CAMELS FOR RAISING THE FRENCH OBELISK VESSEL TO=
CROSS
THE
Plate XXXIV
Removal of the
$$$ The loss seemed irrep= arable, and the cause seemed inexplicable as the power applied was double what was necessary to drag that weight. Something was evidently wrong, and it seemed most probable that some part of the sheathing of the obelisk had caught aga= inst the timber-work. The only way to get at it to examine it was to remove the = log around which the rotation had been made. This was so ground into the wall t= hat, although relieved of the weight there, it had to be cut out with chisels. E= ven the earth was so compressed that it had to be chipped away with tools, and = the fragments were too hot to handle.
The cause of the trouble = soon came to light. The sight that greeted them confirmed most emphatically M. LeBas' fears about the timber-work not having enough bearing-surface; every thing seemed to be in chaos. The immediate cause was that the first section= of the ways had been thrown out of line transversely; the joists and traverses= had all been broken in two; and the pieces of the latter, held down at the ends= by the joists, but forced up in the middle by the earth, had taken against the cross-ties of the sheathing, thus blocking the obelisk completely. The only= way to get at the traverses to clear them was by removing the earth from under = that part of the planking; of course this had to be done very cautiously and slo= wly. The traverses were then forced down the sliding ways by wedges made from capstan-bars.
The tackles were rigged a= gain as before, and in addition ten screw-jacks were applied to the heel of the obelisk. At the order the men hove on the capstans and screw-jacks together, and the ropes seemed to be reaching the limit of safety, when the obelisk g= ave a start and moved forward three feet with a jump. Every thing, was upset ag= ain, joists and traverses broken, and further progress prevented; the same work = had to be gone over again of removing the earth and forcing the planking down w= ith wedges. This done, another pull was given with the same success, and with t= he same subsequent work. And so it went on with fresh complications each time,= and with the additional feature that the obelisk forged somewhat to the right of the direct line in consequence of the lateral inclination of the ways. No attention was paid to that, however, until it was hauled entirely clear of = the excavations. It was then no longer in any possible danger of breaking, as h= ad been feared while the heel overhung the pit, and, moreover, it rested throughout its length on the remains of the sliding ways, compressing it le= ss and making further progress easier.
Another section of ways h=
ad to be
built, and to do this the derricks had to be sacrificed. When the time came=
to
haul again small spurs were placed angularly against the side of the obelis=
k,
and by their rigidity forced it back to the proper line of progress as it
advanced. After that it was only a matter of time and patience to reach the
"
When it came to opening t=
he bow
of the "
Two anchors were planted = astern of the vessel, and their chains passed inboard through holes cut in the counter. The ends of these were bent in the fixed blocks of four heavy tack= les, the movable blocks being secured to a cable passed around the heel of the obelisk; the hauling parts were led to capstans. To save the stern from bei= ng cut through by the chains as they tightened, a brick wall was built close to the stern-post up to the height of the holes in the counter. Immediately forward of the vessel a stone causeway was also built, twenty-five feet lon= g, to take the weight and
88 Removal of the
save the timbers as the o= belisk came in, and prevent their being thrown out of line at that critical moment=
On December 19, 1831, all= was ready; one hundred and ninety-two men hove on the capstans, and in less than two hours the monolith was in its place on board. The joy and pride felt by all, especially by their enterprising leader, at the completion of that important operation may be imagined more easily than described; four months= and a half of excessive toil, trial, and suffering were rewarded by complete success; the problem was solved. Among the natives the principal emotion was that of wonder; and when, a week later, the bow of the vessel had been lowe= red to its place, and even the marks of the saw were barely visible, their astonishment gave way to the usual superstitions, and these wonderful resul= ts were attributed to the Afreets.=
To secure the bow every a= lternate plank that had been cut, both inside and outside, was removed, and a new one substituted spanning the cut. The keels had not been injured, but taken apa= rt at the scarfs near the forefoot. Additional long breasthooks were worked in, and the scarfs of the keelsons strengthened by long heavy cleats. The wood = used for all this was taken from the remains of what had served as derricks, platforms, capstans, and ways; the master carpenter, Elies, skilled by that time in economizing material, managed to make good use of stuff that would probably have been condemned as valueless in any dockyard.
Eight weary months had to=
be
passed before the rise of the
In the early part of June=
a
decrease in the transparency of the water, accompanied by oscillations in i=
ts
level, announced that the annual rise was at hand. While the Arab women sang
praises on the banks of the river, and the priests heralded the glad tidings
from the mosque door, the Frenchmen set to and dug away the sand that had b=
een
piled up around their vessel and constantly wetted to protect it from the s=
un.
On the 18th of August the "
Plans were then made of camels to lighten the draught. Pla=
te
xxxiv gives an idea of these. The frames of the "
The bad season had been r=
eached,
however, and the pilots asserted that this combination of vessels could not=
put
to sea until the spring. The assurances of these men seem to have been given
great weight, and their advice followed rather unquestioningly. The "<=
st1:place
w:st=3D"on">
A month's quarantine awai= ted the poor fellows there, after which M. LeBas, having completed
Removal of the
the task allotted him, was
summoned to
While the "
The surface of this bed w=
as
horizontal, and the obelisk, therefore, would have to come out of the vesse=
l at
an angle with the ramp. To overcome this difficulty a wedge-shaped cradle w=
as
built, the lower part resting on the ways, but the upper being horizontal a=
nd
on a line with the keelsons of the "
On the 23d of December, 1=
833, the
"
The power required for th= is operation was computed to be about fifty-two tons, but the friction caused = by a weight moving up an inclined plane, the surfaces being greased, is such an intangible quantity that it was decided to furnish nearly double that. Five sixfold purchases were rigged, each with its capstan manned by forty-eight = men; the total effective power thus applied, granting each man to heave twenty-t= wo pounds, was about ninety-four tons.
During the remainder of t= he journey of the obelisk to its future position in the centre of the Place de= la Concorde, it had to change direction several times in both vertical and horizontal planes. To effect the former, for each slope or grade a cradle w= as constructed of wedge-shape similar to the one used on the ramp at the river bank, the upper surfaces of all being horizontal; on reaching the point whe= re the change of grade occurred the obelisk was hauled from one to the other, = thus remaining always horizontal. There were only two lateral changes of directi= on to be effected: one was just beyond the head of the ramp, to clear the ditc= h in the angle of the square; the other, almost a right angle, was where this se= cond track met the direct one leading to the centre of the square. To perform th= ese turnings the cradle was hauled until the centre of gravity was over the intersection of the two ways, where a stout pivotal stake had been driven; = the cradle was revolved over and around that. Heavy cross-timbers connecting and filling the angle between the two ways supported both head and heel of the obelisk; being well greased the cradle slipped easily over them, and it nee= ded no great power to pull the two ends in opposite directions. The usual pulle= ys were used for this.
All this work was sadly d=
elayed
by having to wait a long time for the pedestal. By a strange neglect it was=
not
until after landing the obelisk that the design of the pedestal was determi=
ned.
The granite was to come from Laber-il-dut, on the coast of
90 Removal of the
seven pieces were shown; =
but the
contractor having discovered a rock in that bay, from which a block could be
quarried sixteen feet long by ten square, the number was reduced to five. T=
he
total weight of the pedestal is about 236 1-4 tons. The "
This neglect, causing suc= h a great delay, seems inexplicable, and must have been due to some concatenati= on of circumstances, political or other, the record of which may have been swallowed in the graver events of those troubled times. However that may be, the obelisk lay inert for many months; it was not until the 8th of Septembe= r, 1836, that it was placed on the last cradle, which was to carry it up the s= lope leading to the top of the pedestal.
This final ramp was built= of masonry, with a rise of eight feet in a hundred. The intention at first was= to use a steam-engine to haul the obelisk up this incline, and much enthusiasm= was felt at the idea; but unfortunately the machine broke down in a preliminary trial, and the same old capstans and tackles had to be resorted to again. <= /p>
An article that appeared = in this connection, in the Journal des D&ea= cute;bats, of October 16, 1836, is doubly interesting, portraying as it did the feelin= gs akin to awe with which that motor, since become so familiar, was then regar= ded. The following is an extract:
"It= is much to be regretted that sufficient precautions were not taken to ensure this engine working satisfactorily. The idea of inaugurating the steam-engine on= so solemn an occasion was most happy. For a part of the public the steam-engin= e is of the unknown, a mysterious and formidable creation liable to explode like thunder. It would have been well to associate the monuments of antique art = with one of the finest productions of the inventive mind of modern times. It wou= ld have been well to show two hundred thousand people one of these engines, so foolishly dreaded by the ignorant, seizing the obelisk of Sesostris, and raising it little by little with perfect regularity of motion, without the = aid of a living being, excepting the one man charged with supplying coal to the furnace, the soul of the engine. These machines are destined to relieve man= of all work that needs only brute force, and even, such is their perfection, of some work that may seem to demand guidance from an intelligent being. The steam-engine is one of the greatest triumphs of mind over matter; it is nat= ure made captive, working for man, and in man's stand. It is nature enslaved; a= nd it is the only slave, the only serf of the future."
The writer of those lines probably had as little thought of the future of the electric current as we = now have of - what?
No difficulty was experie= nced in pulling the obelisk up the ramp; five hours sufficed to bring it close to t= he pedestal. Great care was then necessary. Advancing up the greased incline n= ot steadily but in jumps of one to two feet at a time, it finally came to with= in an inch of the line that the edge of the base had to cover, and to make it = come just to but not beyond that line was a problem involving delicate manipulat= ion of a great power. To do it the tackles were stretched taut, and the capstans then stopped; with this strain on, the very slight movement required was imparted by giving two slight ramming blows to the Needle.
The modus operandi in erecting the obelisk was the same, reversed, =
as
that of lowering it in
The gear for raising the = point of the Needle consisted of ten derricks rigged as previously described. See Pl= ate xxxiii. The derrick-heads were connected with the obelisk five feet below t= he base of the pyramidion by ten cables or shrouds; on the other side were fra= pped the movable blocks of as many seven-fold tackles, the hauling parts of which were taken to capstans. By
Removal of the
heaving on these, the der= ricks would first be acted upon, and the power transmitted from them through the shrouds to the head of the obelisk.
During the contemplated r= otation it is evident that a great and increasing weight would be thrown on the sid= e of the pedestal supporting the axis; furthermore, owing to the angle at which = the power was to be applied, the horizontal component of that weight would at certain periods of the ascent be very great, and constitute a lateral thrust that would inevitably overturn the pedestal if left unsupported. To prevent this two huge timber props were inclined against the outer face of the bloc= k, their upper ends being kept from slipping up by hanging-pieces bolted to timbers secured underneath all.
As regards the weight to =
be
lifted and the consequent power to be produced, although the actual weight
remained the same, yet the obelisk being now horizontal, the strain on the
shrouds, derricks, and tackles at the beginning of the ascent would be grea=
ter
than at the end of the descent in
To secure the fixed block= s of the tackles the following plan was adopted: At a certain distance in rear of the pedestal two rows of heavy piles were driven vertically in a pit, and morti= sed into horizontal timbers, the whole being weighted with iron ballast. A simi= lar fabric was constructed a few yards farther to the rear, except that one row= of piles was considered sufficient. A row of spurs, somewhat similar to the hoisting derricks but much smaller, was erected on the first platform, and = the long straps of the fixed blocks passing over those spurs' heads were lashed= to both platforms. The ballast amounted to one hundred and two tons. It was estimated that the entire fabric would stand a strain of one hundred and ninety-one tons from the direction in which the tackles would pull, or about eighty-eight tons more than required.
By October 24th every thi= ng was ready, and at noon of that day a preliminary pull was given to try the gear= . It worked so well that M. LeBas was anxious to continue and complete the erect= ion, but royal orders compelled him to defer it until the next day.
On the morning of the 25t=
h an
immense crowd gathered in the Place de la Concorde, the Champs Elysé=
es,
and the terraces of the Tuileries gardens. It was estimated that two hundred
thousand people were present to witness the last stage of the formidable and
protracted operations. A cedar box was placed in a cavity in the pedestal,
containing a set of the gold and silver current coins of the realm, also two
medals bearing the effigy of the king and the following inscription: "=
Sous
le règne de Louis Philippe I, roi des Français, M. de Gaspari=
n étant
ministre de l'intérieur, l'obélisque de '
At half past eleven M. Le= Bas placed himself on the ledges of the pedestal, whence he could command a vie= w of the entire scene of operations, and the artillerymen, under the command of Captain Meeunier, began walking round the capstans to the sound of the bugl= e; the immense power was gradually transmitted through the apparently intricate maze of rope, and the point of the Needle rose majestically in air. At twel= ve loud cheers greeted the arrival of the king, accompanied by the queen and members of the royal family, at the windows of the Ministry of Marine. The circular march at the capstans was continued, uninterrupted until a vibrati= on was noticed in the whole fabric, accompanied
92 Removal of the
by a cracking as of wood;=
but
this was soon found to be caused simply by the great compression and not by=
the
displacement of any parts. So M. LeBas resumed his place on the pedestal, a=
nd
gave the order to heave at the double quick to pass the angle of forty-five
degrees, in which position the strain on the pedestal was greatest. Forty-f=
ive
minutes sufficed to bring the obelisk thirty-five degrees nearer the positi=
on
of equilibrium, when another stoppage became necessary. The chains leading =
from
the top of the obelisk toward the river, to hold it as the vertical passed
within the base, had been fastened, or, in nautical parlance, stopped along the pyramidion to ke=
ep
them out of the way. An order had been given to clear them the day before b=
ut
had been forgotten, and it was necessary to do so now before the chains sho=
uld
tighten, because the stops in
breaking under a heavy strain would cause a dangerous jarring. Two sailors
immediately jumped aloft and released them, and the capstans were again
started, but more slowly. Three turns were hove, then two, then one, then h=
alf
a one, and so on until, the position of equilibrium being gently and slowly
passed, the cables were seen to tighten and take the weight. The tackles on=
the
chains were slacked carefully, and in three hours and a half from the begin=
ning
of the operation, and five years and a day from the time it was lowered in =
Brought from the silent r= uins of the greatest city of the ancient world, to the brightest and gayest of mode= rn capitals, this hoary monument now marks the spot where the equestrian statu= e of Louis XV once stood, and where that monarch's unfortunate grandson expiated= the crime of royal misgovernment. Unmindful perhaps of the dire associations ca= lled forth, but impressed by the delicacy of the operation just completed, the immense throng turned to their venerable sovereign and rent the air with prolonged vivats. National ensi= gns soon waved from the summit, and, as night approached, brilliant illuminatio= ns kept the base revealed to the numerous groups of promenaders. Nor was the general enthusiasm at all diminished by the distribution among the workmen = that evening of 3,000 francs, presented by the king.
It was some time before a= ll the gear was removed and the lofty shaft and pedestal exposed in their grand simplicity. As a protection against a climate so much more rigorous than th= at of its native land, the surface of the obelisk was covered with a concentra= ted solution of caoutchouc. Later, diagrams and inscriptions were carved upon t= he pedestal and handsomely gilded. On the side facing the Madeleine are illustrations in outline of the operations of lowering and embarking the monolith; on the side next the river are shown the apparatus used in its erection.
On the side turned toward= the Tuileries gardens is the inscription:
"Lu= dovicus Philippus I, Francorum Rex, ut antiquissimum artis AEgyptiacae opus, idemque recentis gloriae ad Nilura armis partae insigne monumentum, Franciae ab ips= a AEgypto donatum posteritati prorogaret, obeliscum die 25. Aug. A. 1832 Thebis Hecatompylis avectum navique ad id constructa intra menses 13 in Galliam pe= rductum erigendum curavit. Die 25 Octobris anni 1836. Anno reg. septimo."
Facing the Champs Elys&ea= cute;es the inscription reads:
"En=
présence
du Roi Louis Philippe Ier, cet obélisque, transporté de Louqs=
or
en
Models of all the apparat= us used were also deposited in the Musée de Marine, and are still to be seen there.
As was stated above, five=
years
and a day elapsed between the dates of lowering and re-erecting this obelis=
k.
That seems a long time, and unreflecting critics may pass adverse judgment =
on
the skill of M. LeBas. A word on this matter may therefore not be amiss.
Returning for the nonce to Upper Egypt, we see that the obelisk was lowered=
and
embarked in the "
Removal of the
of eight months before th=
e rising
The cost of the undertaki= ng was apparently very great, though the exact figures are not known. The total expenditure is said to have been about two and a half millions of francs, o= r $500,000; in that, are included the expenses of Baron Taylor's mission, the maintenan= ce of a numerous personnel, and the purchase, quarrying, and transport of an immense pedestal.
Regard being had for all = the circumstances, the verdict of even the present rapid day must be that M. Le= Bas reflected honor on his country and his profession and richly deserved the m= eed of praise bestowed upon him at the time. On the nth of November he received= the following letter from the Minister of the Interior.
SIR: The
erection of the
A medal = having been struck to commemorate the event, I send you two copies of it, one in silver, and one in bronze.
I have t= he honor to announce to you at the same time that I have decided to allow you, as indemnity for your cares in the prosecution of the work, the sum of 4,000 francs.
I have n= ot forgotten, sir, the favorable mention you made of persons engaged in this w= ork under your direction; gratuities in proportion to their services are granted them as follows:
To M. Lepage, Second Inspector, 1,500 francs.
To M. Heurteloup, First Inspector, 1,000 " =
&=
nbsp; To
M. Morel, Boatswain's mate, 200 "
To M. Labrie, Carpenter's mate, 300 " &=
nbsp; To
M. Masqueron, Boatswain's mate, 200 "
To M. Dacheux, Boatswain's mate, 300 " &=
nbsp; To
M. Monot, Carpenter's mate, 200 "
I reques= t that you will acquaint them with the fact of these sums having been awarded, and notify them that the payments will be ordered immediately.
Receive, &a= mp;c.,
(Signed) GASP= ARIN.
M. Lepage was further rew= arded by being decorated with the cross of the Legion of Honor.
Nor did official recognit=
ion of
M. LeBas' services end with the small donation mentioned in M. de Gasparin's
letter. The king appointed him Director of the
For a record of this obel=
isk see
remaining obelisk at
94 Removal of the
of the dog-headed ape, th=
e god of
sciences and arts. The
NORTH SIDE = FACING THE MADELEINE.
Vignette: Rameses II on his knees offering two vases of wine to Ammon-Ra.
Cartouch of Rameses II: The master of the two worlds, OUSOR-MA-RA, Lord of the diadems. MEI-AMMON-RAMSES.
The god = says to the king: "I give thee perfect health, I give thee life, stability and perfect happiness."
EAST SIDE F= ACING THE TUILERIES.
Vignette: The same subject as befo= re.
Cartouch: The good god, master of the two worlds, OUSOR-MA-RA, Son of the sun, Lord of the diadems, MEI-A= MMON-RAMSES, vivifying like the sun.
WEST SIDE F= ACING THE CHAMPS ELYSÉES.
Same off= ering.
Cartouch: The good god, master of the two worlds, OUSOR-MA-RA, Son of the sun. Lord of the diadems, MEI-AMMON-RAMSES, vivifying like th= e sun eternally.
SOUTH SIDE = FACING THE PALAIS LÉGISLATIF.
Rameses = II making an offering of water to Ammon-Ra.
Cartouch: The good god, OUSOR-MA-RA, SOTEP-EN-RA, Son of the sun, MEI-AMMON-RAMSES, who gives life, stability and happiness, like the sun. AMMON-RA tells him (to the king) "I give thee perfect joy."
NORTH SIDE = FACING THE MADELEINE. CENTRAL COLUMN OF HIEROGLYPHICS.
The HORU= S-sun, strong bull of the sun, who has smitten the barbarians. Lord of the diadems, who fights millions, magnanimous lion. Golden Hawk, strongest on all the wo= rld, OUSOR-MA-RA, bull at his limit, obliging the whole earth to come before him= , by the will of Ammon his august father.
He has m= ade (the obelisk) the Son of the sun ME= I-AMMON-RAMSES "living eternally."
COLUMN OF HIEROGLYPHICS TO LEFT OF SPECTATOR.
The HORU=
S-sun,
strong bull, the strongest (of the strongest) who fights with his sword, ki=
ng
of great roarings, master of terror, whose valor strikes the whole earth. K=
ing
of Upper and Lower Egypt OUSOR-MA-RA, SOTEP-EN-RA, Son of the sun, MEI-AMMO=
N-RAMSES
whose dominion is twice cherished like that of the god inhabiting
COLUMN TO R= IGHT OF SPECTATOR.
The HORU=
S-sun,
strong bull, the grandee of the triacontaerid fetes, who loves the two worl=
ds,
king strong by his sword, who has seized both worlds, supreme chief whose
royalty is great as that of the god TUM, King of Upper and Lower Egypt OUSO=
R-MA-RA,
SOTEP-EN-RA, Son of the sun, MEI-AMMON-RAMSES. The chiefs of the entire wor=
ld
are under his feet; King of Upper and
EAST SIDE F= ACING THE TUILERIES. CENTRAL COLUMN.
The HORU= S-sun, strong bull, fighting with his sword. Lord of the diadems, who subdues (str= ikes down) whoever nears him, who seizes the ends of the world, Golden Hawk, very terrible, master of valor, King of Upper and Lower Egypt OUSOR-MA-RA, divine issue of his father Ammon, Lord of gods. Causing to be joyous the temple of= the soul and the gods of the great temple in joy. He has made the obelisk the S= on of the sun MEI-AMMON-RAMSES "living eternally."
COLUMN TO L= EFT OF SPECTATOR.
The HORU=
S-sun,
strong bull, Son of Ammon, how multiplied are his monuments! the very stron=
g,
beloved Son of the sun, on his throne. King of Upper and Lower Egypt OUSOR-=
MA-RA,
SOTEP-EN-RA, Son of the sun, MEI-AMMON-RAMSES, who has erected the dwelling=
of
Ammon (
1
Copied from vol. iv, "Records of the Past,"
Removal of the
COLUMN TO R= IGHT OF SPECTATOR.
The HORU= S-sun, strong [.bull, beloved of the goddess TRUTH, king doubly cherished as the g= od TUM, supreme chief, delight of AMMON-RA for centuries; King of Upper and Lo= wer Egypt OUSOR-MA-RA, SOTEP-EN-RA, Son of the sun, MEI-AMMON-RAMSES: what is heaven, that (such) is thy monument; thy name will be permanent like the heavens. King of Upper and Lower Egypt OUSOR-MA-RA, SOTEP-EN-RA, Son of the sun, MEI-AMMON-RAMSES "vivifier."
WEST SIDE F= ACING THE CHAMPS ELYSÉES. CENTRAL COLUMN.
The HORU=
S-sun,
strong bull, beloved of the goddess TRUTH (MA) Lord of the diadems, who tak=
es
care of
COLUMN TO L= EFT OF SPECTATOR.
The HORU=
S-sun,
strong bull, rich in valor, king potent by the sword, who has made himself
master of the whole world by his strength, King of Upper and Lower Egypt OU=
SOR-MA-RA,
SOTEP-EN-RA, Son of the sun, MEI-AMMON-RAMSES; all countries of the earth c=
ome
to him with their tributes. King of Upper and
COLUMN TO R= IGHT OF SPECTATOR.
The HORU=
S-sun,
strong bull, beloved of the sun, king who is a great plague (to his enemies=
);
the whole earth trembles in terror of him, King of Upper and Lower Egypt OU=
SOR-MA-RA,
SOTEP-EN-RA, Son of the sun (MEI-AMMON-RAMSES), Son of MONT, whom MONT has
formed with his hand. King of Upper and
SOUTH SIDE = FACING THE PALAIS LÉGISLATIF. CENTRAL COLUMN.
The HORU=
S-sun,
strong bull, very valorous. King of Upper and
COLUMN TO L= EFT OF SPECTATOR.
The HORU=
S-sun,
strong bull, loved by the goddess TRUTH (MA). King of Upper and
COLUMN TO R= IGHT OF SPECTATOR.
The HORU=
S-sun,
strong bull, beloved of the sun. King of Upper and
CHAPTER IV.
REMOVAL OF THE FALLEN OBELISK OF <=
st1:City
w:st=3D"on">ALEXANDRIA TO
BY LIEUTENANT SEATON SCHROEDER, UNITED STATES NAVY.
VIEWED in the light of mo=
dern
associations, the
The claims of the obelisk=
to
respect and admiration stand upon a much firmer and more enlightened base t=
han
its prostrate presence near a battle field where some 17,000 troops were pi=
tted
against a force of about half that strength. In common with those that help
adorn the At Meidan, Place de la Concorde, Central Park, and various piazze=
in
Our first introduction to=
the
modern history of the Needle is the attempt to remove it in 1801, when the
battle of
96
Removal of the Fallen Obe=
lisk of
near its erect sister on =
the
shore of the bay, just east of the peninsula on which stands the town of
It appears, however, that= they left a record of their victories there, to be unearthed many years after. T= he following is an extract from the Bo= mbay Courier of June 9, 1802 2:=
"The pedestal of the fallen Needle of Cleopatra having been heeled to starboard,= and a proper excavation made in the centre of the base stone, this inscription = on a slab of marble was inserted, and the pedestal restored to its former situat= ion. The Needle was likewise turned over, and the hieroglyphics on the side it h= ad so long lain on found fresh and entire.
"In=
the
year of the Christian era 1798, the Republic of France landed on the shores=
of
Egypt an army of 40,000 men, commanded by their most able and successful
commander, General Bonaparte. The conduct of the general and the valor of t=
he
troops effected the subjection of that country. But, under Divine Providenc=
e,
it was reserved for the British nation to annihilate their ambitious design=
s.
Their fleet was attacked, defeated, and destroyed in
The exact position of this
pedestal is not at present known with certainty, although it was seen and
greatly admired by many travellers in the early part of the century. It is
presumably a block of the same massive dimensions as its sister now in
The first overtures for t= he peaceable possession of the Needle were made during the reign of George IV,= by Samuel Briggs, Esq., British Consul at Alexandria, as is shown by the follo= wing extract of a letter written by him shortly afterward to the Right Honorable= Sir Benjamin Bloomfield.
"UPPER T=
OOTING,
"SI=
R:
Having, on my late visit to
1
It has been stated that lack of co-operation on the part of the fleet had m=
uch
to do with the failure of this enterprise; but that seems hardly worthy of
credence.
2
Appendix to "Cleopatra's Needle and Egyptian Obelisks," by Erasmus
Wilson, F.R.S.
98 Removal of the Fallen =
Obelisk
of
His Majesty, as unique of=
its
kind in
The present was accepted,=
the
prostrate Needle being specified as the one given. But no effort was made to
remove it, and it appeared to be forgotten until the year 1832, when the
propriety of making an attempt was discussed in Parliament, and supported by
Joseph Hume, a sum of money being proposed for the purpose. That fell throu=
gh,
however. Some thirty years later it wras suggested to erect it in Hyde Park=
as
a memorial to Prince Albert, in recognition of his efforts to perfect the
success of the Exhibition held there in 1851. That also came to nought.
Finally, the attention of Lieutenant-General Sir James E. Alexander was dra=
wn
to the matter, and to his indefatigable zeal is due the presence of the obe=
lisk
now on the banks of the
It was now only a questio= n of the mechanical means to bring it safely across the seas and erect it. The vario= us methods proposed from time to time are interesting from their number and variety, and a partial record of them, at least, properly attaches to the personal history of the obelisk.
Captain Boswell, R. N., a=
ppears
to have been the first in the field, and plans, supposed to have been prepa=
red
by him in 1820, are now in the Royal United Service Institution,
Captain, afterward Admira= l Smyth, R. N., also proposed two plans, in 1822. The first was similar to the one already tried in 1801, and Mohammed Ali Pacha offered to assist by building= a pier expressly for the purpose; but no action was taken in the matter. Capt= ain Smyth's other plan was to excavate and form a little dry-dock beneath the obelisk; build a lighter into which the stone could be lowered; then, by me= ans of a canal cut for the purpose, float it out into the bay and tow it home. =
General Alexander, not co= ntent with laboring to obtain possession of the Needle, thought out two methods of getting it afloat and transporting it. The first, which he described in a p= aper read to the Royal Society of Edinburgh in 1868, was based upon the desirabi= lity of avoiding the construction of a special vessel. His words were as follows: " A large Clyde lighter, raised upon, might transport it across the Ba= y of Biscay in summer; or, if an old ship, sufficiently seaworthy, is got, and t= he masts taken out of her, and the beams cut across, the obelisk might be taken alongside, raised, and lowered into her, iron beams being ready, with bolts= and screws, to connect and secure the cut beams of the vessel, then towed by a steamer to England."
Removal of the Fallen Obe=
lisk of
$$$ A few years later, ho= wever, he submitted detailed plans which involved the construction of a special ir= on vessel. First of all the obelisk was to be turned to point to the shore; ra= ils would be laid on either side, and a carriage built upon them and over the Needle, which would then be suspended from it. To effect this, cross-rods w= ould be inserted beneath the stone and connected with hanging-rods from the top traverses of the carriage; by digging away the earth the weight of the mono= lith would be taken by the carriage. The vessel was to be put together on launch= ing ways, the rails continued in through the bows, the carriage rolled on board, the bows closed again, and the vessel launched.
In 1872 there was a way s= uggested that was not devoid of novelty. It was proposed to make the surface of the obelisk cylindrical by a filling-up of wood; it could then be rolled down i= nto the water, suspended from heavy balks crossing the decks of two steamers la= shed alongside of each other, and be carried off to England. The stone being slu= ng in the water would be diminished in weight by nearly one half, so each vess= el would have a large margin of carrying capacity for cargo.
The year 1873 was quite f=
ruitful
of ideas. The first in chronological order was that of Mr. J. L. Haddan,
Director of Public Works, Aleppo, Syria, who suggested building up round the
obelisk a solid, or partially solid, cylindrical casing of wood of such
diameter that the timber thus applied would float the mass. Its cylindrical
shape would make it an easy matter to roll it into the bay, whence it could=
be
towed to the
The idea of incasing the = obelisk in a sufficient quantity of wood to float it was also advanced later by a g= entleman in Alexandria, who, undismayed by one failure, revived the plan in 1879, for the benefit of the New York obelisk, - with equal success.
In the same year as the
preceding, Mr. W. A. Wharton, of the
The following was propose=
d by a
gentleman who prefaced his remarks by saying that he did not know the relat=
ive
position of the Needle with regard to the water. The plan provided for a
launching ways and cradle, built of wood and iron, by which the obelisk cou=
ld
be moved to the water's edge, capstans, screw-jacks, and small engines being
used to effect the locomotion. Being at the water's edge, it was to be rais=
ed
by hydraulic pumps, and an iron ship put together round it, such ship being
built in
100 Removal of the Fallen=
Obelisk
of
$$$ In 1876, in a letter = to Lord Henry Lenox, First Commissioner of Works, Mr. Arthur Arnold suggested the possibility of shipping the Needle by constructing a railway on piles to su= ch a distance from the shore as would admit the approach of a vessel capable of carrying it to England; suspended in slings from running gear it would be m= oved out until it hung over the intended position on board.
In the same letter Mr. Ar=
nold
recommended the adoption of another method, for which he gives credit mainl=
y to
Captain Methven, of the
On the subject of the
transportation of the Needle being publicly broached, Messrs. King, Scotchm=
en,
offered to perform the task. Their plan, and a most excellent one it was,
avoided the construction of a special vessel, their idea being to bring the
Needle home in a steam hopper-barge, such as are used for dredging. The obe=
lisk
would first be launched down a timber ways into the water, and then lifted =
up
through the bottom of the hopper-barge. These vessels are large flat-bottom=
ed
screw steamers, having water-tight compartments running all round the hull;=
the
large space in the middle for carrying the mud is furnished with a false
bottom, in the form of trap-doors which open downward into the sea. One of
these could easily have steamed to
Mr. John Walker, Chief En=
gineer
of the Ramleh Railroad, in
Such are the broad featur=
es of
most of the plans suggested to remove the obelisk. While in
The London obelisk is the= first large one that was ever transported or erected under private auspices; all = the more credit is therefore due to Professor Wilson, not only for securing the monument to his country, but for setting an example of liberality that has since been so generously followed in the United States. To Mr. Dixon, also, must be conceded the honor of being the first to assume the financial risks attendant upon such an undertaking; more is the pity that his enterprise, through unforeseen disaster, resulted in serious pecuniary loss.
The
The main special difficul= ty in the removal of this particular obelisk lay in the fact that the bay, on the shore of which it was lying, was encumbered with shoals and exposed to gale= s. In consequence of this no ordinary sea-going vessel could lie there in safe= ty, much less if brought near enough to the shore to take the obelisk directly = on board. Therefore, either a special vessel had to be built which could be handled on the shore and then launched and towed away, or the obelisk would have to be carried to the harbor and there embarked in a suitable vessel. <= /p>
Removal of the Fallen Obe=
lisk of
$$$ Mr.
The design of a vessel is generally made to meet the requirements of the service on which she will be employed at sea. In this particular case, however, the builders had the nov= el experience of constructing a seaworthy craft in which every thing had to be subordinated to the one prime feature that would enable her to be launched = by rolling down the beach. That is to say, the vessel had to be perfectly cylindrical; stability and other desirable qualities had to be obtained mos= tly by internal arrangements. Were the axis of the Needle to coincide with the = axis of the cylinder, it is evident that when once started rolling in the water,= it would keep on almost indefinitely, retarded and finally stopped only by the= skin resistance. By bringing the c= entre of gravity of the Needle below that axis, the vessel would be in a state of stable equilibrium; that is to say, however much the wind and sea might car= een it over, the action of gravity would bring it back to the vertical; and this would obtain until the vessel were actually upside down. The lower the weig= ht, the greater the righting force, and therefore the greater stability, but al= so the more violent rolling motion. It was decided to place the centre of grav= ity of all weights about nine or ten inches below the axis of the cylinder, or,= in the phraseology of a naval architect, to give the vessel a meta-centric hei= ght of that number of inches. The bed for the obelisk, however, was placed only four inches below the centre of gravity of the cylinder, it being the inten= tion to have sufficient ballast in the bottom to lower the centre of gravity the remaining five or six inches.
In order to ease the pitc= hing motion as much as possible, the bed of the obelisk was also prepared so tha= t it would lie with the thick end forward. The centre of gravity of the Needle b= eing at about one third its height from the base, and being naturally placed in = the centre of the vessel (in regard to its length), the upper or longer end wou= ld extend farther from that centre, or nearer to the end of the vessel, than would the larger and shorter end; therefore putting the latter forward would throw le= ss weight into the bows than the small end would bring. The lines of the bow w= ere also made as full as was consistent with a reasonable expenditure of power = in towing.
Such was the vessel desig= ned by Mr. Dixon, with the help of Mr. B. Baker, to whom he gives credit for much assistance. Her construction was entrusted to the Thames Iron Works Company. The length of the "Cleopatra," as she was subsequently christened, was ninety-three feet, diameter fifteen feet; she was divided into ten compartments by nine water-tight bulkheads, with two intermediate reverse angle-iron frames in each compartment, carried right round to ensure the stiffness of the plates. To prevent all possibility of rupture of the Needl= e in consequence of any deflection in the length of the vessel, caused by the wa= ves or by rolling down to the water, elastic timber cushions were provided at a= ll the bearings, which would allow a possible deflection of four inches before bringing any undue strain on the stone. This was greatly in excess of any probable contingency, for the calculations showed that the strength of the = hull was such that the maximum strain that could be experienced at sea would cau= se a change of form of less than one eighth of an inch.
Captain Henry Carter, of =
the
The total length of the L= ondon obelisk is sixty-eight feet five and one half inches, including the pyramid= ion which is seven feet six inches high 1; the width at the base is seven feet ten and one half inches and seven feet = five inches, on adjoining sides, tapering to five feet one inch and four feet ten inches at the base of the pyramidion. 2 Assuming it to be a perfect block these dimensions give a cubic
1
The pyramidion is imperfect; the point is broken off.
2
Erasmus Wilson.
102 Removal of the Fallen=
Obelisk
of
measurement of 2,517 feet=
; and
the specific gravity of the stone being 2.66, the weight of the monolith is
found to be very nearly 186 1/3 tons, neglecting loss from hieroglyphs and =
the
marring of the heel and edges. That marring of the heel, to the extent of
breaking off large masses at the corners, cannot be attributed to the prese=
nt
age. The fractures are also too irregular to admit the theory that they were
purposely broken off to facilitate the operation of raising the Needle. It
seems probable that in the Middle Ages the obelisk was erect, and, like its
fellow, now in
When Captain Carter and M= r. Waynman Dixon wished to commence excavating round the Needle, they were much delayed and annoyed by the owner of the ground, who had made a claim against the Egyptian government for allowing the obelisk to encumber his property f= or so long. Great perseverance and tact were necessary to smooth matters with = this person, but an amicable settlement was finally reached, and the work was be= gun early in June.
As soon as the obelisk was
disclosed to view stout balks of timber were introduced under it, and, with=
the
help of hydraulic jacks, the smaller end was moved round so as to bring it
parallel to the sea. It had been carried along about thirty feet when the e=
arth
appeared to be yielding under the weight, and, on examination, the crown of=
a
vault was discovered about six feet long by three wide and four high. Sever=
al
small jars were found in there, and two human skulls in a perfect state of
preservation, also several arm and leg bones. The skulls were eventually pu=
t on
board the "Cleopatra," but as they were never seen after the gale=
in
the
The materials of the cyli= nder soon arrived, and the diaphragms were put in place round the obelisk, being packed so as to be water-tight, and separated from the stone by the elastic cushions previously mentioned. As soon as a few of the middle bulkheads were on, the plates of the iron shell were riveted to them and to each other, and bit by bit the entire casing was built up.
While this work was going= on, under the superintendence of Mr. Waynman Dixon, the sea-wall was demolished= and the land graded. Divers were also employed by Captain Carter to remove the numerous blocks of stone lying in the water near by; many of these were cov= ered with hieroglyphics, and, could their early history be traced, might add to = our knowledge of the glories of those ancient monarchs. Farther out the remains= of an immense wall were encountered, composed of blocks weighing over twenty t= ons. Dynamite had to be used to blast them, as it was necessary to carry the gra= de out to a depth of nine or ten feet. A great number of stones were thus remo= ved, but it was foreseen that there were probably others barely below the muddy surface which could not be seen, but which would assert themselves as the weight of the vessel came upon them. To
1
See chap. vi, "
Removal of the Fallen Obe=
lisk of
guard against danger in t= his quarter, two rings of nine-inch timber were strapped round the cylinder, ne= ar the ends, constituting in effect two wheels sixteen and a half feet in diam= eter and twelve feet in the tread, on which the vessel would roll. Planking was = also laid as far as the water's edge.
One other precaution had = to be taken before the launch. The stone being four inches below the centre of the cylinder, the motion in rolling would be hard to control, for as soon as the heavy part got over the perpendicular, it would give a great lurch forward. This eccentricity was counterbalanced by packing a quantity of old iron rai= ls in a recess that had been made for the purpose in the round skin where the cabin was afterward to be built.
The last stage of the preparations was reached when the ropes were arranged to start the cylinder. Wire hawsers were used. They were passed from seaward over the top and nine times round the vessel, so that on applying power to them they would cause = her to roll down the incline; the hauling ends were taken to winches on board h= eavy lighters moored some distance out; other hawsers were also provided on the = land side to check the movement when desired.
The 28th of August, 1877,=
was the
day fixed for the launch. It began rather inauspiciously with a thick fog,
something rather unusual at that time of year; but as the day wore on it
cleared away. By six in the morning the slack of the wire hawsers had been
taken in on board the lighters, and four powerful screw-jacks were placed
against the cylinder. Two steam-tugs were also ready to lend assistance, one
belonging to the Egyptian government, and one to Messrs. Greenfield & C=
o.
Several thousands of the mixed population of
When all was ready the wi= nches were hove round, and the screw-jacks plied, and in a few minutes the ponder= ous vessel began to roll toward the sea, but so slowly that the movement was ba= rely perceptible. By noon the cylinder had only made one revolution, equal to ab= out fifty feet. The work went on uninterruptedly in spite of the heat, 90° = in the shade not being sufficient to dim the interest of even the spectators. Working the hawsers from the lighters had to be given up, however, because = the holding ground was so poor that th= eir anchors dragged under the strain. So the ropes were taken to the tugs, whic= h, steaming ahead at full power, could just keep the cylinder moving. By half = past five it had reached the water's edge, where the planking ended and a comparatively steep incline commenced, and there it made an attempt to run = off to sea, but was checked at twelve feet. After this the progress was as grad= ual as before, and the screw-jacks had to be kept in constant operation. Just before seven she took another start, and made a sudden half-turn, bringing = up in three feet of water, where she was left for the night.
It was not a bad day's wo= rk, on the whole, although, of course, some disappointment was felt that the obeli= sk had not been got afloat. It seems to be a peculiarity, however, of operatio= ns with obelisks, that unforeseen hitches will occur and cause delay.
Soon after daylight on th= e 29th the screw-jacks were manned again and the tugs began towing away. Not much = was gained until about noon, when the cylinder took a fine roll and got out so = far that it was thought to be afloat. This proved not to be the case, however, = and all the rest of the day the tugs were kept at work with but little effect. = The next morning the remarkable discovery was made that the vessel was apparent= ly half full of water. What made this all the more awkward was, that what was properly the upper half was under water, and it was impossible to open the = man-hole doors to examine into the cause of the leak. Arab divers were employed but failed to discover what was the matter. A hole was then cut in the surface above water, and a fifteen-inch double-suction pump set to work; but that d= id not seem to affect the level of the water inside. A regular diver in proper diving-dress was then sent down, and he reported that a large stone, hidden= in the sand, had penetrated the bottom forward of the end bulkhead.
104 Removal of the Fallen=
Obelisk
of
$$$ When a large vessel f= ounders after a collision, one of the first questions asked by the court of inquiry= is: "Were the bulkhead-doors shut?" Mr. Dixon, in alluding to this ph= ase of the operations, in a lecture delivered before the Royal United Service Institution, London, said: "Now I shall never be hard, and never be severe, on any naval captains, or any one else after what occurred. There w= ere six or seven of us with every inducement to pay every attention to that ves= sel. There was Mr. Waynman Dixon in actual charge of the operations, the others looking on. We had provided bulkheads, we had provided water-tight doors th= rough them, and we had so carefully managed that the man whose duty it was to clo= se those doors had forgotten to do so, and all were left open!" The whole vessel had filled, therefore, as soon as the hole was made in that end compartment.
The first thing to be don= e was to remove the stone, which took days, for it proved to be a rock weighing over half a ton. The cylinder was then rolled over to seaward to bring the injur= ed plate out of water. On the 5th of September the hole appeared above the wat= er's edge and was found to measure eighteen inches across. A patch was riveted o= n, and the next day passed in pumping the vessel dry. On the 7th the tugs were recalled, and by eleven that morning the cylinder was observed to rise and = fall with the swell, showing unmistakably that it was afloat. The wooden casing = was immediately stripped off, the counterbalancing weight of rails removed from= the top, and, amid cheers from the shore, the novel craft was towed out of the = bay and round to the harbor. With child-like confidence a number of Arabs and Maltese had perched themselves upon her arched back, with nothing to save t= hem in case of her rolling. Owing to her shape, however, the amphibious fabric moved along, as steady as a church, while the tugs ahead were rolling spons= ons under.
After this not much remai= ned to be done. The cylinder was put on the magnificent floating dock belonging to= the Egyptian government, and bilge-keels riveted on, some forty feet in length.= The cabin and bridge were also fitted, the mast stepped, the rudder hung, and a= ll preparations made for sea, including the stowage of twenty tons of iron ballast. In doing the last the overseers were so negligent as not to have t= he rails properly secured, and this neglect nearly led to the loss of the vess= el afterward. When all ready for sea the total displacement was 290 tons.
Christened on the 19th, b=
y the
daughter of Admiral MacKillop Pacha, the "Cleopatra" weighed anch=
or
on the 21st of September, and moved out of the harbor in tow of the steamer
"Olga." Stoppages were made |at
The "Olga" fina=
lly managed
to throw a line over the "Cleopatra," by which a boat was hauled
alongside, and Captain Carter and his crew reached the steamer in safety.
Captain Booth immediately cast off his tow, and went in search of the boat =
and
crew that had been swamped, but found no trace of them. Neither could the
"Cleopatra" be found again afterward. Concluding somewhat hastily
that she had foundered, the "Olga's" head was laid northward, and
they reached
THE ENGLISH METHOD OF ERECTING THE
Sectional Plan through
Perspective view of the <= span style=3D'background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow'>turning structure.<= /p>
Plan of iron jacket.
Section through iron jack= et.
Longitudinal section hori= zontally through axis of jacket.
Plate XXXV.
Removal of the Fallen Obe=
lisk of
on the 17th. Had Captain =
Booth
remained in the neighborhood, possibly a little to windward for safety duri=
ng
the night, he might have picked up his consort again. As it was, the
"Fitzmaurice" espied the prize seventy miles from Ferrol, towed it
into that port, and sent in a claim for salvage to the amount of £5,0=
00.
When the case was tried in the
The "Cleopatra"
remained about three months in the
By this time it had been =
decided
where to erect the Needle, though the discussion had been warm, the "B=
attle
of the Sites" having been obstinately fought in many papers. The centr=
e of
two acres of ornamental ground on the Thames embankment had been originally
granted to General Alexander in 1872, but that was very generally objected =
to
on the score that the monument would not be sufficiently detached from the =
rear
of the houses in the
The obelisk, being nation= al property, came at first under cognizance of Her Majesty's Office of Works, but before long was turned over to the Metropolitan Board of Works, which body finally decided upon the Adelphi steps, on the Victoria Embankment of the Thames, between Charing Cross and Waterloo bridges. Whatever the objections to this site in regard to the fitness of its surroundings, none can apparently be u= rged on engineering grounds. A very broad and thick concrete base was provided, resting on the stiff clay which underlies the mud of the river bank, and the arched vaults of the embankment were filled in solid with cement concrete. = It is not thought probable that the weight of the monolith will affect the embankment.
The selection of this site
naturally facilitated the remainder of Mr. Dixon's work, as the "Cleop=
atra,"
with her burden, could come right alongside, and the Needle had only to be
lifted out and erected without any farther journeying. So the vessel was
brought up from the
This done, work was comme= nced on the apparatus for erecting the Needle. (See Plate xxxv). First of all, four immense uprights were fashioned, each formed of six heavy balks of timber o= ver sixty feet high and a foot square, strengthened and braced together by tie-beams, and supported in their vertical position by struts thrown out on= all sides. These uprights were to do duty as guide-rods for the carriage, so to speak, on which the obelisk would be borne aloft and held while turning. Th= is carriage consisted of two horizontal box-girders, one on either side of the stone, supported on wooden
1
There is some uncertainty on this point. Some reports state that the claim =
was
for £10,000, and that the award was £7,000. - H.H.G.
106 Removal of the Fallen=
Obelisk
of
blocking fitted in betwee= n the balks composing the uprights. A wrought-iron jacket, twenty feet long, was riveted round the Needle, from which projected on opposite sides, at the ce= ntre of gravity, two knife-edge pivots, which should rest on the box-girders. The jacket was made twenty feet long, to guard against any possible danger of t= he Needle being fractured by the weight of its own ends. Wooden packing was dr= iven in between it and the sides of the monolith to save the surface of the ston= e from injury. To prevent the middle from slipping through while being swung into a vertical position, a stirrup-strap was passed round the base from two sides= of the jacket. The object in having the movable girders take the weight during= the operation of turning was to afford the means of lowering the Needle on the pedestal after being swung into the vertical. Hydraulic jacks under the gir= ders would effect this easily.
As soon as the scaffoldin= g was ready the monolith was slowly raised in a horizontal position by hydraulic jacks, being followed up in the ascent by timber-blocking. The position of = the computed centre of gravity was tested by actual trial before it reached a g= reat height. The location, by figures, of the centre of gravity of a conglomerate mass, consisting of the obelisk with its lower corners irregularly broken, = the iron jacket, and the heavy stirrup-strap under the heel, is naturally liabl= e to error; the exact point was found to be at twenty-seven feet six inches from= the larger end.
While the Needle was clim=
bing
upward, the three steps and pedestal were built up under it to a total heig=
ht
of eighteen feet eight inches. The lower course of steps, resting on the le=
vel
of the embankment, is sixteen feet one and one-half inches square and four =
feet
three inches high; the second or middle step is fourteen feet square and two
feet four inches high; the top step is twelve feet square by one foot ten
inches high, all being built of brick-work with a Cornish granite outercasi=
ng.
Above these steps is the pedestal, unfortunately not a monolithic mass wort=
hy
of the shaft it supports, but built up of masonry in five courses. It is ten
feet square at the base tapering to nine feet three inches at the top, in a
height of ten feet five inches. The three lower courses are of brick and
Within the pedestal were deposited two earthen jars containing the following objects: - Standard foot and pound; bronze model of the obelisk (scale, half inch to the foot); memo= rial printed on vellum, giving a brief account of the removal of the obelisk, wi= th plans of the various arrangements; jars of Doulton ware; a piece of the obe= lisk stone, chipped in leveling the base; complete set of British coinage, inclu= ding an Empress of India rupee; parchment copy of Dr. Birch's translation of the= obelisk hieroglyphics; standard gauge to one thousandth part of an inch; portrait of the Queen; Bibles in several languages; the Hebrew Pentateuch; the Arabic Genesis, and a translation into two hundred and fifteen languages of the sixteenth verse of the third chapter of St. John's Gospel; Bradshaw's Railw= ay Guide; Mappin's shilling razor; a case of cigars, pipes, box of hair-pins, = and sundry articles of female adornment; Alexandra feeding-bottle and children's toys; a Tangye hydraulic jack, such as used in raising the obelisk; wire ro= pes and specimens of marine cables; map of London; copies of the daily and illustrated papers; photographs of a dozen pretty Englishwomen (presented by gallant Captain Carter); a two-foot rule; a London Directory, and Whitaker'= s Almanac.
When the obelisk reached = such a height that on being turned the heel would be several inches above and clea= r of the pedestal, controlling tackles were secured to both heel and point, and,= a preliminary trial on the 11th proving successful, September 12th was fixed = upon for the erection. The time was three P.M. An inopportune shower coming on suddenly early in the afternoon somewhat thinned out the crowd that had beg= un to assemble; but the sun reappeared, and, under the pleasant auspices of a clearing sky, a vast concourse lined the river front. At the appointed hour=
PLATE XXXVI.
LONGITUDINAL SECTION.
HORIZONTAL SECTION.
MIDSHIP SECTION.
LINES AT BOW & STERN.
THE ENGLISH CYLINDER FOR SEA TRANSPORT
Removal of the Fallen Obe=
lisk of
the controlling tackles w= ere handled, and in half an hour the obelisk was vertical. The Union Jack and Turkish flag were run up in token of success, and ringing cheers bespoke the congratulations of the multitude. The operation of lowering the monument to= the pedestal was deferred until the following day, and was then performed with complete success.
Much circumspection was s= hown in deciding upon the embellishments for the Needle and its immediate vicinity.= In August, 1880, a plaster-cast of a sphinx, colored to resemble bronze, was placed on one of the smaller pedestals on either side of it, to judge of the effect prior to having the castings made. In the same way, and for the same purpose, wings of ornamental design were placed under the broken corners of= the Needle where it rests on the masonry base, with filling-pieces between them. This work was designed by Mr. Vulliamy, the architect of the Metropolitan B= oard of Works, and the effect proving satisfactory, the castings were ordered an= d commenced in March, 1881. They are not shown in the view of the obelisk contained on Plate xxxvii, which, although the most recent photograph taken up to the present time, antedates the placing of the bronzes. The two sphinxes are enlarged copies of one in stone in the collection of the Duke of Northumberland, at Alnwick Castle, which is supposed to be of the same peri= od as the obelisk, as it bears on the breast the cartouch of Thothmes III. Each one is nineteen feet long, six feet wide, nine feet high over all, and weig= hs about seven tons; the alloy is ninety parts of copper and ten of tin. The filling-pieces between the wings at the base of the Needle were made to represent the cartouch of Thothmes III.
The casting of the sphinx=
es was
completed in September, 1881, and it was expected that in the course of a m=
onth
or so every thing would be completed, including the inscriptions on the
pedestal. These read as follows: West face: "This obelisk, prostrate f=
or
centuries in the sands of Alexandria, was presented to the British nation A=
.D.
1819, by Mohammed Ali, Viceroy of Egypt, - a worthy memorial of our
distinguished countrymen, Nelson and Abercromby." - North face: "=
This
obelisk, through the patriotic zeal of Erasmus Wilson, F.R.S., was brought =
from
The question of the durab=
ility of
Egyptian red granite in the climate of
In connection with the re=
moval of
such magnificent relics of a great past as the obelisks of
1
Baedeker's Guide Book for 1881. It is obviously not the intention to leave =
the
east face of the pedestal bare, though the inscription was not in place at =
the
date of preparing this work. At the time of a recent visit to the British
capital none had been finally decided upon.
2
£7,000 is the amount stated by some authorities to have been awarded.=
- H.H.G.
108 Removal of the Fallen=
Obelisk
of
amount of other material = used in erecting the obelisk were furnished Mr. Dixon free of cost by merchants.
Unlike
RECORD OF T=
HE
The record of the
The
The
According to Birch, the v=
ignettes
of the pyramidion represent Thothmes III, in the form of a sphinx, presenti=
ng
offerings to Ra and Tum, the chief deities of
Three columns of hierogly=
phs appear
on each of the four faces: the central column of each side being that of
Thothmes III; the lateral columns were added by Ramses II. The south and ea=
st
sides, as erected at
The inscriptions of Thoth=
mes III,
according to Birch, indicate that the obelisk was erected late in this
monarch's reign: their one theme is his devotion to the
The inscriptions of Ramse=
s II,
according to Birch, were added in that monarch's youth; they are chiefly
devoted to the praise of his conquests. He is "the powerful victor,&qu=
ot;
"making his frontiers wherever he wished"; "the guardian of =
ARTOTYPE. THE
Plate XXXVII
Removal of the Fallen Obe=
lisk of
the Mediterranean Sea, 1 the North to the poles of heave= n"; "leading captive the Rutennu (Syrians) and Peti (Libyans) out of their countries to the seat of the house of his father"; "the eyes of mankind behold what he has done." 2
1
To the
2
The translation of all of the
hieroglyphs on the
CHAPTER V.
RE-ERECTION OF THE
BY LIEUTENANT SEATON SCHROEDER, UNITED STATES NAVY.
IN the Piazza di San Piet=
ro
stands the largest entire obelisk out of
Brought from
Standing on a pedestal hi=
dden in
rubbish, in a muddy, unfrequented quarter of the city rarely visited by the
travellers that flocked annually to
A commission was convened= of distinguished prelates and savants to deliberate upon the most appropriate site, and more particularly upon the best method of effecting its removal. = This body met on the 24th of August, 1585, but the members fell to generalizing = and discussing vague principles, and came to no conclusion. Nothing daunted by = this failure, the pope issued an appeal to the lights and talent of the century, offering a prize for the best plan. Over 500 persons attended this second meeting, which took place on the 18th of September of the same year; Milan, Venice, Florence, Lucca, Sicily, even Rhodes and Greece were represented in= the assembly, and every one present had a drawing, a
Re-erection of the
model, or a written descr=
iption.
Notwithstanding great divergence of opinion in matters of detail, most of t=
he
contestants argued that it would be safer, easier, and more prudent to
transport it erect than to lower it and raise it again on a new pedestal; s=
ome
even proposed to move it not only erect, but on its pedestal. Others advoca=
ted
a middle course - to incline it at an angle 'of forty-five degrees, and hau=
l it
along in that position. There is no written description extant of the vario=
us
methods proposed, but in
Among the contestants was
Dominicus Fontana, an architect, native of Mili, a village on the border of=
Wishing to hasten and fac=
ilitate
the work in every possible way. Pope Sixtus gave him authority to demolish =
all
buildings that might interfere with the carrying out of his plans, and to t=
ake,
in Rome or other cities of the Holy See, all materials, instruments, or pro=
visions
necessary, for which an indemnity would be paid the proprietors afterward. =
All
papal employés were likewise enjoined to aid and second
1
Della Trasportatione dell' obelisco
Vaticano, et delle fabriche di nostra Signore Papa Sisto V. Fatte dal caval=
lier
Domenico Fontana. Roma, 1590. This work is to be found in the Aster
Library,
112 Re-erection of the
pontiff. Armed with these=
full
powers, he sent trusted agents to various points to collect the materials
necessary. The timber was drawn from the forests of Campo Morto, twenty mil=
es
from
The first thing to be don= e was to ascertain the weight to be lifted. Careful measurements proved
the dimensions of the obe= lisk to be as follows:
|
|
|
|
FEET. |
INCHES. |
|
|
|
FEET. |
INCHES. |
|
Length
of main shaft, |
107
1/2 palmi 1 |
=3D |
78 |
8.92 |
Height
of pyramidion, |
6
palmi |
=3D |
4 |
4.74 |
|
Side
of base, |
12
1/12 palmi |
=3D |
8 |
10.21 |
Total
height, |
113
1/2 palmi |
=3D |
83 |
1.66 |
|
Side
of top, |
8
1/2 palmi |
=3D |
5 |
11.05 |
|
|
|
|
|
The slight height of the
pyramidion struck
Accepting
Having found the weight t=
o be
moved and the power capable of being transmitted by each apparatus, it was
decided that forty tackles worked by as many capstans, moved by eight hundr=
ed
men and seventy-five horses, together with five great levers worked by one
hundred and six men, and wedges driven under the base, would furnish suffic=
ient
power to allow for lack of simultaneity in heaving. So we see that
The plan of lowering the =
obelisk
involved first raising it bodily about two feet, in order to introduce
underneath it a platform on rollers, on to which it would be lowered, and on
which it would be rolled to its new site. As tackles were to be used in
hoisting it, it was necessary to provide fixed points for the upper blocks =
of
the pulleys, and for this purpose was built an immense scaffolding ninety f=
eet
high, which was universally dubbed
1
Palmi d'architettura; one palmo =3D 0.7325 feet, =3D 8.79 inches.
2
Erasmus Wilson.
APPARATUS FOR TRANSPORTING AND ERECTING THE
Perspective= view of Structure. &n= bsp; Perspective view of Structure.
Section thr= ough Structure. &n= bsp; = ; &n= bsp; Section through moveable Strut.
Method of transporting.
Plate XXXVIII.
Re-erection of the
uprights, three and a hal= f feet apart, four on either side of the column. Each upright was forty inches squ= are in section, built of oak and walnut, four beams in thickness; the butts of = the pieces were carefully shifted, the various parts put together without tenon= s or mortises, but secured by key-bolts, iron bands at every nine feet, and rope lashings equally spaced. The latter were tightened by wedges driven between them and the wood. The uprights were sustained in their vertical position by struts, which had also to be fashioned by uniting several pieces of timber;= the struts and uprights were secured to each other by cross and diagonal tie-be= ams, iron bands, and wooldings. The tops of the uprights were connected by truss= es, as is shown in section through stru= cture, Plate xxxviii, the string-pieces running along over these trusses being over two feet square; to these were lashed the upper blocks of the tackles. It w= as seen that when the pressure was thrown on the uprights, the struts branching out would prevent their buckling outward, but that they were liable to bend inward. To prevent this, horizontal tie-beams were thrown across from uprig= ht to upright, bolted to them, and butted against the struts; afterward they h= ad to be removed one at a time as the obelisk was lowered. The entire "ca= stle" rested upon a heavy timber platform, into which the uprights and struts were stepped with tenon and mortise; in the construction of the whole fabric, no= ne but key-bolts, or such as could be easily drawn, were used, to facilitate dismantling it and setting it up again on the new site. Finally, for perfect security, eight heavy shrouds or stays were fitted to the top of the castle, and set up taut to ensure stability.
While this scaffolding wa=
s being
put up, the ground was levelled off, houses that interfered with the effici=
ent
working of the capstans torn down, and the obelisk encased in a protective
covering of matting and two-inch plank. Twelve iron bars, four inches wide =
and
two inches thick, were passed beneath the heel and up, three along each fac=
e;
they had shoulders against which butted nine horizontal iron bands, which d=
id
the double duty of securing the planking and affording means of attaching t=
he
lower blocks of the tackles. The obelisk resting on four bronze blocks made=
it
possible to pass the bars under the base without injuring the pedestal. Not
trusting entirely to iron, additional rope lashings were unsparingly provid=
ed,
and
The excavations at the ne= w site in St. Peter's Square were also continued in search of solid ground, and a number of commemorative medals were deposited in the pit, most of them being contained in two caskets of travertine stone, holding a dozen each. On one = face they bore the image of our Saviour, and on the other various symbols among which were the following: a man asleep under a tree, with the motto Perfecta Securitas; three mountain= s of which the right-hand one was surmounted by a cornucopia, the left by a laur= el branch, and the middle one by a sword the point of which, turned heavenward, supported a balance, the inscription below being Fecit in monte convivium pinguium; St. Francis kneeling before a church in ruins, with the exhortation Vade Francisce et repara. On some of the coins was struck the effigy of Pope Sixtus V, with the figures of Religion and Justice on the reverse side.
On the 28th of April, 158=
6, every
thing was ready, and the 30th was appointed for the lowering. On the 29th <=
st1:City
w:st=3D"on">
114 Re-erection of the
a great many strangers ha=
d also
flocked to
The architect then assume= d a conspicuous position whence he could be seen by all, and, speaking in a loud voice, recalled the religious motives that prompted the transplantation of = the obelisk. "The work that we are about to undertake is in the cause of religion, and for the exaltation of the holy cross. Implore with me the hel= p of God, the sovereign moving power; let us ask for His help, without which all= our efforts must be in vain." And all within hearing - noblemen, citizens, priests, strangers - fell on their knees and recited a pater and an ave. A striking scene must it have been, and typical of that curious age.
A blast of the trumpet se= t the capstans revolving round their spindles; the tackles assumed the strain, the ends of= the levers descended slowly, the hammers were heard ringing against the heads of the wedges, and the majestic shaft, heretofore leaning toward the cathedral, drew itself up to a vertical pose amid a portentous creaking of wood and tackles. A stroke of the bell brought every thing to a standstill. The vibration was only caused by the compression due to lifting bodily a dead weight of three hundred and fifty tons, and no material harm had been done.= The topmost iron band was found broken and was immediately replaced by a rope lashing held down by frappings under the heel. Another heave was then order= ed, and the obelisk left its metal supports; the signals were repeated a dozen times, and finally, at about four in the afternoon, it had been raised twenty-four inches. This was announced by the firing of a small cannon, and immediately the batteries of the city responded with a joyous salute.
An inspection of the appa=
ratus
the next day revealed the fact that most of the horizontal iron bands were
broken, twisted, or displaced; disaster had probably been averted only by <=
st1:City
w:st=3D"on">
The operations still to be performed required extensive alterations in the various apparatus. The end = of the rolling cradle was introduced beneath the obelisk, between the wedges at the corners, from right to left as viewed in the left-hand figure of Plate xxxviii. It was necessary then to change the movable blocks of the tackles = from what was to be the under side of the Needle to some other
Re-erection of the
part. Four tackles were a= lso rigged to pull the cradle along to the left as the monolith was lowered. As= a precaution against a possible yielding of the ropes at any time, a heavy movable strut was devised and placed against the Needle, near the middle, t= he upper end being seized by an iron collar round the shaft, which formed the = axis on which it could revolve, the lower end being free to move away to the rig= ht when desired. To afford means of checking this movement so as to make it support= the weight, a roller was placed between two parts of the strut (see section through movable strut, Pla= te xxxviii); two ropes were wound several times round this roller, and the ends secured to the columns of the scaffolding; the roller revolving permitted t= he foot of the strut to recede as the obelisk was lowered, but by placing a le= ver in a mortise cut for the purpose, this rotation could be stopped, and the s= trut kept steady. As a prop of this kind could only act efficiently at certain favorable angles, several were prepared of different lengths, so that at no period of the descent need the obelisk be left without proper support.
All the preparations for =
the new
work were completed by the 7th of May, and the operations were resumed on t=
hat
day. The trumpet and the bell were used as before to regulate the capstans.=
As
the lowering tackles were slacked, the cradle and the heel of the monolith =
were
pulled away to the westward. It was
The monument had now to be dragged to its new site in St. Peter's Square, a distance of two hundred and seventy-five yards. The level of the ground here was a little more than twenty-nine feet lower than at the old site, but when the height of the pedestal, twenty-seven feet, was considered, it was found that the descent would be only about two feet in the two hundred and seventy-five yards. A roadway of earth was built on that grade, the sides being supported by a wo= od revetement propped up by struts; the revetement was further supported from within by transverse and diagonal braces. The height of this viaduct increa= sed from zero at the old site to twenty-seven feet at the new, the breadth being seventy-three feet at the bottom and thirty-six and one half at the top. The obelisk was only hauled away clear of the pedestal at first, so as to admit= of taking down the scaffolding, and of removing the underlying masonry, which = was rebuilt in precisely the same shape at the new site. The foundations requir= ed a great deal of labor and expense, as the nature of the ground was not favora= ble for supporting a heavy weight. An excavation forty-three feet square had be= en made to a depth of twenty-four feet, and as the soil then reached was not f= irm enough, oak and chestnut piles eighteen feet long and nine inches in diamet= er, after being barked, were driven in a solid mass. Over this was laid an imme= nse bed of concrete, reaching nearly to the ground level, made of basalt and a mortar composed of lime and puzzolana.
As
116 Re-erection of the
but, strange to say, less=
broad
than the top one, being only one hundred and three and one quarter inches on
the east side, and one hundred and fourteen and one quarter on the others. =
The
finish of this block was much less perfect than that of the topmost, and
Next beneath was found wh= ite marble, in blocks connected by iron clamps cased in lead; the iron was foun= d to be in a perfect state of preservation although it had been under water apparently for centuries. Last of all were the courses of travertine stone forming three steps, which rested on decomposed concrete.
In rebuilding this substr= ucture, two inches had to be chiselled off the top of the upper plinth to form an e= ven surface, in consequence of its having been chipped away to remove the crabs. Some more medals, similar to those previously deposited in the concrete, we= re placed within the masonry. Two gold ones, on the upper tier of steps, bore = the effigy of the pope on one side, and on the other the images of Religion and Justice. Between the two inferior strata of marble was placed a slab of the same stone, on which were carved in Latin the names of Pope Sixtus V, and of Fontana, and the name of the latter's native town, together with an account= of the operations. Finally, eight square holes were made in the travertine sla= bs to receive the heels of the uprights of the scaffolding; these, in conseque= nce, had to be made some twenty-seven feet longer than before. When all this was done, earth was compactly rammed all around, forming a continuation of the viaduct, which here widened out to ninety-one and one half feet at the bott= om and sixty-nine and one half at the top. The scaffolding was then rebuilt, a= nd the obelisk slowly dragged by means of tackles and capstans until the point= was over the centre of the pedestal, a commemorative slab having been left to m= ark the spot where it had stood for so many centuries.
On the 10th of September,= 1586, the erection took place, being preceded by the same religious ceremonies as= the lowering. As the apex of the shaft rose under the action of forty capstans, worked by one hundred and forty horses and eight hundred men, horizontal tackles pulled the heel and cradle forward, for the purpose of keeping the hoisting gear acting as nearly vertically as possible. At about three o'clo= ck, when an angle of forty-five degrees was reached, a respite was granted for = dinner, all having been at work without intermission since daylight; the movable st= rut was again brought into play and proved itself an efficient auxiliary suppor= t. At nearly sunset, thirteen hours after beginning operations, the obelisk was vertical over the pedestal, but separated from it by the cradle. To free the latter, the monolith had to be raised bodily, and this was accomplished, on= the following day, with the same combination of apparatus as on the old site, - forty capstans, five levers, and the wedges. Acted upon simultaneously by a= ll these motors the obelisk was lifted a certain distance, and then rested on = the wedges, while the cradle was removed and the bronze crabs replaced precisel= y as they had been found. All this took some time, and it was not until the eigh= th day after the erection that the tackles were slacked, the levers eased up, = the wedges carefully and slowly withdrawn, and the obelisk landed firmly and permanently on its four supports.
There is a very pretty li= ttle anecdote related in connection with this operation, which naturally appeals= to one's imagination, but which will scarcely stand the test of practical inqu= iry. It is said that the progress of the work was interrupted, and the process of erection on the eve of failing from the stretching of the ropes, when a sai= lor named Bresca, regardless of consequences, cried out, "Acqua alle funi!" (wet the ropes!), and that this practical advice being acted up= on the weight was lifted. The legend goes on to the effect that not only was B= resca pardoned for violating the strict orders regarding silence, but that the po= pe conferred upon him and all his posterity the privilege of supplying
Re-erection of the
St. Peter's with palm lea=
ves on
Palm Sunday, as an acknowledgment of his services on that memorable occasio=
n.
It seems that there is now a family of that name in Bordighera, possessing =
that
privilege, but, iconoclastic as it may appear, the story of the origin of t=
he
grant will not hold water. If the ropes were stretching it was because the
elastic limit of the hemp had been exceeded by too severe a strain; wetting=
the
rope would have had the effect of contracting the fibre and, therefore, of
increasing the strain. Moreover, the whole weight of the monolith was never
allowed to come entirely upon the tackles, except in lowering.
If the anecdote has any foundation in fact, it could only be that the power applied was insufficien= t, and that the contraction of the ropes by moisture supplied the deficiency. = But this theory is also open to serious objections. When a rope is subjected to= a strain such as was sustained by these, the fibres are so compressed and the surface of the rope so hard, that it would be impossible for any moisture to penetrate into it for a long time, especially if new rope as this was. Also, if, unfortunately, the moisture had penetrated into any or all of the forty tackles used, an irregularity of contraction would have been produced that = in all probability would have led to their successive rupture.
Honor to whom honor is du=
e. There
is no valid reason for imputing threatened failure to
On the apex of the obelis= k was placed a bronze cross seven feet four inches high, which was removed in 174= 0, when some relics of our Saviour were deposited in a cavity made for the purpose. Bronze lions, gilded, were also placed under the corners and apparently sustain the weight, for they conceal the crabs which really do t= hat duty.
Inscriptions on this obel= isk and pedestal are numerous. On the east and west sides of the shaft itself, is s= till visible in duplicate the original dedication to Augustus and Tiberius, as follows: "DIVO. CAES. DIVI. IVLII. F. AVGVSTO. TI. CAES. DIVI. AVG. F. AVGVS. SACRVM." There are also brief modern inscriptions on all faces of the pedestal. On the south side is a si= mple record of the removal: "Sixtus V. Pont. Max. obeliscum Vaticanum diu gentium impio cultu dedicatum ad Apostolorum limina operoso labore transtul= it. Anno MDLXXXVI." On the north side the consecration of the obelisk to t= he holy cross is commemorated: "Sixtus V. Pont. Max. cruci invictae obeli= scum Vaticanum ab impia superstitione expiatum justius et felicius consecravit. = Anno MDLXXXVI. Pont. II." On the east side is the pious apostrophe: "C= hristus vincit. Christus regnat. Christus imperat. Christus ab omni malo plebem suam defendat." On the west side is to be seen the somewhat vainglorious passage: "Ecce Crux Domini fugite partes adversae vicit Leo de Tribu Juda."
1
"Acciò che mai non stesse la Guglia in aria sopra le corde.&quo=
t;
2
The papal gold scudo of the 16th century did not vary in weight materially =
from
fifty grains. A silver scudo or=
more
correctly piastra of Paul V, 16=
20,
recently tested through the kind offices of a friend in the U.S. Mint,
118 Re-erection of the
$$$
Three other obelisks were
afterward erected by this same architect. One, in the Piazza del Popolo, is=
of
about the same height as that in front of St. Peter's; while another in the
Piazza di San Giovanni in Laterano is the largest known, being still one
hundred and five feet and seven inches high after having three feet cut or
broken off. Both of these, however, are in several pieces, and the chief ca=
re was
to adapt the fragments so as not to mar the stability or the symmetry of the
shafts. The third, now behind the
During the remaining four=
years
of the life of Pope Sixtus,
The
1
"Vie des Architectes."
CHAPTER VI.
RECORD OF ALL EGYPTIAN OBELISKS.
THE REMAINI=
NG OBELISK
AT
THE temple at
The present obelisk of
The pyramidions of the re=
maining
obelisk at
The question, very diffic=
ult of
solution, is raised by Birch, whether these differing cartouches belong to =
two
monarchs, or to but one (Ramses II). Rosellini, Champollion, and apparently.
Birch maintain that two kings are intended; while Rawlinson, Lenormant, and
Major Felix conclude, that only Ramses II is named. Lenormant's conclusion =
is
based on the discovery of two cartouches on the bottom of the
1
"Descrip. de l'Égypte, Antiq.," vol. iii., pl. 3, 6, 11.
Lenormant, "Musée," pl. xv, No. 15. Champollion, "Mon=
.,"
t. iv., pl. cccxx, cccxxi. [View of the obelisk in Ebers (
2
The obelisk now in
3
See Chapter III.
119
120 Record of all Egyptian Obelisks.
the name of Ramses III. H=
e argued
that if the name of Ramses II appeared on the obelisk at all it was erected=
by
him, and the cartouches on the bottom could not have been cut since it was
erected. No full translation of the inscriptions on the
A portion of the inscript= ion, which has been translated by Birch, extols the monarch as a builder: he is "the constructor of memorials"; "he has arranged the temple = of Amen, placing his name forever in Thebes"; "he has set up two obelisks of granite, placing them for millions of years at the divine resid= ence of Rameses, whom Amen loves, at the house of Amen-Ra."
Plate xxxix conveys some = idea of the grandeur of the ancient Egyptian edifices and the labor that was expend= ed on them. The two massive walls that formed the pylons of the temple were covered with sculptures and hieroglyphs, which may still be traced and part= ly deciphered. Just without the gate, between them, are two colossal statues of the king, that are buried nearly up to the shoulders in the sands that have been accumulating in many centuries. Some idea may be formed of the size of these statues by comparison with the height of the obelisk near by, which r= ises about sixty feet above the ground, and is buried over twenty feet below.
It is inexplicable that t=
he
French archaeologists residing in Egypt should have been so earnest and
persistent in their efforts to prevent the removal of the New York obelisk =
from
Alexandria, when their countrymen had set the example of modern times in the
wanton destruction of the only remaining group of pylon, statues, and obeli=
sks
as they had been originally placed by their builders. Before opposing and
condemning the removal of the
OBELISKS OF=
The great
Entering at the portal of= the first gigantic propylon (three hundred and seventy feet long; one side, or pylon, still standing, one hundred and thirty-five feet high) of Ramses II,= xix dynasty, the visitor traverses the vast open court (two hundred and seventy-five by three hundred and twenty-nine feet) of the same monarch. Th= en passing the ruins of the second great propylon, even more massive than the first, of Seti I, the founder of the xix dynasty, he enters the grand hypos= tyle hall, or Hall of Columns, 2 al= so the work of Seti I, and, according to Fergusson, "the greatest of man's architectural works." Then, by the third propylon, that of Amenhotep I= II, xviii dynasty, - with each massive, portal going still farther back into antiquity, - he enters a long narrow corridor extending across the whole wi= dth of the temple. Here, in front of the fourth propylon, the work of Thothmes I [xviii, dynasty, B.C. 1646-1625, Lepsius], are the two obelisks of this monarch; one fallen and broken, the other still standing in its original position; it is the left one on Plate xl. 3 They originally stood in front of the entire temple. 4
1
Fergusson, "Hist. of Architecture," vol. i, p. 106.
2
The central columns are sixty-six feet high, eleven and one half feet in
diameter.
3
"Descr. de l'Égypte, Antiq.," vol. iii, pl. 24. Lepsius,
"Denkmäler," vol. v, pl. 6. Rosellini, "Mon. Storici,&q=
uot;
pl. xxx.
4
Savary, in
ARTOTYPE. THE REMAINING OBELISK AND RUINS OF
Plate XXXIX
Record of all Egyptian Ob= elisks. 121
$$$ The pyramidion of the
standing obelisk is apparently not sculptured. The absence of the dedicatory
sculptures on the shaft indicates that it was sculptured originally. The
authorities on
Three columns of hierogly= phs are cut upon each face of the shaft"; the central columns bearing the name= and titles of Thothmes I; the lateral columns, according to Birch, bear the nam= es of Ramses V or VI. Mariette ("Monuments," pp. 168, 169) states th= at the side columns show rather confused cartouches, among which are the names= of Ramses VI engraved over those of Ramses IV, and adds that upon the many fragments of the fallen obelisk may be seen the name of Thothmes III. The inscriptions record that the king "has built his enduring edifice to h= is father, Amen-Ra," and "has erected two obelisks before the propylon" (Rosellini, vol. iii, p. 114).
OBELISKS OF=
HATASOU,
Still farther within the =
great
Ebers, Verninac St. Maur,= and others bestow their highest praises upon this obelisk. Its fine proportions, its exquisite polish, the singularly delicate and perfect execution of its sculptures, the unique richness of its ornamentation, together with its gigantic size, make it, in the opinion of Rosellini, one of the most admira= ble examples of Egyptian work. A marked entasis, or convexity, of at least one = of its faces was observed by Verninac St. Maur.
The pyramidion is unusual= ly acute, and is sculptured with vignettes representing, according to Rosellin= i, Hatasou, in male attire, kneeling before Amen-Ra, with her face turned from= the deity, who has his hand on her. The summit of the pyramidion above the vignettes, it appears from the inscriptions, was originally covered with &q= uot;pure gold."
A single column of admira= bly cut hieroglyphs appears upon the centre of each face of the shaft, bearing the = name of Hatasou. Thothmes III, her brother and successor, has attempted to erase= her cartouch wherever it appeared, and to substitute for it his own, whether impelled, as some say, by hatred of his too domineering sister, or by the desire to appropriate these splendid shafts to himself; but the attempt was= not successful, and the feminine grammatical forms still look through the names= of Thothmes, to claim the obelisks for their original founder.
Upon either side of the hieroglyphic column of each face are eight vignettes, beginning just below = the pyramidion, and descending more than half the distance from the summit to t= he base, thus enclosing the greater part of the inscription with a richly sculptured bordering, of which this is the only example. All the vignettes which border one side of the hieroglyphic column represent Amen-Ra; opposite the deity, on the other side of the column, stands a sovereign presenting offerings. The sovereign represented is, according to Rosellini, sometimes Hatasou herself, sometimes Thothmes I, her father, and sometimes her husban= d or her son. Upon the broken obelisk are exactly the same designs as those of t= he standing shaft. These sculptures have been cut and polished with the
1
The plates of Lepsius and Rosellini show the pyramidion plain. So also do
photographs of more recent dates. There is not even a line to be discovered=
on
the pyramidion in the photographs.
2
According to Cooper, p. 28, there is but one column on each face; and so,
indeed, it is represented in the "Descr. de l'Égypte," pl.=
24.
But the plates of Lepsius and Rosellini show three columns; so do the
photographs.
3
"Descr. de l'Égypte Antiq.," vol. iii, pl. 21, 24, 27, 30.
Lepsius, "Denkmäler," vol. v, pl. 22-24. Rosellini, "Mo=
n.
Storici," pl. xxxi-xxxiv. Lenormant, "Musée," pl. xvi=
i.
No. 10.
122 Record of all Egyptian Obelisks.
greatest care; those at t= he summit and farthest from the eye of the spectator just as carefully as those lowest on the shaft ("Descr. de l'Égypte").
Our wonder at the elabora=
te
decoration and perfect execution of these gigantic monuments is increased w=
hen
we learn from their inscriptions that they were detached from the Assouan
quarries, removed to
The low, square pedestal = of the standing obelisk is figured in Plate 24 of Lepsius, "Denkmäler&qu= ot;; its sides are covered with hieroglyphs.
SMALL OBELI=
SKS, OR
STELAE, OF THOTHMES III,
Far within the great
On their north and south = sides are sculptured three lotus-flowers (the emblem of immortality, Heeren) in v= ery high relief; the sculptures still show the traces of the brilliant colors w= ith which they were formerly painted. Above the flowers is the royal cartouch. = The east and west sides bear three bass-reliefs, representing the king received= by the deity. Above these reliefs are a few hieroglyphs. According to Cooper, these inscriptions show the name of Thothmes III, though the shafts may have been erected by his sister Hatasou.
At the former site of the=
1
The following remarks upon this obelisk are by Mariette ("Monuments,&q=
uot;
p. 170): "The precision with which it is put on its base is remarkable=
; it
is in the very axis of the temple, and this precision, considering its vast
weight, shows the use of mechanical appliances the most exact and powerful.=
The
inscriptions show that the summit of the obelisk was covered with 'pure gol=
d.'
Unless this means an apex overlaid with a casing of gilded copper (like the
obelisk now at
2
"Descr. de l'Égypte Antiq.," vol. iii, pl. 30, Nos. 7, 8.
Lenormant, "Musée," pl. xvii, No. 10. Rawlinson, "
3
Various spellings: Usortesen, Baedeker; Usortasen, Rawlinson &qu=
ot;Egypt";
Usirtasen, Mariette; Sesortasen=
, Rawlinson ("Anc. Hist.");
Asertisen, Parker; Osirtasen, Murray.
4
Usortesen I, B.C. 2371-25, Lepsius; 2433-2400, Brugsch. The xii dynasty, B.=
C.
2380, Lepsius; 2466, Brugsch; 2781, Bunsen; 3064, Mariette; 2080, Wilkinson=
.
ARTOTYPE. THE OBELISKS AT
Plate XL
Record of all Egyptian Ob= elisks. 123
remains, still occupying,= after the lapse of thousands of years, the pedestal on which it was originally placed.
Both obelisks were origin= ally adorned with copper caps. St. Ephrem Syrus (born about A.D. 308, died about= 378), in his commentary on Isaiah, xxiii chapter, says: "The cap which is on= the top of each of these columns is of copper, and of the weight of one hundred pounds, and even more." 1= The copper caps are also mentioned by Denys of Telmahre, Patriarch of Antioch, = who wrote about A.D. 840. 2 Ebn-Khordadbeh, an Arabian writer of the third century of the Hegira, about= the ninth century of our era, is quoted as follows: "At Ain-Schems (Heliopolis) are two columns, the remains of the greater number which were formerly here; at the top of each is a collar of copper. From one of the two the water descends to about midway of the column, which is discolored."= ; 3
Mohammed ben-Abd-alrahin,=
who
visited
The mate of the present o=
belisk
of
The obelisk still standin= g is of the red syenite of Assouan. 9 = Its pyramidion is rough and was originally covered with a cap of metal.
The pedestal and bottom o=
f the
shaft cannot now be seen, being buried under successive deposits of the mud=
of the
1
Works of
2
De Sacy's "Abd-el-Lateef," p. 503.
3
De Sacy's "Abd-el-Lateef," p. 225-. This story of water flowing d=
own
the obelisk is repeated by another Arabian writer, and has been re-told in =
our
own times by M. de Hammer, who visited Heliopolis in 1801 (De Sacy).
4
De Sacy's "Abd-el-Lateef," p. 225-. Kodhai, quoted by Donaldson, =
in
Parker, p. 29, says the same. De Sacy adds a note that this figure of a man=
was
engraven on the cap, and not - as had been said in an earlier and erroneous
translation of the passage - a statue erected above the cap.
5
"Abd-el-Lateef." Relation de l'Égypte. Traduit par Silvest=
re
de Sacy.
6
A highly exaggerated estimate of the amount of metal upon these obelisks is
given by Mohammed ben-Ibrahim Djezi (or Djezeri) in his chronicle of the ye=
ar
656 of the Hegira, corresponding to the year 1258 of our era (De Sacy):
speaking of the obelisk then fallen, he says that "within it [dans son=
intérieur,
De Sacy's translation] were found nearly twenty thousand pounds [two hundred
quintaux] of copper, and from its top the same was taken to the value of te=
n thousand
dinars." De Sacy's "Abd-el-Lateef," p. 225-.
7
It fell in 1160, and not in 1260 as MaKrizi states (Ebers). For the error of
Djezi (Djezeri) and MaKrizi as to this date, see De Sacy's Abd-el-Lateef, p.
225-. Abd-el-Lateef saw the obelisk lying prostrate. The notes of Langles u=
pon
this point in Norden should be corrected, says De Sacy.
8
Lenormant says it was overthrown by the Arabs in their search for hidden
treasure.
9
For plates or descriptions of this obelisk see: Kircher, "OEdipus,&quo=
t;
vol. iii, p. 333. "Descr. de l'Égypte, Antiq.," vol. i,
p.
229. Lepsius, "Denkmäler," pt. ii, pl. 118. "Thomas Sha=
w's
Travels,"
10 I cannot find the record of the excavation and measurement of this
pedestal.
124 Record of all Egyptian Obelisks.
$$$ A single column of bo=
ldly and
simply cut hieroglyphics, repeated on each of the four faces of the shaft, =
bears
the name of Usortesen I, "the loved of the gods of
Dean Stanley thus describ=
ed his
impressions at the sight of this venerable shaft: "In these gardens
[gardens which partly cover the site of
LARGE OBELI=
SK OF
The obelisk now standing =
in the
Atmeidan, the ancient hippodrome at Constantinople, bears the cartouch of
Thothmes III, but where he erected it is in doubt; Brugsch states at
It is believed that this =
obelisk
was removed during the reign of Constantine the Great (A.D. 306-337) from i=
ts
original site to
The inscriptions on the p= edestal show that the obelisk was set up in its present position by Theodosius about A.D. 399, Cooper; A.D. 390, Zoega.
Birch conjectures that th= is obelisk at first stood in the fifth quarter of the city. Having been overth= rown by an earthquake and broken, it was removed to and re-erected where it now stands. Balt's translation of Petrus Gyllius' "Antiquities of Constantinople" (first edition, published in 1562) describes the obeli= sk as "supported by four square, broad pieces of brass, each one and one = half feet high. From the ground there rise two steps against the pedestal, the lowermost of which is one foot high and of the same breadth. The upper step= is two feet high, and projects four feet and four fingers' breadth beyond the pedestal. The steps are not laid within the pedestal, but are joined to it outside, as appears by the cement. Upon the steps stands the pedestal, whic= h is every way twelve feet broad, four feet eight digits in height, and projects beyond the base one and one half feet. Somewhat above one foot higher it is more contracted, and does not project beyond its base; for from the top of = the
1
P. Gyllius, "De Constantinopoleos Topographia," bk. i, c. II.
Kircher, "OEdipus," vol. iii, p. 305. C. Niebuhr, "Reisebesc=
hreibung
nach Arabien," vol. i, pl. iv. "Transac.
ARTOTYPE. THE OBELISK AT
Plate XLI
Record of all Egyptian Ob= elisks. 125
pedestal there is a flush= ing on the four sides of the obelisk, which is cut out of the same stone of which = the pedestal is made, and is one foot thirteen digits high. The corners of the = top of the pedestal are worn and defaced, but are repaired by four stones of Thebaic porphyry marble, each of them one and one half feet high; for all t= he fluted part of the pedestal that lies between these four angular stones, together with the upper part of it, supports the base, which is seven feet thirteen digits high, and projects one and one half feet beyond the bottom = of the shaft of the obelisk, to the breadth of nine feet nine digits. It is al= so carved on all sides, as is also the pedestal, which is carved with curious statues cut in basso-rilievo.&q= uot; John Sanderson, who was at Constantinople in 1594, has the following: "= ;In the midst of the Atmeidan is to be seen, raised upon four dice of fine meta= l, a very fair pyramid of mingled stone, all of one piece, fifty cubits high, ca= rved with heroical letters; resembling the Agulia of Rome. Its foot is double; in the first foundation, which is two cubits high, is carved the manner and the way which they took to set up this pyramid or obelisk; in the second foundation, which is four cubits high, are carved the tyrants conquered by Theodosius, who bring presents and render obedience on every side to the sa= id emperor, he also being carved in the midst."
The faces of the pyramidi= on are sculptured with square vignettes, in which is Thothmes III standing before = the divinity Amen. On each face of the shaft, just below the pyramidion, is ano= ther square vignette, in which Thothmes is kneeling before the enthroned god and presenting offerings.
A single column of large =
and
finely chiselled hieroglyphs appears on each face of the obelisk. The
inscriptions have a certain historical importance, as they are among the
earliest Egyptian records which mention Naharana, or
The following is Chabas' translation of the inscriptions in two vignettes and on the four sides.
OVER THE KING SITTING DOW= N.
Amen Lord of the thrones = of the two lands,
Dwelling (in
He gives all life, all ha= ppiness, all stability.
OVER THE KNEELING PHARAOH= .
The good God, Lord of the= earth,
Master of making things, =
The king of upper and low=
er
Ra-men-kheper, son of the= sun,
Thothmes, giving all life= like the sun, for ever.
WEST SIDE.
The heaven, the kingly Ho= rus,
Strong bull, swaying thro= ugh truth,
The king of upper and low=
er
Ra-men Kheper-iri-em-Ra, =
Who has gone through the = great circuit of Naharana,
In strength and victory, = at the head of his troops,
Making a great slaughter = ....
SOUTH SIDE.
The heaven
The kingly Horus,
The strong bull swaying t= hrough
Truth,
The Lord of diadems
Enlarging royalty,
Like the sun on high,
The golden hawk,
Of hallowed diadems,
Warlike dominator,
King of upper and lower <=
st1:place
w:st=3D"on">
Ra-men- Kheper-Sotep-en-R= a,
He made (the obelisk) in =
His monuments to his fath= er,
Amen-Ra, Lord of the thro= nes of
The two lands.
He erected ....
EAST SIDE.
The heaven
The kingly Horus,
Uplifting the white crown= ,
Beloved by the sun,
King of upper and lower <=
st1:place
w:st=3D"on">
Lord of diadems,
Swaying through truth
The love of the two lands= :
Ra-men-Kheper, son of the= sun,
Lord of victory,
Chastiser of the whole ea= rth,
Who has set his boundary =
At the horn of the earth,=
At the extremities of Nah= arana 1
........
1
Here the term, horn of the earth, refers to the southern mountains; and the
extremities of Naharana, to the northern limit of
126 Record of all Egyptian Obelisks.
NORTH SIDE.
The heavens,
The kingly Horus,
Strong bull,
Beloved by the sun,
The king of upper and low=
er
Ra-men-Kheper, whom Khepe= r-Ra has magnified,
Nursling of Tum,
Foster child
In the arms of Neith, the=
Divine mother;
As a king;
He has conquered all land= s.
Protracted (is) his life;=
Lord of feasts of thirty years....
SMALL OBELI=
SK AT
The syenite obelisk now s=
tanding,
according to Long, in the gardens of the Sultan at
Cooper concludes from its
dimensions that it is probably a monument of the Middle Empire; but Parker
assigns it to Nectanebo I, B.C. 378-360, xxx dynasty, - one of the three
independent dynasties given by Manetho as interrupting the rule of the Pers=
ian
power in Egypt. Nectanebo, while bravely contending against these foreign f=
oes,
yet found opportunity for some additions to the buildings at
OBELISKS IN=
The obelisks now standing=
in the
piazza of the basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore and before the
It is believed that they =
were
removed from
1
Peter Gyllius, "Antiq. of Constantinople," Ball's translation, p.
104. Long, "Egyptian Antiquities," vol. i, p. 332.
2
Kircher, "OEdipus," vol. iii, p. 368.
3
Parker contradicts himself; on his p. 1 he says, "both perhaps by Popi=
";
on his pl. vi, "Cavallo by Psammetik II "; also, "brought by
Augustus and set up as gnomon."
4
Cooper and Murray state that Claudius removed these obelisks A.D. 57. Claud=
ius
died A.D. 54.
ARTOTYPE. =
; &n=
bsp; =
; &n=
bsp; =
;
THE
Plate XLII
Record of all Egyptian Ob= elisks. 127
was unearthed during the
pontificate of Sixtus V, in three pieces and without its pyramidion.
THE LATERAN= OBELISK.
The obelisk now standing =
in front
of the basilica of
The inscription 2 is engraved on the four sides. =
It
bears the cartouches of Thothmes III, Thothmes IV of the xviii dynasty, and
Ramses II of the xix, who restored and set it up again. It has a certain
chronological interest from mention of thirty-five years between Thothmes I=
II
and Thothmes IV. The translation of those lines which relate to the kings of
the xviii dynasty only is given. Next to the chronological data one of the =
most
interesting notices found in the inscription is that of the barge of the god
Amen-Ra, which was made of cedar, cut down in the
The text and a translatio=
n have
been published by Ungarelli, "Interpretatio Obeliscorum," fo.,
NORTH SIDE.=
Scene on= the pyramidion 3: THOTHMES III ado= ring AMEN-RA, and the inscription,
"Th= e good god RA-MEN-KHEPER like the Sun."
"AM= EN, TUM." 4
Thothmes= III kneeling to Amen-Ra seated on his throne.
"Th= e King of the Upper and Lower country, Ra-MEN-KHEPER, Son of the Sun, THOTHMES like the Sun, Immortal."
"AM= EN-RA, Lord of the seats of Upper and Lower countries, gives all life, stability, = and power."
ON THE OBEL= ISK.
Central line of hieroglyphs: THOTH= MES IV adoring the hawk of HAR-EM-AKHU. 5=
The good= god, RA-MEN-KHEPERU Lord of the World, gives incense that he may be made a giver of life.
Central line: "The HARMACHIS,= the living Sun, the strong Bull beloved of the Sun, Lord of Diadems very terrib= le in all lands, the Golden Hawk the very powerful, the Smiter of the Libyans,= the King RA-MEN-KHEPER,
1
Although the inscriptions repeatedly mention
2
"Records of the Past," vol. iv, p. 9.
3
The apex of the obelisk.
4
Titles of the god Amen-Ra.
5
Harmachis, or sun in the horizon.
128 Record of all Egyptia= n Obelisks.
the son of AMEN-RA, of hi= s loins, whom his mother MUT gave birth to in Asher, one flesh 1 with him who created him, the Son of the Sun, THOTHMES (III) = the Uniter of Creation, beloved of AMEN-RA, Lord of the thrones of the Upper and Lower country, giver of life like the Sun for ever."
SOUTH SIDE.
Pyramidion, upper line: "The = King RA-MEN-KHEPERU (ThOTHMES IV), giver of life, beloved of AMEN-RA, Lord of the thrones of the two countries."
THOTHMES= III adoring AMEN-RA.
"Th= e Son of the Sun, THOTHMES (III), giver of life like the Sun for ever."
THOTHMES= III kneeling, offering wine to AMEN-RA seated on a throne.
"Th= e King RA-MEN-KHEPER, Son of the Sun, THOTHMES (III), giver of life like the Sun for ever." =
The godd= ess UAT 2 gives a good life, AMEN-RA, Lor= d of the seats of the Upper and Lower country, gives life, power, and stability.=
THOTHMES= IV seated on a throne adoring the hawk of HARMACHIS.
"Th= e good god RA-MEN-KHEPERU, giver of life like the Sun."
AMEN-RA,= King of the gods, (says) "Thou has received life in thy nostril."
Central line: "The HAR-EM-AKH= U, the living Sun, the strong Bull, crowned in Thebes, Lord of diadems, augmenting= his kingdom like the Sun in heaven, the Hawk of Gold, the Arranger of diadems, = very valiant, the King RA-MEN-KHEPER, approved of the Sun, Son of the Sun, THOTH= MES (III), has made his memorial to his father, AMEN-RA, Lord of the seats of t= he Upper and Lower countries, has erected an obelisk to him at the gateway of = the temple before Thebes, setting up at first an obelisk in Thebes to be made a giver of life."
EAST SIDE.<= /p>
Pyramidion: Thothmes III taken in = hand by AMEN-RA.
"Th= e good god, RA-MEN-KHEPER, giver of life like the Sun."
Thothmes= III kneeling and offering wine to AMEN-RA seated on a throne.
"Th= e King RA-MEN-KHEPER, Son of the Sun, THOTHMES, giver of life like the Sun, gives water."
"Am= en-Ra, King of the gods, gives life, stability, and power."
THOTHMES= III standing, offering a pyramidal cake to the hawk of HAR-EM-AKHU. 3
"Th= e good god, RA-MEN-KHEPER, giver of life, gives a pyramidal cake of white bread th= at he may become a giver of life."
Central line: The HAR-EM-AKHU, the living Sun, beloved of the Sun, having the tall crown of the Upper region, = the Lord of diadems, celebrating the festivals in Truth, beloved on earth, the Golden Hawk prevailing by strength, the King of the Upper and Lower country= , RA-MEN-KHEPER, beloved of the Sun, giving memorials to AMEN in Thebes, augmenting his memorials, making them as they were before so that each should be as at fir= st; never was the like done in former times for AMEN in the house of his father= s, he made it the Son of the Sun, THOTHMES (III), Ruler of AN, 4 giver of life.
WEST SIDE.<= /p>
Pyramidion: THOTHMES III received = by AMEN-RA.
"AM= EN, TUM."
"Th= e good god, RA-MEN-KHEPER, giver of life like the Sun, immortal."
THOTHMES= III kneeling to Amen-Ra seated on a throne.
"Th= e King RA-MEN-KHEPER, Son of the Sun, THOTHMES (III), like the Sun, immortal, gives wine." <= /p>
"UA= T 5 gives life, duration, and health."
"AM= EN-Ra, Lord of the seats of the Upper and Lower countries, King of the gods. Ruler= of AN."
THOTHMES= IV offering flowers to the hawk of HAR-EM-AKHU.
"Th= e good god, the Lord of doing things, RA-MEN-KHEPERU, giver of life like the Sun, gives incense that he may be made giver of life."
Central line: "The HAR-EM-AKH=
U, the
living Sun, the strong Bull, crowned by Truth, RA-MEN-KHEPER, who adores the
splendor of Amen in
NORTH SIDE.=
Right line: "The good god, the Image of diadems, establish= ing the kingdom like TUM, powerful in force,
1
Or "substance."
2
Buto, goddess of
3
Harmachis, or the sun in the horizon, a title translated by Hermapion, &quo=
t;Apollo."
4
5
The goddess Buto.
1. LATERAN
2. MONTE CITORIO
3. PIAZZA DELLA MINERVA <= /p>
4. PIAZZA NAVONA
5. PIAZZA DEL POPOLO
6. MONTE CAVALLO
7. MONTE PINCIO
8. VILLA CELIMONTANA
9.
10. TRINITA DEI MONTI
11. PANTHEON
12.
OBELISKS IN
XLIII
Record of all Egyptian Ob= elisks. 129
expeller of the Nine bow foreigners, the King of the Upper and Lower country, RA-MEN-KHEPER, taking = by his strength like the Lord of Thebes, very glorious like MENTU 1 whom Amen has given strength ag= ainst all countries; the lands came in numbers, the fear of him was in their bell= ies, the Son of the Sun, Thothmes (IV) Diadem of Diadems, beloved of AMEN-RA, the Bull of his mother."
Left side: "The King of the U= pper and Lower country, beloved of the gods, adorer of the circle of the gods, welcomed by the Sun in the barge, and by TUM in the ark, the Lord of the Up= per and Lower countries, RA-MEN-KHEPERU, who has ornamented Thebes for ever, ma= king memorials in Thebes, the circle of gods of the house of AMEN delight at wha= t he has done, the Son of the god TUM, of his loins, produced on his throne, THO= THMES (IV), Diadem of Diadems."
SOUTH SIDE.=
Right line: "The Son of the S= un, THOTHMES (IV), Diadem of Diadems, set it up in Thebes, he capped it with go= ld, its beauty illuminates Thebes; sculptured in the name of his father, the go= od god RA-MEN-KHEPER (Thothmes III), the King of the Upper and Lower country. = Lord of the two countries, RA-MEN-KHEPERU (Thothmes IV), did it wishing that the name of his father should remain fixed in the house of AMEN. The Son of the Sun, THOTHMES (IV), giver of life, did it."
Left line: "The King of the U=
pper
and Lower country, the Lord of doing things, RA-MEN-KHEPERU, made by the Su=
n,
beloved of AMEN. His Majesty ordered that a very great obelisk should be
completed which had been brought by his father RA-MEN-KHEPER (Thothmes III),
after His Majesty died. This obelisk remained thirty-five years and upwards=
in
its place in the hands of the workmen at the southern quarters of
EAST SIDE.<= /p>
Right line: "RA-MEN-KHEPEU (Thothmes IV) multiplying memorials in Thebes of gold, lapis lazuli, and jewelry, and the great barge on the river (named) AMEN-USER-TA, hewn out of cedar wood which His Majesty cut down in the land of Ruten, 2 inlaid with gold throughout, an= d all the decorations renewed, to receive the beauty of his father AMEN-RA (when)= he is conducted along the river. The Son of the Sun, THOTHMES (IV), Diadem of Diadems, did it."
Left line: "The good god, the
powerful blade, the Prince taking captive by his power, who strikes terror =
into
the Mena, 3 whose roarings are=
in
the Anu. 4 His father AMEN bro=
ught
him up, making his rule extended, the Chiefs of all countries are attentive=
to
the spirits of His Majesty, to the words of his mouth, the acts of his hand=
s,
all that has been ordered has been done. The King of the Upper and Lower
country RA-MEN-KHEPERU, whose name is established in
WEST SIDE.<= /p>
Right line: "The King of the = Upper and Lower country, the Lord of the upper and lower world, RA-MEN-KHEPERU son .... it making peaceful years. Lord of the gods, who knew how to frame his plans and bring them to a good end, who subdued the Nine bow foreigners und= er his sandals, the King of the Upper and Lower country .... watched to beauti= fy the monuments, the King himself gave directions for the work, like him who = is Southern Rampart, 5 he set it = up, it remained for a while, his heart wished to create it, the Son of the Sun, Thothmes (IV), Diadem of Diadems."
Left line: "The King of the U=
pper
and Lower countries, RA-MEN-KHEPERU (THOTHMES IV), approved of AMEN, dwelli=
ng
amongst the Chiefs, born in ... . him than every king, rejoicing at seeing =
the
beauty of his greatness: his heart desired to place it. He gave him the Nor=
th
and South submissive to his spirits, he made his monuments to his father AM=
EN-RA,
he set up a great obelisk to him at the upper gate of
At the b= ase is a scene, RA seated.
"AM= EN-RA, HOR; Lord of heaven."
"RA= -USER-MA, approved of the Sun, RAMESES (II), Beloved of AMEN, giver of life like the Sun."
The wing= ed disk HUT, RA again.
"AM= EN-RA, lord of the seats of the Upper and Lower countries, HAR-EM-AKHU, great god, Lord of the heaven."
"Th=
e King
of Upper and
1
A form of Ra or the Sun; an Egyptian Mars.
2
3
Asiatic shepherds.
4
Libyans.
5
Title of the god Ptah or Vulcan, the eponymous deity of
130 Record of all Egyptian Obelisks.
PIAZZA DEL = POPOLO, OR FLAMINIAN OBELISK.
Bonomi considers this obe=
lisk to
be that which Pliny 1 mentions=
as
the work of Sesostris; Kircher identifies it with that which Pliny ascribes=
to
Semenpserteus; and Zoega calls it an obelisk of Ramses. 2 From the sculptures and inscriptions it appears to have been
erected at
Deep holes in the upper p= art, similar to those in the Lateran obelisk, are supposed by Bonomi to have been the work of the Roman engineer to facilitate the work of erecting it.
The first attempt to deci=
pher the
ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics in "modern" times was made by an
Egypto-Grecian priest, named Hermapion, in the fourth century after Christ.
Ammianus Marcellinus 3 has pre=
served
to us the professed translation of Hermapion, which is believed to have bee=
n of
the characters engraved on this obelisk, although some authorities regard i=
t as
relating to obelisks generally, and others as relating to the
Hermapion's translation i= s as follows:
This say= s Helios to King Rhamestes;
We have = given to thee all the world to reign over with joy,
Thee who= m Helios loves and Apollo:
The stro= ng, truth-loving son of Heron,
Born of = the gods, the founder of the world
Whom Hel= ios has chosen, strong in war. King Rhamestes,
To whom = the whole earth is subdued
With str= ength and courage:
King Rha= mestes of eternal life.
Apollo t= he strong, he who stands upon truth,
The Lord=
of the
diadem, who possesses
Who has = adorned the city of the sun,
And foun= ded the rest of the world,
And has =
greatly
honored the gods established in the city of
Whom Hel= ios loves.
Apollo t= he mighty, the blazing son of Helios,
Whom Hel= ios has chosen, and Ares the valiant has favored;
Whose go= od things last forever, whom Ammon loves;
Who fill=
s the
temple of the
To whom = the gods have given length of life;
Apollo t= he mighty, the son of Heron,
To Rhame= stes the king of the world,
Who has =
protected
Whom Hel= ios loves, to whom the gods have given long life,
The Lord= of the world, Rhamestes of eternal life.
Helios, = the great god, the Lord of the heaven,
I have g= iven to thee life free from sorrow,
Apollo t= he mighty, the Lord of the diadem, the incomparable,
To whom = the Lord of Egypt has erected statues in this royal town.
And has =
adorned
the city of
And Heli= os himself, the Lord of the heavens.
He has c= ompleted his noble work,
The son = of Helios, the ever living king.
Helios, = the Lord of the heavens:
To King Rhamestes have I given might and power;
Whom Apo= llo loves, the Lord of the times.
Whom Hep= haestus the father of the gods has chosen through Ares,
The nobl= e king; the son of Helios, by Helios beloved.
The grea=
t god of
the city of
The heav= enly, Apollo the mighty, the son of Heron, (?)
Whom Hel= ios loves, whom the gods honor,
Who rule= s the whole earth, whom Helios chose,
The king= mighty through Ares, whom Ammon loves;
And the = bright burning king for ever.
1
"Nat. His.," bk. xxxvi, ch. 14.
2
"OEdipus," vol. iii, p. 213. Ungarelli, "Interp. Obelisc.,&q=
uot;
tab. ii. G. Tomlinson in "Trans. Roy. Soc. Lit.," second series, =
vol.
i, p. 176. Parker, pl. v.
3
Bk. xvii, ch. iv.
Record of all Egyptian Ob= elisks. 131
$$$ The Rev. G. Tomlinson= 's translation is as follows:
EAST SIDE.
Centre Column.
The Horu= s, the powerful, beloved of justice,
King Pha= raoh, guardian of justice, approved of the sun,
Amen-Mai Rameses,
He erect= ed edifices like the stars of heaven,
He has m= ade his deeds to resound above the heaven,
Scatteri= ng the rays of the sun, rejoicing over them in his house of millions of years.
In the .= ... year of His Majesty,
He has m= ade good this edifice of his father, whom he loved,
Giving s= tability to his name in the abode of the sun.
He who h= as done this is the son of the sun, Amen-Mai Rameses,
The belo= ved of Tum, the Lord of Heliopolis, giving life for ever.
Left-hand Column.
The Horu= s, the powerful, the beloved of justice,
The resp= lendent Horus,
The dire= ctor of the years, the great one of victories.
The king, Pharaoh, guardian of justice.
Approved= of the sun, son of the sun,
Amen-Mai Rameses, has adorned
By (plac= ing) their statues in the great temple.
He, the = Lord of the world,
Pharaoh, guardian of justice.
Approved= of the sun, son of the sun,
Amen-Mai Rameses, giving life for ever.
Right-hand Column.
The Horu= s, the powerful,
The belo= ved of the sun, the Ra,
The offs= pring of the gods, the subjugator of the world,
The king= , the Pharaoh, guardian of justice,
Approved= of the sun, son of the sun,
Amen-Mai Rameses,
Who give=
s joy to
the region of
When it = beholds the radiance of the solar mountain.
He who d= oes this is the Lord of the world,
The Phar= aoh, guardian of justice,
Approved= of the sun, son of the sun,
Amen-Mai Rameses, giving life like the sun.
NORTH SIDE.
Centre.
The Horu= s, the powerful,
Sanctifi= ed by truth,
Lord of =
diadems.
Lord of upper and lower
Mouth of=
the
world, possessor (?) of
The resp= lendent Horus, the Osiris (?), the divine priest of Totanen,
The king, Pharaoh, the establisher of justice,
Who rend=
ers
illustrious the everlasting edifices of
By found= ations (fit) for the support of the heaven,
Who has established, honored, and adorned the temple of the sun,
And of t= he rest of the gods,
Which ha= ve been sanctified by him, the son of the sun,
Menephth=
a-Sethai
the beloved of the spirits of
Eternal = like the sun.
Left.
The Horu= s, the powerful, the son of Set,
The resp= lendent Horus,
The dire= ctor of the years, the great one of victories,
The king, Pharaoh, the guardian of justice,
Approved= of the sun, son of the sun,
Amen-Mai Rameses,
Who fill= s the temple of the phoenix with splendid objects,
The Lord= of the world, Pharaoh, the guardian of justice,
Approved= of the sun, the son of the sun,
Amen-Mai Rameses, giving life forever.
Right.
The Horu= s, the powerful the beloved of the sun,
The Ra, = begotten of the gods,
The subj= ugator of the world,
The king, Pharaoh, approved of the sun,
Son of t= he sun, Amen-Mai Rameses,
Who magn= ifies his name in every region
By the g= reatness of his victories,
The Lord= of the world,
Pharaoh, guardian of justice,
Approved= of the sun, son of the sun,
Amen-Mai Rameses, giving life like the sun.
SOUTH SIDE.
Centre.
The Horu= s, the powerful,
The pier= cer of foreign countries by his victories;
The Lord=
of
diadems, Lord of upper and lower
The esta= blisher of everlasting edifices;
The resp= lendent Horus,
Making h= is sanctuary in the sun who loves him;
The king, Pharaoh, establisher of justice,
The ador=
ner of
Who makes libations to the sun,
And the = rest of the Lords of the heavenly world,
Who gives delight by his rejoicings and by his eyes.
132 Record of all Egyptian Obelisks.
He does = it, the son of the sun, Menephtha-Sethai,
Beloved = of Horus, the Lord of the two worlds.
Left.
The Horu= s, the powerful, the beloved of justice,
Lord of = the panegyries.
Like his= father Ptah-Totanen; the king,
Pharaoh, guardian of justice, approved of the sun,
Son of t= he sun, Amen-Mai Rameses,
Begotten= and educated by the gods,
Builder = of their temples, Lord of the world;
Pharaoh, guardian of justice, approved of the sun, son of the sun,
Amen-Mai Rameses, giving life like the sun.
Right.
The Horu= s, the powerful, the son of Ptah Totanen,
Lord of =
diadems,
Lord of upper and lower
Possesso=
r of
The King, Pharaoh, guardian of justice,
Approved= of the sun, son of the sun,
Amen-Mai
Rameses, who causes rejoicing in
By displ= aying his royal attributes,
Lord of = the world, Pharaoh, guardian of justice,
Approved= of the sun, son of the sun,
Amen-Mai Rameses, giving life forever.
WEST SIDE.
Centre.
The Horu= s, the powerful,
The belo= ved of the sun and of justice,
Lord of =
diadems.
Lord of upper and lower
Source of foreign countries, piercer of the Shepherds,
The resp= lendent Horus,
Beloved = of the sun, whose name is magnified;
The king, Pharaoh, establisher of justice,
Who fill=
s
To illus= trate with (their) rays the temple of the sun;
Who, lik= e the phoenix,
Fills wi= th good things the great temple of the gods,
Inundati= ng (?) it with rejoicings.
He does = it, who is the son of the sun,
Menephth= a-Sethai, beloved of the rest of the gods
Who inha= bit the great temple giving life.
Left.
The Horu= s, the powerful, the beloved of the sun,
Lord of = panegyries like his father Ptah-Totanen,
The king, Pharaoh, guardian of justice,
Approved= of the sun, son of the sun, Amen-Mai Rameses,
Lord of =
diadems,
possessor of
Chastise= r of foreign countries. Lord of the world;
Pharaoh, guardian of justice, approved of the sun, son of the sun,
Amen-Mai Rameses, son of Totanen, giving life.
Right.
The Horu= s, the powerful, the son of Tum,
The Ra, offspring of the gods, subjugator of the world;
The king, Pharaoh, guardian of justice approved of the sun,
The son = of the sun, Amen-Mai Rameses,
The resp= lendent Horus, the director of years,
The grea= t one of victories, the Lord of the world,
Pharaoh, guardian of justice, approved of the sun, the son of the sun,
Amen-Mai Rameses, the son of Totanen, eternal.
The hieroglyphs on the ce= ntral columns are deeper and better cut than those of the lateral columns, and the surfaces within them were carefully polished, while those of the lateral columns were apparently left rough.
The dedicatory sculptures= on the north, south, and west faces of the pyramidion represent Seti I, those of t= he east face, Ramses II, both in the form of a sphinx presenting offerings to = the gods. At the summit of the shaft, just below the pyramidion, and also at the bottom, are other dedicatory sculptures in which the kings are in human for= m. The central columns of hieroglyphs on the north, south, and west sides refe= r to Seti I, all others to Ramses II.
Bonomi has noticed that t= he figure of the god Set has been cut out by Ramses from the cartouch of his father, and the figure of Ra engraved in its place. The obliteration, howev= er, could not be made perfect, and the long, erect ears of Set still appear abo= ve the hawk's head of Ra. This substitution by Ramses may indicate a change of religious opinion. 1
1
The fortunes of Set (Typhon) in Egyptian worship were extremely varied. Und=
er
the early monarchy, he appears to have had a party in his favor. The Hyksos
made him the sole Egyptian deity. At their expulsion, he naturally fell back
into an inferior position in the national esteem. But at the rise of the xix
dynasty, he was again made prominent. Ramses I, in naming his son Seti, see=
ms
to have placed the prince under Set's protection. At a later period, though=
it
is not known exactly when, the worship of this deity entirely ceased, and h=
is
name was erased from all monuments. Cf. Rawlinson's "
Record of all Egyptian Ob= elisks. 133
MONTE CITOR= IO OBELISK.
Zoega considered this obe= lisk to have been originally the most beautiful of all, and the best specimen of Egyptian workmanship. Evidences of these qualities still exist in spite of = the grievous injuries it has sustained. Bonomi identifies it with the obelisk t= hat Pliny ascribes to Semenpsterteus, although it is generally identified with = the one he ascribes to Sesostris. Birch ascribes it to Psammetik II (xxvi dynas= ty, B.C. 596-591, Lepsius). 1 The inscription by Pius VI attributes it to Sesostris, There is no doubt that it originally stood at Heliopolis whence it was removed to Rome during the rei= gn of Augustus, about B.C. 20, and re-erected in the Campus Martius, Zoega believed that it was overthrown during the invasion of Robert Guiscard, A.D. 1084, and discovered near the church of S. Lorenzo in Lucina during the pon= tificate of Julius II, A.D, 1503-1513. Cooper, however, states that it was not discovered until 1748. It was found in five pieces, the lower part so much damaged that it could not be used in the restoration. The pieces were remov= ed to the present site by Antinori in 1792, by order of Pius VI. Fragments of a column of Antoninus Pius were used to repair the shaft, and for a pedestal.=
The dedicatory sculptures= on the pyramidion represent the king as a sphinx adoring Ra and Tum. One peculiari= ty of this obelisk is that it had two instead of one or three columns of hieroglyphs upon each face. All but three of the eight columns have been effaced, and those that remain are very much injured.
Pliny thus describes the = use to which this obelisk was put by the Romans 2:
The one = that has been erected in the Campus Martius has been applied to a singular purpose by the late Emperor Augustus: that of marking the shadows projected by the sun, and so measuring the length of the days and nights. With this object, a sto= ne pavement was laid, the extreme length of which corresponded exactly with the length = of the shadow thrown by the obelisk at the sixth hour [noon] on the day of the winter solstice. After this period, the shadow would go on, day by day, gradually decreasing, and then again would as gradually increase, correspon= dingly with certain lines of brass that were inserted in the stone; a device well deserving to be known, and due to the ingenuity of Facundus Novus, 3 the mathematician. Upon the ape= x of the obelisk he placed a gilded ball, in order that the shadow of the summit might be condensed and agglomerated, and so prevent the shadow of the apex itself from running to a fine point of enormous extent; the plan being first suggested to him, it is said, by the shadow that is projected by the human head. For nearly the last thirty years, however, the observations derived f= rom this dial have been found not to agree: whether it is that the sun itself h= as changed its course in consequence of some derangement of the heavenly syste= m; or whether that the whole earth has been in some degree displaced from its centre, - a thing that, I have heard say, has been remarked in other places= as well; or whether that some earthquake, confined to this city only, has wren= ched the dial from its original position; or whether it is that in consequence of the inundations of the Tiber, the foundations of the mass have subsided, in spite of the general assertion that they are sunk as deep into the earth as= the obelisk erected upon them is high.
OBELISK IN = THE PIAZZA DELLA MINERVA.
The small obelisk of the = Piazza della Minerva 4 is, according = to Rawlinson and Parker, the work of Uhabra (Apries, Hophra, xxvi dynasty, B.C. 591-570, Lepsius); Cooper, however, ascribes it to Psammetik II, also of the xxvi dynasty. It was probably originally erected at Saïs, the favored = city of this dynasty; being dedicated to "Tum, who dwells in Saïs,&quo= t; and to Neith, the local deity.
The pyramidion is without sculptures. Each face bears a single column of hieroglyphs. The characters = are more narrow and slender than is usual, and show imperfections of execution (Zoega). The sides are more inclined than those of other obelisks.
It is one of two obelisks= (the other now stands before the Pantheon) which were removed from
1
Cooper, p. 20, states that this obelisk was erected by Seti Menepthah I, an=
d on
p. 96 by Psammetik I. See Bandini, "Dell' obelisco di Cesaro
Augusto," Roma, 1750. Ungarelli, "Interp. Ob.," tab. iii. Zo=
ega
(plates at end). Parker, pl. ii.
2
Pliny, "Nat. Hist.," bk. xxxvi, ch. 15. Translation of Bostock and
Riley.
3
The name of Facundus Novus is omitted in Le Maire's edition.
4
Kircher, "Ob. Minerveus," Ungarelli, "Interp. Ob.," tab.
iii. Parker, pl. iii.
134 Record of all Egyptian Obelisks.
It was found, together wi= th that now before the Pantheon, in i665, among the ruins of this temple, in a spot= now occupied by the convent of the Minerva. At the direction of Alexander VII, = it was erected on its present site by Bernini, in 1667. The architect placed i= t, most inappropriately, upon the back of a marble elephant.
PANTHEON, O= R MAHUTEAN OBELISK.
The small obelisk now sta=
nding in
front of the celebrated Pantheon is a
Nothing but the cartouche= s of Ramses II appear on the pyramidion. Zoega says that the pyramidion was left obtuse, and is in form rather like a long cone than a pyramid. A single col= umn of hieroglyphs is engraved upon each of the four sides of the shaft, bearing the titles of this monarch, and recording that he has "made many gifts= to the house of the Sun." According to Cooper, the name of Psammetik II is also cut upon the shaft.
It is one of two obelisks=
(the
other is that of the Piazza della Minerva) which, on their removal to
It was found in 1665, tog= ether with that of the Piazza della Minerva, among the ruins of the above-named temple. The shaft had been broken = 2; the lower portion of unknown length, says Bonomi, is lacking. It was erecte= d on its present site, by order of Clement XI, in 1711. 3
OBELISK OF =
THE VILLA
MATTEI,
Another small obelisk in =
the
grounds of the Villa Mattei (now called Villa Celimontana), on the Coelian
Hill, belongs to the time of Ramses II (xix dynasty, B.C. 1388-1322, Lepsiu=
s).
It is but the upper portion of the original shaft; the lower portion, as at
present erected, being of modern workmanship. The place of its erection in =
The inscriptions, accordi= ng to Birch, are unimportant, giving only the titles of Ramses II. Cooper states = that the cartouch of Psammetik II has been added.
It was found among the ru=
ins of
the ancient
1
See Kircher, "OEdipus," vol. iii, p. 327. Ungarelli, "Interp.
Ob.," tab. iii. (No plate in Parker). Called Mahutean from the
2
Zoega says, "apparently broken in two pieces, of which the lower is
lost." Birch says, "a truncated shaft, the lower part
imperfect."
3
According to Parker, p. 8, before its erection by Clement XI in 1711, it had
been removed from the site of the Circus Maximus (Rawlinson, ii, 489, says =
both
Minerva and Pantheon before the temple of Isis) and set up earlier in the
Piazza di S. Martino, by Paul V (1605-1621). This is contradictory to the d=
ate
1665 given above. Zoega says nothing of this.
4
Kircher, "OEdipus," vol. iii, p. 322. Ungarelli, "Interp.
Ob.," tab. iii. Parker, pl. viii.
Record of all Egyptian Ob= elisks. 135
LA TRINITA = DEI MONTI, OR SALUSTIAN OBELISK.
The obelisk standing oppo=
site the
The pyramidion is unsculp= tured. Three columns of hieroglyphs appear on each of the four faces; the central columns bearing the name of Seti I, and the lateral columns that of Ramses = II. So little, however, does the cutting of its inscriptions resemble genuine Egyptian work, that it is the opinion of the best Egyptologists that these hieroglyphic columns are only an old Roman copy from the obelisk of the Pia= zza del Popolo, and are not worth the attempt to fully translate them. In the opinion of Zoega and of Birch, its rude and incomplete characters show that, though quarried in Egypt, it was brought to Rome uninscribed, and its hieroglyphs cut there Zoega says, about the time of Alexander Severus, A.D. 222-235. 2
Clement XII (1730-1740) i= ntended to erect it at the Lateran, but did not carry out this intention (Zoega). It was placed in its present position by the architect Antinori, in 1789, at t= he direction of Pius VI, whose inscription is seen on the base.
PIAZZA NAVO= NA, OR PAMPHILIAN OBELISK.
The obelisk standing in t=
he
Piazza Navona, although cut from the quarry of Syene, is not an Egyptian
obelisk. It was executed by order of Domitian, A.D. 81-96. Rawlinson thinks
that it was first erected in
In the pontificate of Inn= ocent X this obelisk was found broken in six pieces, lying in the Circus of Romulus, sometimes called the Circus of Caracalla, but no record can be found, by the author, of how it came there. It was restored and erected in its present position by Bernini, in 1651, by order of Innocent X.
The dedicatory sculptures= of the pyramidion represent Domitian adoring the gods. A single column of badly cut and shallow hieroglyphs appears on each side of the shaft, in which Domitian assumes the titles of the Egyptian monarchs and records his fame from his o= wn standpoint. 3
MONTE PINCI= O, OR BARBERINI OBELISK.
The small obelisk of Mont=
e Pincio
was cut in
This obelisk was erected,
according to Birch, about A.D. 122 by Hadrian in
1
Parker (p. 40) ascribes it to Seti I; (p. 2) says it bears the name of Rams=
es
II.
2
See Ungarelli, "Int. Obelisc.," tab. vi. Zoega (plates at end). (=
No
plate in Parker) Kircher, "OEdipus," vol. iii, p. 257.
3
Ungarelli, "Interp. Ob.," tab. iv. Parker, pl. iv. Kircher, "=
;Obeliscus
Pamphilius."
4
See Kircher, "OEdipus," vol. iii, p. 271. Zoega (plates at end).
Ungarelli, "Interp. Ob.," tab. vi. Parker, pl. vii. Sometimes cal=
led
the Veranian obelisk, from the Circus Varianus, in which it was once erecte=
d;
the Barberini obelisk, from Urban VIII (Barberini), in whose time it was
discovered; or the Ob. della Passeggiata, from the promenade on which it now
stands.
136 Record of all Egyptian Obelisks.
On the other hand, Cooper= thinks it probable that the shaft was one of a pair originally placed before the temple at Antinoë.
The sculptures on the nor= th side of the summit of the shaft represent Hadrian standing before Ra; the other sides, Antinoüs presenting offerings to the deities. 1
Two columns of hieroglyph=
s appear
on each face; the engraving is shallow and not sharply cut at the edges. The
inscriptions call Hadrian "the Pharaoh, the ever living, the beloved of
the
At a later period, the ob= elisk was standing, it is said, in the Circus Varianus, having been removed thith= er, according to Birch, from some other position; Parker says it was erected th= ere by Heliogabalus about A.D. 220.
Under the pontificate of =
Urban
VIII (1623-1644) the obelisk was found near the
ESMEADE OBE= LISKS.
Besides the well-known tw=
elve
Egyptian obelisks in
FRAGMENTS I=
N
In the time of Kircher (b=
orn
1601, died 1680) there were to be seen, near the
A fourth fragment was to =
be seen
in front of the
OTHER EGYPT=
IAN
OBELISKS IN
OBELISK OF =
In the ancient city of
1
Zoega's plate shows the apex plain. Cooper (112) says the apex is plain. Birch says it is sculptured.
2
Kircher, "OEdipus," vol. iii, pp. 379-383. Pococke, "Descrip=
. of
the East," pl. xcl.
Record of all Egyptian Ob= elisks. 137
present position in 1698 = (Zoega). A fragment of another obelisk is imbedded in the wall of the episcopal pala= ce. 1
The two, according to Bir=
ch, were
a pair originally erected before the
A single column of hierog= lyphs was inscribed on each face of these shafts, bearing the cartouch of Domitia= n. The inscriptions also mention the name of Lucilius Lupus as the founder of = the temple.
BORGIAN OR =
ALBANI
OBELISK,
The small Borgian obelisk=
, once
in the
OBELISKS IN=
THE
MUSEUM AT
Two very small syenite ob=
elisks
are mentioned by Cooper as now in the Egyptian Museum at
OBELISK IN =
THE
The small obelisk now in =
the
On the pyramidion are scu= lptured the name and prenomen of Ramses II; above these is engraved a winged scarabaeus. A single column of hieroglyphs is cut upon each face. The inscr= iptions speak of the king as "powerful in all countries, beloved of Tum and Ra." 5
THE ALNWICK=
The small syenite obelisk=
which,
according to Bonomi, is in the
Its apex is broken. Immed= iately under the pyramidion is a vignette in which Amenhotep II is represented as kneeling and offering a conical cake to Num-Ra, the sun of the lower world; especially
1
Ungarelli, "Interp. Ob.," tab. v. Champollion, "Precis,"=
; p.
95. Zoega, p. 644.
2
Zoega, p. 192. Champollion, "Precis," p. 98.
3
Kircher, "Ob. Minervews," p. 176.
4
Kircher, "OEdipus, vol. iii, p. 348."
5
Kircher, "OEdipus," vol. iii, pp. 317, 325.
6
Bonomi, in "Trans. Roy. Soc. Lit.," Second Series, vol. i, p. 170=
. M.
Prisse, in "Rev. Arch.," vol. iii, p. 731. Sharpe, "
138 Record of all Egyptian Obelisks.
worshipped in
Bonomi remarks upon a pec= uliarity in the cutting of the hieroglyphs: viz., that the surface within their cont= our is nearly flat, - a style of cutting which, as he says, is elsewhere found = only in tombs and on stelae, generally of the age of Psammetik, xxvi dynasty. According to Birch, the name of Amenhotep has been at some time obliterated; perhaps under Amenhotep IV, who attempted to restore a ruder and more ancie= nt worship of the sun. At a later period the monarch's name was again inserted; but, by error or by design, the name of Amenhotep III was substituted for t= hat of the original erector.
The following is the full= translation by Chabas, as given by Cooper:
VERTICAL COLUMN.
The heav= en,
The Horu= s, King of the two lands, sun of life,
Strong b= ull,
Very val= iant,
King of =
upper
and lower
Ra-aa-Kh= eperou (Sun, the greatest of existences),
Son of t= he sun,
Amen-hot=
ep-hik-An
(the peace of Amen, sovereign of
He made = (the obelisk)
In his m= onuments to his father Num-Ra;
Making t= o him two obelisks .... with the food of Ra.
He made = it,
The vivi= fier, for ever.
AT THE APEX OF THE OBELIS= K.
The heav= en,
Homage t= o Num,
He gives= all life and bliss,
(To) Ame= n-hotep, the vivifier, for ever.
THE SION HO=
USE
According to Birch ("=
;
This obelisk is probably identical with the preceding.
THE OBELISK=
S OF AMYRTAEUS,
The last of the Pharaonic
obelisks, according to Birch, unless the Prioli obelisk, at Constantinople,
should be considered later, are the two small, broken examples now in the <=
st1:place
w:st=3D"on">
A single column of finely= cut hieroglyphs appears on the four faces of each shaft, bearing the name of Amyrtaeus (Cooper and Parker), a descendant of a princely Egyptian family, = who, about B.C. 466, the period of Artaxerxes I, revolted against the Persian domination over his native land. Birch (in Parker, p. 64) ascribes the obel= isks to Nectanebo I, B.C. 378-364, and adds that they were dedicated to Thoth (Trismegist Hermes), the god of measures, of numbers, and of the sciences a= nd arts, and were originally erected before some small temple of that deity at= or near Memphis. According to Birch, the inscriptions on both declare that the king is "beloved of Thoth, the lord of hieroglyphs"; he has "= ;set up an obelisk in his house of basalt; it is capped with black metal (iron)." The portion of the
1
Brit. Museum, Nos. 523, 524. "Descr. de l'Égypte, Antiq.,"
vol. v, pls. 21, 22. Lenormant, "Musée," pl. xxviii, Nos. =
4,
6. Sharpe, "
Record of all Egyptian Ob= elisks. 139
inscription given by Coop= er is as follows: "Amyrtaeus, the living, like Ra, beloved of Thoth, the great = lord of Eshmunayn."
These obelisks were found=
at
FRAGMENT AT=
WANSTED,
Zoega, whose work was pub=
lished
in 1797, records that the fragment of an obelisk existed at that time in
The fragment, as describe= d by Zoega, was a pyramidion of pale syenite, broken from its shaft, and probably not quite complete. Its dimensions were two and one half feet in height, and nearly three feet in width. Upon each face was sculptured a vignette, representing an enthroned deity, before another figure, presumably a king, = was kneeling. The deities represented were, according to Zoega, Osiris and Horu= s.
The fragment was brought =
from
OBELISK OF =
In the sacred
In 1815 this monolith was=
found
by Belzoni in front of the ancient
From the plate of Lepsius= it appears that the pyramidion is broken and was unsculptured. A single column= of carefully cut hieroglyphs is cut on each of its faces, bearing the cartouch= es of Ptolemy Euergetes II and his wife Cleopatra. According to Birch, the inscriptions, though filled with religious phrases, state hardly more than = that the king has erected this obelisk to his mother Isis. By a singular excepti= on to the usual rule, the hieroglyphs which relate to the monarch face in an o= pposite direction from that of the hieroglyphs which relate to the deity.
The pedestal is of sandst=
one, and
is five feet nine inches high. Upon it are three Greek inscriptions of great
interest: the lowest of these was cut in the stone, and is a petition to the
king from the priests of the
1
Zoega, p. 108.
2
"Descrip. de l'Égypte, Antiq.," vol. i, pl. 5. Lepsius, &q=
uot;Auswahl,"
tab. xvii. Letronne, "Éclaircissements sur une inscription grec=
que
contenant une pétition des prêtres d'Isis dans l'Île de =
140 Record of all Egyptian Obelisks.
$$$ These Greek inscripti= ons have played an important part in the interpretation of Egyptian hieroglyphs. It = was from their publication, together with the hieroglyphic columns of the shaft, that Champollion was enabled to decipher the cartouches of Ptolemy and Cleopatra, thus verifying the conclusions which had been previously drawn f= rom a study of the celebrated Rosetta Stone.
The following is the orig= inal Greek inscription and its translation.
![](3D"Obelisks_Gorringe1882_files/image022.gif")
=
TRANSLATION= .
To King = Ptolemy, and Queen Cleopatra his sister, and Queen Cleopatra his wife, gods Euergeta= e, welfare: we, the priests of Isis, the very great goddess (worshipped) in Ab= aton and Philae, seeing that those who visit Philae - generals, chiefs, governor= s of districts in the Thebaid, royal scribes, chiefs of police, and all other functionaries, as well as their soldiers and other attendants - oblige us to provide for them during their stay, the consequence of which is that the te= mple is impoverished, and we run the risk of not having enough for the customary sacrifices and oblations offered for you and for your children, do therefore pray you, O great gods, if it seem right to you, to order Numenius, your co= usin and secretary, to write to Lochus, your cousin and governor of the Thebaid,= not to disturb us in this manner, and not to allow any other person to do so, a= nd to give us authority to this effect, that we may put up a stele with an inscription commemorating your beneficence toward us on this occasion, so t= hat your gracious favor may be recorded for ever; which being done, we and the temple of Isis shall be indebted to you for this, among other favors. Hail.=
The following are transla= tions of the king's reply to the petition, and of his order to Lochus (not here give= n in the original Greek text).
LETTER OF T= HE KING TO THE PRIESTS.
To the p= riests of Isis in Abaton and Philae, Numenius, cousin and secretary, and priest of= the god Alexander, and of the gods Soters, of the gods Adelphi, of the gods Euergetae, of the gods Philopatores, of the gods Epiphanes, of the god Eupa= tor, of the god Philometer, and the gods Euergetae, greeting: Of the letter writ= ten to Lochus, the cousin and general, we place the copy here below, and we give you the permission you ask of erecting a stele. Fare ye well. In the year .= ... of Panemus .... and of Pachons 26.
ORDER OF TH= E KING.
King Pto= lemy and Queen Cleopatra the sister, and Queen Cleopatra the wife, to Lochus our brother, greeting;
Record of all Egyptian Ob= elisks. 141
Of the petition addressed=
to us
by the priests of Isis in Abaton and
OBELISK OF =
The so-called obelisk of =
In the museum of this cit= y is preserved a fragment, a broken apex, with a part of the upper portion of the shaft. This, according to Westropp, is a fragment of a second obelisk. Zoeg= a, however, concludes that it belonged originally to the standing obelisk: it = has, he says, the same polygonal form, and the little of inscription that remains upon it would well join on upon the inscriptions of the standing shaft.
OBELISK OF =
In the Place de l'Hô=
;tel de
Ville of the city of
According to Buchoz, it w=
as found
lying buried in a garden on the bank of the
LEPSIUS' OB=
ELISK,
The most ancient of all o=
belisks
now existing is that found by Lepsius, in the year 1843, in a tomb near the
pyramids of Gizeh. 3 In his &q=
uot;Letters
from
"Some days ago we fo=
und,
standing in its original place in a tomb of the beginning of the vii dynast=
y,
an obelisk of only some feet in height, but well preserved, and bearing the
name of the person to whom the tomb was erected. This form of monument, whi=
ch
plays so conspicuous a part in the New Empire, is thus thrown some dynasties
farther back into the Old Empire than even the obelisk of
1
Zoega, pp. 87, 647.
2
Zoega, p. 87. Buchoz, "Correspondence d'Histoire Naturelle."
3
Lepsius, "Briefe aus AEgypten, p. 40. "Denkmäler," vol.=
iv,
pl. 88.
142 Record of all Egyptian Obelisks.
$$$ The obelisk is the sm=
allest
known, being only two feet, one and one-half inches high. It is preserved in
the
OTHER OBELI=
SKS IN
OBELISK OF = BEGIG, OR CROCODILOPOLIS.
Near Begig (or Ebgig) in =
the Fayûm,
and in the vicinity of the site of the ancient Crocodilopolis, and of the
former position of
The broken shaft at Begig= is so peculiar in form, showing two large and two small faces, that it is often c= alled a stele rather than an obelisk. Instead of terminating in a pyramidion, it = has a rounded summit, in the centre of which a deep groove is cut, - it is not known for what purpose.
As the shaft now lies, on= ly one of its broad faces is visible. Its upper portion is occupied by five vignet= tes, representing the king as appearing before ten pairs of divinities, five on = the right, five on the left (Chabas); the most honorable positions being assign= ed to the deities Amen and Phthah (Rawlinson, ii, 149). The inscriptions here = give only the names of the king and the divinities. Below these vignettes are nineteen vertical columns of hieroglyphs, separated by grooved lines: the characters are very small, and, for the most part, illegible; but the name = of the monarch is recognizable. On the narrow faces of the shaft are inscripti= ons which speak of the king as "beloved by Phthah and by Month," Ment= u, a local deity of Hermonthis, or Erment.
OBELISK IN = CAIRO (?)
In Loftie's "Ride in=
OBELISKS OF=
SÂN
(
The city of
The fragments of ten or m=
ore
(twelve obelisks, Ebers; thirteen obelisks, Fergusson 2) prostrate obelisks are found on this site 3; the largest number ever discovered at one place. They seem to
have formed a great avenue in front of a
The shafts vary in size: = some have a mean diameter of about five feet, and when entire may
1
"Descr. de l'Égypte, Antiq.," vol. iv, pl. 71. Lepsius, &q=
uot;Denkmäler,"
vol. iv, pl. 119. Lenormant, "Musée," pl. xxvi.
2
Ebers, "
3
"Descr. de l'Égypte, Antiq.," vol. v, pl. 28, 29. Denon,
"Voyage," pl. 17. Lenormant, "Musée," pl. xxix, =
No.
7.
Record of all Egyptian Ob= elisks. 143
have been from fifty to s= ixty feet high; those at the lower extremity of the avenue measured about thirty-three feet (Murray, Westropp, and Cooper).
OBELISK OF = ASSOUAN (SYENE).
In the Syenite quarries of
Assouan (Syene), from which so many splendid monuments were taken to adorn =
the
cities of ancient
OBELISK OF =
In the myth of Osiris, Ty=
phon,
the darkness and death, is represented as cutting the body of Osiris into
fourteen fragments, and scattering them far and wide.
In the sacred
OBELISK OF =
SARBUT
EL-KHADEM,
In the
Here too, according to Ba= edeker, there stands, on a hill above the mines, an ancient Egyptian obelisk with partially obliterated hieroglyphics. 2
OBELISK OF =
WADI NASB,
OR NAHASB,
The Wadi Nasb lies near t=
he
western shore of the
At Wadi Nasb, on a hill w= hich covers one of the old mines, the German traveller Rüppell discovered, in 1817= , a small sandstone obelisk which had fallen from its pedestal. 3 The face which lay on the groun= d, and was thus protected from injury, proved on examination to be covered with fi= nely cut hieroglyphs: the inscriptions on the other sides had been obliterated. Unfortunately, no
1
"Descr. de l'Égypte, Antiq.," vol. i, pl. 1, 2, 4.
2
Baedeker, "
3
Ruppell, "Reisen in Nubien, Kordofan, und dem petraischen Arabien,&quo=
t;
p. 266.
144 Record of all Egyptian Obelisks.
copy of the hieroglyphs w= as preserved, and it is impossible to decide to which reign the shaft belonged. Cooper conjectures that it is to be referred to the Saïtic period, - t= he xxvi dynasty.
OBELISKS OF=
DRAH
ABOU'L NEGGAH,
In the necropolis of Drah= Abou'l Neggah, on the western bank of the Nile at Thebes, were found the mummy-cas= es of two kings named Antef or Entef, of the xi dynasty (B.C. 2423-2380, Lepsi= us), which have been removed to Paris.
A small obelisk bearing t= he name of one of the Antefs of this dynasty was discovered here by Mariette. Its height was not more than 3.5 metres, that is, less than eleven feet (Rawlin= son). 1
Villiers Stuart reports t= hat in 1878 he discovered in this necropolis, close to the spot where the mummy of Queen Ah-hotep had been found, two prostrate obelisks, each broken into sev= eral pieces. 2 On removing the sand= in which they were buried he found them to be inscribed with well-preserved hieroglyphs, which prove, as he says, that the two shafts were erected by a king Antef of the xi dynasty. The plate which he gives shows one face of ea= ch. The inscriptions shown in this plate are translated by him as follows: on o= ne obelisk, "The crowned Horus, sovereign of the mountain-lands, perfecte= d of god, son of the Sun, granted life forevermore"; on the other obelisk, "Noub-Kafer-Ra, perfect of god, made for himself good and splendid temples." No dimensions are given for these shafts.
These obelisks of Drah Ab= ou'l Neggah, if accepted as belonging to the xi dynasty, are the most ancient of= all known obelisks, with the single exception of the small example found by Lepsius.
1
Rawlinson, "
2
Villiers Stuart, "
Record of all Egyptian Ob= elisks. 145
TABLE OF CO= MPARATIVE DIMENSIONS AND WEIGHT OF OBELISKS AS FAR AS CAN BE ASCERTAINED.
|
NAME
OR DESIGNATION. |
TOTAL HEIGHT. |
THICKNESS AT BASE. |
|
|
||||
|
Max. given. |
Probably correct. |
Min. given. |
Max. given. |
Probably correct. |
Min. given. |
Propor-tion of H. to T. |
Weight in pounds. |
|
|
Lateran, |
108'-7" |
105'-6" |
104'-11" |
9'-8"
.5
x 9-10 |
9'-0"
&nbs=
p;
x 9-10 |
9'-6" |
11.2 |
1,020,000 |
|
Hatasou,
|
108-0 |
97-6 |
90-0 |
8-6 |
7-10 |
7-10 |
12.5 |
742,000 |
|
Assouan,
1 |
95-0 |
95-0 |
95-0 |
11-1.5 |
11-1.5 |
11-1.5 |
8.5 |
1,540,000 |
|
|
83-1.5 |
83-1.5 |
82-4 |
9-4 |
8-10 |
8-10 |
9.4 |
721,000 |
|
|
82-0 |
82-0 |
77-0 |
8-2.5 |
8-2.5 |
7-8 |
10.0 |
568,000 |
|
Piazza
del Popolo, |
78-6 |
78-6 |
78-0 |
8-5 |
8-0 |
8-0 |
9.8 |
525,000 |
|
|
82-0 |
74-11 |
74-4 |
8-0 |
7-11 |
7-6 |
9.4 |
498,000 |
|
Thothmes
I, |
93-6 |
71-7 |
63-3 |
8-1.5 |
6-1 |
5-1 |
11.7 |
346,000 |
|
Monte
Citorio, |
72-0 |
71-5 |
69-0 |
7-11 |
7-11 |
7-4 |
9.0 |
460,000 |
|
|
71-0 |
69-6
2 |
53-4 |
8-8 |
7-9.25
&nbs=
p;
x 2 7-8.25 |
7-5 |
9.0 |
448,000 |
|
|
68-5.5 |
68-5.5 |
64-0 |
7-8
&nbs=
p;
x 7-10.3 |
7-8
&nbs=
p;
x 7-10.3 |
7-7 |
8.8 |
418,000 |
|
|
68-2 |
67-0 |
66-0 |
6-0
&nbs=
p;
x 6-4 |
6-1
&nbs=
p;
x 6-3 |
6-0 |
10.9 |
271,000 |
|
|
59-7 |
55-4 |
50-0 |
7-2 |
7-0 |
6-10 |
8.1 |
299,000 |
|
Piazza
Navona, |
54-3 |
54-3 |
51-0 |
4-5 |
4-5 |
4-5 |
12.2 |
118,000 |
|
S.
Maria Maggiore, |
48-5 |
48-5 |
48-5 |
4-3 |
4-3 |
4-3 |
11.4 |
102,000 |
|
Monte
Cavallo, |
45-0 |
45-0 |
45-0 |
- |
4-2 |
- |
10.8 |
96,000 |
|
Trinita
dei Monti, |
48-0 |
43-6 |
43-6 |
4-3 |
4-3 |
4-3 |
10.8 |
90,000 |
|
Begig, |
43-0 |
42-9 |
41-6 |
6-8.5
&nbs=
p;
x 4-8 |
6-8 &nbs=
p;
x 4.0 |
6-8 4-0 |
7.9 |
120,000 |
|
Prioli, |
35-0 |
35-0 |
33-0 |
6-0 |
5-10 |
5-9 |
6.0 |
118,000 |
|
|
33-0 |
33-0 |
33-0 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
Monte
Pincio, |
30-0 |
30-0 |
30-0 |
3-11 |
3-11 |
3-11 |
7.6 |
42,000 |
|
|
22-1.5 |
22-1.5 |
22-1 |
2-2 |
2-2 |
2-2 |
10.2 |
12,000 |
|
Pantheon, |
20-2 |
20-0 |
17-0 |
2-7 |
2-7 |
2-7 |
8.0 |
13,500 |
|
Amyrtaeus, |
19-9 |
19-9 |
17-0 |
2-4 |
2-4 |
2-4 |
8.5 |
12,000 |
|
Thothmes
III, |
20-0 |
19-0 |
18-10 |
3-6 |
3-6 |
3-6 |
5-2 |
34,000 |
|
Piazza
Minerva, |
17-7 |
17-7 |
16-2 |
2-6 |
2-6 |
2-6 |
7.0 |
11,000 |
|
|
16-1 |
16-1 |
16-1 |
2-5 |
2-5 |
2-5 |
6.6 |
10,000 |
|
|
12-4 |
12-4 |
12-4 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
|
11-0 |
11-0 |
11-0 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
|
11-9 |
9-0 |
9-0 |
2-1 |
2-1 |
2-1 |
4.3 |
5,000 |
|
Villa
Mattei, |
8-3 |
8-3 |
7-4 |
2-7 |
2-7 |
2-7 |
3.2 |
4,000 |
|
Alnwick, |
7-3 |
7-3 |
7-3 |
0-9.7 &nbs=
p;
x 0-9 |
0-9.7 0-9 |
0-9 |
9.2 |
600 |
|
Wadi
Nasb, |
7-11 |
7-11 |
7-11 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
|
7-0 |
7-0 |
7-0 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
Borgian,
|
6-7 |
6-7 |
6-7 |
1-8 |
1-8 |
1-8 |
- |
- |
|
|
5-10 |
5-10 |
5-10 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
Frag.
|
- |
5-1 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
Frag.
|
- |
4-5 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
Albani, |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
Sân
( |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
|
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
|
- |
2-6 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
Lepsius, |
2-1.5 |
2-1.5 |
2-1.5 |
0-9 |
0-9 |
0-9 |
2.4 |
200 |
1
Still in the quarry at Syene.
2
Measurements exact.
3
There are also other fragments at
4
A number of fragments of obelisks exist here.
5
A pyramidion only.
CHAPTER VII.
NOTES ON THE ANCIENT METHODS OF
QUARRYING, TRANSPORTING, AND ERECTING OBELISKS.
QUARRYING.<= /p>
WE can only admire, but n=
ot
explain, the marvellous achievements of the Egyptian engineers. At a time w=
hen
other ancient nations had hardly felt the first breath of civilization,
We come now to speak of t= he quarrying, transportation, and elevation of obelisks. The data are few; the questions are difficult, and we cannot hope to give them full solution. It = may be that papyri as yet unknown, tablets of inscriptions yet to be deciphered, paintings on the walls of some royal tomb which is yet inviolate, may herea= fter throw light upon the mechanical methods which are at present obscure to us; but, as yet, the veil of oblivion which has fallen over the secrets of Egyp= tian engineering skill has never been wholly lifted.
All obelisks now existing=
are of
red granite from Syene (Assouan), except the sandstone example at Philae, a=
nd
the basalt shafts of Amyrtaeus in the
146
Quarrying, Transporting, = and Erecting Obelisks. 147
(See the obelisk of Assou= an.) How sure of their skill must have been those quarrymen, so carefully and with s= uch labor to three fourths complete their work, while still the shaft made but = one piece with the formless mass of stone beneath it!
It is from the examinatio= n of this shaft and of other blocks lying near by, together with the observation= s of Gau and De Rozière at the quarries of Gertaas and Silsileh, that the methods of the Egyptian quarrymen have been, to a certain extent, made know= n to us.
On a mass of quarried sye= nite, lying three hundred metres southeast of modern Syene, De Rozière fou= nd tool-marks of an unusual character. The whole surface of the rock is covered with marks of the chisel, but cut with such change of direction of the tool= as to form to the eye parallel horizontal lines about seven inches apart. Thir= ty such parallel lines were observed, and in a single line three hundred and forty-seven chisel-strokes were counted, De Rozière can offer no full explanation of this, but it is his opinion that the strokes indicate more t= han the force of the human hand, and that they were probably produced by some s= ort of machine capable of striking a violent blow. ("Descr. de l'Ég= ypte, Antiq.," vol. i, pl. 32.) No other example of this kind of quarry-work= was found by the French engineer.
Belzoni, in his narrative= , says of the Assouan quarries: "It appeared to me that the pieces of granite were procured by cutting a line with a chisel, about two inches deep, around the stone intended to be removed, and then giving a great blow by some mach= ine, which separated the part like glass when cut by a diamond." Very curio= us figures of such machines had been given by Kircher - the construction of his own imagination - in his "OEdipus," vol. ii, long before Belzoni's day.
It is certain, however, t= hat in by far the greater number of instances which have been observed, the quarry-marks indicate that the blocks were severed from their native bed by processes much more simple: either by the use of fire, or of wedges, whethe= r of wood or iron.
It has been supposed by s=
ome that
the cleavage of the rock was accomplished by fire. According to Sir J.F.
Herschell, this method is employed to-day in
The grooves mentioned abo= ve by Herschell, cut to define the size and form of the block to be extracted, ha= ve been observed in the Egyptian quarries in repeated instances, cut two or th= ree inches wide and deep. But within these grooves are cut holes which indicate= the use of wedges. Often, according to De Rozière, the grooves are not found, but only the wedge-holes, about two inches long and deep, by one inch wide, arranged in one long straight line. From six to seven of these holes = were found in the extent of one metre. The slow but ever-increasing pressure of = the inserted wedges rent the rock asunder more surely and exactly than could the heavy blow of Belzoni's fancied machine.
In more modern quarrying = two sorts of wedges are employed: wedges of iron, which are struck all at once = with repeated blows along the whole line of the intended separation; and wedges = of well-dried wood, first driven to their place, and then drenched with water.= In the opinion of Wilkinson, the grooves so often found served not only to def= ine the form of the block, but also to conduct
148 Quarryingy Transporti= ng, and Erecting Obelisks.
water to the wedges. The = use of wooden wedges, says De Rozière, would be much more convenient and ef= fectual, because the pressure exerted by the expansion of the wetted wedges against = the sides of the cleavage is exerted uniformly and simultaneously, so that the block is split off always in the direction of the line already traced. This= he regards as the method, par excellen= ce, for detaching large blocks when it is desired that they should preserve cer= tain determined forms. He adds that it is probable that the Egyptians employed t= hese wooden wedges in their quarrying, nor can he conceive of any other method f= or detaching the giant blocks required for the obelisks; percussion of iron wedges, he says, could never be instantaneous along the whole length of the block, and the risk would be incurred of breaking the shaft into at least t= wo pieces.
An interesting account of=
the
mode of cleavage by iron wedges, as practised by Hindoo workmen at the pres=
ent
day, is given in a paper on the Seringapatam obelisk, published in the &quo=
t;Edin.
Philos. Transactions," vol. ix. 1
We have quoted above Sir J.F. Herschell's account of a mode of splitting la=
rge
masses of rock by the use of fire, as practised in
The work= man looks for a plain, naked surface of sufficient extent, and a stratum [Col. Wilks confesses that this term is ungeological, as applied to granite, but = says that no other word will well describe the kind of mass from which these lar= ge blocks are taken] of proper thickness, sufficiently near the edge of the ro= ck to facilitate the separation, or made so by previous trimming. The spot bei= ng determined, a line is marked along the direction of the intended separation, and a groove, about two inches wide and deep, is cut with chisels; or, if t= he stratum be thin, holes of the same dimensions, at one and one half feet or = two feet distance, are cut along the line. In either case, all being now ready,= a workman with a small chisel is placed at each hole or interval, and with sm= all iron mallets the line of men keep beating on the chisels, but not with violence, from left to right or from right to left; this operation, as they say, is sometimes continued for two or three days before the separation is effected. Those who have seen the mode of cutting, as it is called, plate-glass, will not be surprised at their beating from one end, and the fissure also taking place from one end to the other. This is the mode by wh= ich the Seringapatam stone was separated.
Col. Wilks adds that the = other method, by the use of fire, does not produce so clean fracture as this, by beating.
A saw, with which sand was
employed, was sometimes (very rarely, according to De Rozière), used=
in
the deep vertical cuttings. Saw-marks are found, for example, on the side o=
f a
basalt sarcophagus in the
It is the opinion of Coop= er that, at the separation of a block from its native rock, the under horizontal sur= face having been cut free, the last cutting was a vertical one. He further states that, the props which supported the block from beneath having been removed,= the stone, when nearly sawed through, was allowed to break off by its own weigh= t, thus having a rough and disfiguring fracture at the lower edge: examples of this, he mentions, are to be seen in sarcophagi, now in
1
The Seringapatam obelisk, to which we shall have occasion several times to
refer, is thus described in a letter by Col. Wilks ("Ed. Philos. Trans=
ac.,"
vol. ix): The obelisk was erected at Seringapatam, in 1805, to the memory of
Josiah Webbe. It was entirely the work of the Hindoos, except the design, w=
hich
was furnished by a European. The plinth of the obelisk is one and one half =
feet
thick, formed of three stones of equal dimensions, which rest on three simi=
lar
stones, placed, as Col. Wilks believes, on the solid rock, which was levell=
ed
to receive them. The pedestal is a single stone, nine feet high and about s=
even
feet wide. The base of the shaft was six feet in diameter, and a hole about
three inches deep was cut in the top of the pedestal to receive it, leaving=
a
ledge of about six inches on each side between the bottom of the shaft and =
the
edge of the pedestal. In the judgment of Col. Wilks, the shaft is not more =
than
sixty feet high, but he adds that others, speaking from their remembrance, =
make
it to be at least seventy feet. The first block quarried was eighty-four fe=
et
long, but after it had been moved a few yards, it was broken by an explosio=
n of
gunpowder which was intended to break a detached stone which stood in the w=
ay. -
From the plate given in the "Philos. Trans.," this obelisk tapers
more rapidly as it ascends than is the case with any Egyptian obelisk.
Quarrying, Transporting, = and Erecting Obelisks. 149
the
Both Gau and Ebers remark=
upon
the great care shown by the Egyptian workmen that the valuable syenite shou=
ld
nowhere be cut to waste. Gau remarked that the blocks were taken from the
quarry in the precise shape and size required. "The economy," says
Ebers ("Caire à
On the mode of removing t=
he
blocks from the quarries, the following may be of interest. At the sandstone
quarries of Hagar Silsileh, or Silsilis, there was found sculptured on the =
rock
a representation of some implements employed by the workmen. Two of these
appear to be wedges, somewhat differing in shape. The other exactly resembl=
es
in form the modern lewis, used =
by
masons for raising stones: it has a circular top - which might be a kind of
ring, - then a horizontal bar or bolt, while the lower part is a truncated
triangle, the base of which forms the lowest part of the instrument. As the=
se
quarries, at a later date, were worked under the Macedonian and Roman rule,=
it
is not certain that this implement is of Egyptian construction. (Long, &quo=
t;
When the blocks had been = obtained from the quarry, they were then cut to exact form, reduced to a smooth surf= ace by the chisel, and then polished by rubbing. The exactness of angle to which the huge stones employed in the Egyptian buildings were cut, the perfect jointing of contiguous blocks, and the exquisite finish given to the surfac= e, show that in these branches of the mason's art, the workmen of Pharaonic ti= mes have never been surpassed. The immense blocks of syenite in the king's cham= ber in the Great Pyramid are so truly and so closely fitted together that a knife-blade could not be forced in between them. This sharp and accurate cutting of the hardest stones is especially illustrated in their sculpture = of colossi and sarcophagi of syenite and basalt, and in the delicate and minute engraving seen in the best specimens of hieroglyphs, which are sometimes cu= t on the obelisk face to the depth of two inches, yet finished with the perfecti= on of gem-cutting.
In Wilkinson's "Mann= ers and Customs," vol. ii, pp. 310, 311, are representations, copied from the = wall paintings of Theban tombs, of workmen engaged in levelling and squaring a b= lock to be used in building, while others, raised on scaffoldings around a colos= sal statue, are cutting upon it hieroglyphs and giving it its final polish. They use both pointed and broad-edged chisels. The perfect polish of the faces o= f an obelisk contribute, according to De Rozière, to their preservation, since the glassy, smooth surface prevented the retention of moisture, which, acted on by heat, is the cause of the deterioration of the stone. 1
In a paper read before th= e Royal Society in 1821, is mentioned the very great difficulty of repairing
1
The process by which a fine polish is given to granite by the Hindoo workme=
n of
to-day is described as follows by Dr. Kennedy in the Edin. Philos. Journal, vol. iv, p. 349: "A block of granit=
e,
of considerable size, is rudely fashioned into the shape of the end of a la=
rge
pestle. The lower face of this is hollowed out into a cavity, and this is
filled with a mass composed of pounded corundum stone mixed with melted
beeswax. This block is moved by means of two pieces of bamboo, placed one on
each side of its neck, and bound together by cords, twisted and tightened by
sticks. The weight of the whole is such as two workmen can easily manage. T=
hey
seat themselves upon, or close to, the stone they are to polish, and by mov=
ing the
block backwards and forwards between them, the polish is given by the frict=
ion
of the mass of wax and corundum. The beauty of the glossy blackness thus
produced is equal to that of fine marble, and the polish is almost as durab=
le
as is the stone itself."
150 Quarrying, Transporti= ng, and Erecting Obelisks.
one of the Theban statues
preserved in the
The Egyptian tools were of bronze, of iron, and, in all probability, of steel.
The collections of Egypti= an antiquities preserve to us swords, daggers, carpenters' tools (see chisel, = saw, etc, etc, figured in Wilkinson's "Manners and Customs," vol. i, p. 401), and even chisels for cutting stone, all in bronze. The use of bronze = for such implements continued, according to Wilkinson (vol. ii, p. 249), among = the Greeks and Romans long after the period when iron was known.
A bronze dagger, preserve=
d in the
It has been queried by Do= naldson and others whether the Egyptians, working with such tools, did not, by the = use of some chemical agents, first soften the stone which they were to cut; or whether the stone was not first "stunned" by pounding, so that it might more easily yield to the chisel's edge; but, according to Wilkinson (= vol. ii, p. 254), these suppositions are insufficient to account for the facility and efficiency of Egyptian work. He conjectures that the Egyptian workman m= ust have dipped his chisel in moistened emery powder, and by its aid have enabl= ed the soft tool to do its hard work. Yet even this supposition of his own does not appear to be quite satisfactory to himself, and he adds that unless the chisel's point was sheathed with steel, we must confess that the Egyptians appear to have possessed certain secrets for hardening or tempering bronze, with which we are totally unacquainted (Wilkinson, vol. ii, p. 255).
It is difficult to unders=
tand how
stone-cutting under the Pharaohs could have been accomplished with tools of
bronze. The use of bronze, no doubt, preceded the use of iron; but, on the
other hand, it is certain that from a very early period, iron was known and
employed by the Egyptians. Rawlinson ("
It is true that few examp=
les of
iron tools have been discovered in ancient
According to Herodotus (i=
i, 125),
iron tools were used in building the pyramids. Among the earliest existing
specimens of this metal in Egypt may be mentioned a thin piece of wrought
plate-iron, found in one of the air-passages of the Great Pyramid; in the s=
ame
pyramid have been discovered iron clamps which maintain a granite portculli=
s in
its position. Later examples are the iron blade of a falchion found beneath=
a
sphinx at
Quarrying, Transporting, = and Erecting Obelisks. 151
$$$ With all the knowledg=
e and
improvements of the nineteenth century, it is an arduous task to accomplish
with our modern implements what the old Egyptians accomplished with theirs.=
The
French engineers who removed the obelisk from
In several instances we h= ave occasion to compare the methods of Egyptian workmen with those of the Hindo= os. From whatever source the Hindoo workman may have derived his arts, they hav= e no doubt descended to him unchanged from the remotest antiquity. The following description, by Dr. Kennedy, of the tools employed by the Hindoo stone-cutt= er of to-day, may therefore be of interest: "The tools which the Hindoos = use, are a small steel chisel and an iron mallet. The length of the chisel is not more than about twice the breadth of the hand of the Hindoo workman, which,= as is well known, is very small; and it tapers to a round point, like a drawing-pencil. The iron mallet is a little longer than the chisel, but not weighing more than a few pounds. Its head is fixed at right angles to the handle, and has but one striking face, which is formed into a tolerably deep hollow and lined with lead to deaden the force of the blow. With such simple instruments they formed, fashioned, and scarped the granite rock which forms the tremendous fortress of Dowlutabad, and excavated the wonderful caverns = of Ellora; for it seems by no means probable that the Hindoo stone-cutters ever worked with any other tools."
TRANSPORTAT= ION.
It is remarkable that the Egyptian records throw so little light upon the transportation and erection= of obelisks. Their inscriptions carefully record the warlike deeds of the king= s, and the long lists of their pious gifts to the temples; they recount the monarch's building of propylaea, and even his setting up obelisks in front = of them; but how the obelisks were removed, how they were erected, we are never told. The paintings in the tombs depict for us, with such wealth of illustration, the battles, the feastings, the industrial arts, the home lif= e, the funeral rites of this ancient people, that it seems as though there cou= ld be nothing Egyptian which was left unrevealed to us; but when we look for information on the transportation and erection of obelisks, we find, as yet, almost nothing. The celebrated painting of the "Colossus on a Sledge," is almost the only guide and help that we have.
The removal of these enor= mous monoliths to great distances must have been, of course, by water. 1 This must be preceded by the difficult transportation of the shaft from the quarry to the river bank; on= its arrival at the point to which it had been shipped, there was a second and a longer transportation by land to the temple before which it was to be erect= ed.
The Nile was the great hi=
ghway of
Boats of large size were = not wanting to convey these enormous weights. Some of the Egyptian war vessels = had twenty-two oars on a side, which, according to Wilkinson (vol. i, p. 276), allowing for bow and stern, would make their length about one hundred and twenty feet. Diodorus
1
Wilkinson (vol. ii, p. 304) states that although small blocks of stone were
sent by water to their place of destination, yet blocks of very large
dimensions were dragged overland.
152 Quarrying, Transporti= ng, and Erecting Obelisks.
mentions a sacred boat of= cedar, dedicated by Sesostris to the god Amen of Thebes, measuring two hundred and eighty cubits, or four hundred and twenty feet in length (Wilkinson, vol. i= i, p. 211). At a later period, Ptolemy Philopator is said to have built a gall= ey of forty banks of oars, two hundred and eighty cubits long (Wilkinson, vol.= ii, p. 212). It is probable, however, that these great weights were usually car= ried upon rafts.
The inscriptions, says Br=
ugsch
(vol. i, p. 75), record the merit of high officials to whom were intrusted =
the
responsible task of superintending the removal of blocks from the quarries,=
and
their conveyance, by way of the Nile, to the pyramids or temples where they
were to be employed. In the inscription of Una, an Egyptian governor under =
the
vi dynasty (translated by Birch, in "Records of the Past," vol. i=
i,
p. 1), he recounts the transport of stones for the pyramid Shanefer, erecte=
d by
the King Merenra, in six boats of burthen or rafts, three towing boats, thr=
ee
boats of eight lengths, and one war vessel. Again, for the transport of an
immense stone, he says: "I made for it a boat of burthen (or raft, as
Brugsch translates), sixty cubits long and thirty cubits broad"; that =
is,
a raft one hundred and four feet long and fifty-two feet wide. In another
inscription by a governor and chief architect under Amenhotep III, is recor=
ded
the transportation, by the
Many conjectures have bee= n made as to the manner of removing the shaft from the quarry to the raft. Goguet ("Origine des Lois") supposes that a canal was cut from the river= to a point immediately below the quarried shaft. Zoega objects that it would b= e an infinite toil so to cut through the syenite river bank so far inland, and conjectures instead that the shaft, placed upon such a "chamulcus"= ; or "cradle" as Ammianus Marcellinus reports, was used at the much la= ter date of Constantius for the carriage of the obelisk (now the Lateran) from = the Tiber into Rome, and resting on rollers, was drawn by capstans down an incl= ined bridge of strong beams, and so transferred to the raft.
If we turn from these con= jectures to the only positive testimony that we have, that is, to the testimony of t= he inscriptions and to that of the painting of the "Colossus on a Sledge," it would appear that the shaft, placed upon a sledge, was dra= wn only so far as the inundation level, where it was left till the rising of t= he Nile should allow it to be drawn on board the raft. "As soon as the wa= ter rose," says the inscription of Una, as quoted by Brugsch, "I load= ed the rafts with immense pieces of granite for the pyramid." (Brugsch, v= ol. i, p. 106.)
In two inscriptions quote= d by Brugsch (vol. i, pp. 113, 124), great blocks cut for royal sarcophagi in the valley of Hammamat are described as being rolled down the valley to the riverside.
On the arrival of the sha= ft by river at the place of its destination, it was again drawn by sledge to the = spot where it was to be erected.
The only representation w= e have of such transportation by land is the celebrated painting, before referred = to, of the "Colossus on a Sledge." This painting, discovered in a tomb near El Bersheh, is of the time of Usortesen II, xii dynasty. A wood-cut representing this painting and a description of it will be found in Wilkins= on's "Manners," etc., vol. ii, p. 305.
The weight and size of si=
ngle blocks
of stone transported by the Egyptians are remarkably great, as well as the
distances to which they were conveyed. A monolithic chapel, weighing about
three hundred and fifty tons, removed by Amasis from
What I a=
dmire
still more is a monument of a single block of stone, which Amasis transport=
ed
from the city of
Quarrying, Transporting, = and Erecting Obelisks. 153
twenty digits (twenty-eig= ht feet, three inches) in length, twelve cubits (eighteen feet) in breadth, and five (seven and a half feet) in height. It lies near the entrance of the temple,= not having been admitted into the building, in consequence, as they say, of the engineer, while superintending the operation of dragging it forward, having sighed aloud, as if exhausted with fatigue, and impatient of the time it had occupied; which being looked upon by Amasis as a bad omen, he forbade it be= ing taken any farther. Some, however, state that this was in consequence of a m= an having been crushed beneath it while moving it with levers.
A similar syenite chapel =
was that
of Tel-et-Mai, the external dimensions of which are given as twenty-one fee=
t,
nine inches in height, thirteen feet in breadth, and eleven feet, seven inc=
hes
in depth. The colossal syenite statue of Ramses II, at the Memnonium,
According to Ebers ("=
;Caire à
The Seringapatam obelisk, mentioned before, was placed upon a low frame of timber, which rested upon eight low wheels: to this ropes were attached, drawn by about six hundred m= en at a time. The distance from the quarry to the site of the obelisk's erecti= on was about two miles. Timbers were laid along the road, to prevent the sinki= ng of the low wheels in the earth.
Beasts of burthen were li=
ttle
used for the transportation of these great weights. Camels appear to have b=
een
used only for the transport of baggage and provisions. Horses, which in
Solomon's time were exported from
In many instances, as sho= wn by the "Colossus on a Sledge" and by the obelisk still in the Assouan quarries, the stone was cut to shape before transportation, thus lessening = the weight; in other instances, e.g., huge blocks lying near Assouan, the blocks were removed in the rough.
Of the mechanical applian=
ces
which were known to the Egyptians we have little information; Rawlinson (vo=
l.
i, 308) is very certain that no levers or rollers were employed to facilita=
te
the task of transportation. But Herodotus, in his account of the removal of=
the
monolithic chapel to Saïs (previously quoted), expressly mentions the =
use
of levers. Brugsch ("Hist. of
1
Donaldson (in Parker, p. 35) mentions a colossus at Koorneh,
154 Quarrying, Transporti= ng, and Erecting Obelisks.
125) as made of short pie=
ces of
wood, is recorded by him to have been used, in the building of the pyramids,
for lifting blocks of stone from one step or tier of masonry to the step ab=
ove;
Wilkinson (vol. ii, p. 309) considers this to have been a sort of crane. The
Egyptians, according to Wilkinson (vol. ii, p. 305), were not ignorant of t=
he
pulley, and, in his opinion, used it in hoisting sail. (This has been much
doubted, e.g., by Sharpe, "=
;Hist.
of Egypt," vol. i, p. 44.) A pulley has been found in
ASSYRIAN TRANSPORTATION.
Of the transportation of = heavy blocks of stone by the ancient Assyrians, some records are preserved. The f= irst is that of the not very reliable Diodorus Siculus, who tells us of the some= what mythical Queen Semiramis, that she had quarried, in the mountains of Armeni= a, an obelisk one hundred and thirty feet long and twenty-five feet square; th= is was drawn by many teams of mules and oxen to the Euphrates, placed on a raf= t, and floated down to Babylon, to which city the Assyrian queen is said to ha= ve transferred her court.
A very interesting series=
of
sculptured slabs, discovered by Layard at
The great conqueror Assur=
banipal
(B.C. 660-647, Oppert: the Sardanapalus of the Greeks), in his second campa=
ign
in
TRANSPORTAT= ION BY PTOLEMY PHILADELPHUS.
In the prosperous days of Alexandria under the successors of Alexander in Egypt, an obelisk was remov= ed to that city, from what spot we are not told, by Ptolemy Philadelphus (B.C. 286-247: the patron of Manetho), and by him erected at the Arsinoëum, a monument which he had built to the memory of his favorite sister Arsino&eum= l;. The following account of this is from Pliny ("Nat. Hist.," bk. xx= xvi, ch. 14):
Ptolemae=
us
Philadelphus had an obelisk erected at
Quarrying, Transporting, = and Erecting Obelisks. 155
lightened received their = burden. It was erected on a base of six square blocks, quarried from the same mount= ain, and the architect was rewarded with the sum of fifty talents. This obelisk = was placed by the king above-mentioned in the Arsinoëum, in testimony of h= is affection for his wife and sister Arsinoë. At a later period as it was found to be an inconvenience to the docks, Maximus, the then Prefect of Egy= pt, had it transferred to the Forum there after removing the summit for the pur= pose of substituting a gilded point; an intention which was ultimately abandoned= .
This Necthebis of Pliny,
according to Wilkinson (vol. i, p. 139), is Nectanebo, B.C. 378-364, xxx
dynasty. Birch (in Parker, p. 55), considers this obelisk to be that of
Semenpserteus, afterward removed by Augustus to
ROMAN TRANS= PORTATION.
Next to the Egyptians the=
mselves
as removers of obelisks, the Romans occupy the most important place. It was=
the
glory of their emperors to bring the spoils of conquered foreign countries =
to
the one centre of power and luxury - imperial
The following extracts fr= om Pliny and Ammianus Marcellinus are our only records of Roman transportation.
The most=
difficult
enterprise of all was the carriage of these obelisks by sea to
This first obelisk transp=
orted to
The other instance of Rom=
an
transportation mentioned by Pliny is the removal, by the Emperor Caius
Caligula, of the shaft now known as the Obelisk of the
The third obelisk at
This account of the sinki=
ng of
the ship is confirmed by Suetonius, "Vita Claudii," ch. 20. Ammia=
nus
Marcellinus (bk. xvii, ch. 4) records as follows the removal of the obelisk=
now
known as the Lateran, first by Constantine the Great as far as
Because = the flatterers, who were continually whispering into the ear of Constantius, ke= pt always affirming that when Augustus had brought two obelisks from Heliopoli= s, a city of Egypt, one of which was placed in the Circus Maximus, and the other= in the Campus Martius, he yet did not venture to touch or move this one which = has just been brought to Rome, being alarmed at the greatness of such a task; I would have those, who do not know the truth, learn that the ancient emperor, though he moved several obelisks, left this
156 Quarrying, Transporti= ng, and Erecting Obelisks.
one untouched, because it=
was
especially dedicated to the Sun-god, and was set up within the precincts of=
his
magnificent temple, which it was impious to profane; and of which it was the
most conspicuous ornament. But Constantinus, deeming that a consideration o=
f no
importance, had it torn up from its place, and thinking rightly that he sho=
uld
not be offering any insult to religion if he removed a splendid work from s=
ome
other temple to dedicate it to the gods at Rome, which is the temple of the
whole world, let it lie on the ground for some time while arrangements for =
its
removal were being prepared. And when it had been carried down the Nile and
landed at
ERECTION OF= OBELISKS.
The testimony from Egypti= an sources concerning Egyptian transportation is far from satisfactory; but fr= om these sources we learn, as yet, absolutely nothing concerning the Egyptian erection of obelisks. These secrets of their engineering skill have remaine= d, to this day, buried with them.
The Roman writer Pliny, w= hose entire information respecting Egypt appears to have been of the most vague = and uncritical kind, mentions, but does not explain, the use of machinery in the elevation of an obelisk by King Rhamsesis (presumably Ramses), but the evid= ent exaggeration as to the number of men employed and the idle fable of binding= the monarch's son to the shaft, impair the value of his statement. His account ("Nat. Hist.," bk. xxxvi, ch. 14) is as follows:
Rhamsesi=
s, who
was reigning at the time of the capture of
Pliny also records, but w=
ithout
the least explanation how the task was accomplished, the elevation of an
obelisk at In the absence of any pos=
itive
evidence in what manner the Egyptians erected their obelisks, we can only
submit the conjectures, more or less ingenious, which have been formed upon
this point. Sharpe, in his "Hist=
. of Letronne, quoting Pliny's=
account
(book xxxvi, ch. 21) of the raising of heavy masses forming the Quarrying, Transporting, =
and
Erecting Obelisks. 157 architraves of the temple=
of
Ephesus, states that the architect effected it by means of bags of sand pil=
ed
to form an inclined plane extending beyond the capitals of the columns. The
architraves were hauled up the incline, and lowered into position by allowi=
ng
the sand to run out of the bags. Letronne conjectures that the Egyptians us=
ed
some such method for raising the architraves of the Hall of Columns at Cooper conjectures that t=
he
Egyptians erected their obelisks by driving under them rollers of gradually
increasing diameter. He describes the method as graphically as if he had
witnesssed it or discovered some sculpture or inscription that gave it.
Diligent search by the author and by others employed expressly for the purp=
ose,
through all the sources of information available for examination, has been
ineffectual in discovering any thing that would warrant such a conjecture. =
Zoega, and indeed almost =
all
modern writers on obelisks have speculated on the methods of the ancient
Egyptians for erecting them, but no satisfactory system that does not invol=
ve
the application of "brute force" has yet been suggested. Rawlinson
says (vol. i, p. 309): "The raising of obelisks can scarcely have been
managed without machines. As we have no representations or descriptions of
them, it is impossible to determine their character. But, at any rate, they
were such that works, difficult of execution even at the present day, were
accomplished by them." In this the author fully concurs. The developme=
nt
of the Egyptian mind was such as to warrant a belief in their knowledge of
applied mathematics and mechanics. The genius that designed the pyramids and
temples could readily have devised the means of constructing them without t=
he
waste of life and power involved in the crude methods some writers attribut=
e to
them. "Main strength and stupidity," as the sailors say, consume
time. The record on Queen Hatasou's obelisks is proof enough that the time
occupied in quarrying, transporting, and erecting them would not have been
sufficient, unless the application of power involved in the execution of the
work was at least equal to any modern application of mechanical force. Cooper and Sharpe appear =
to have
had in mind the manner of erecting the Seringapatam obelisk (before referred
to), as described by Col. Wilks in the "Transactions of the Royal Soci=
ety
of Edinburgh," vol. ix. "Co=
nceive
the shaft finished," says Col. Wilks, "and placed ready for erect=
ion
in a horizontal position, raised to the proper height, and with its base
accurately placed for insertion in the top of the pedestal, when it should
attain a vertical position. Then imagine a strong wall, built at right angl=
es with
the line of the shaft, and a few feet beyond its smaller end; with two late=
ral
retaining walls, parallel to the shaft, and a fourth wall of smaller elevat=
ion,
near the pedestal, to support the mass of earth and the workmen to be emplo=
yed.
On such a platform, raised ten and a half feet, you will first conceive the
shaft to be horizontally arranged. Two lines of timber, plank or balk, were
then ranged along the two sides of the shaft, to serve as fulcra, and two l=
ines
of men with handspikes, attended by others with chocks, or pieces of timber=
of
different thickness, to be inserted under the shaft for the purpose of keep=
ing
the elevation of the smaller end, effected by the hand-spikes, and distribu=
ting
the pressure so equally as not to risk the accidents which would otherwise =
be
inevitable with this very fragile substance. In proportion as elevation was
thus gradually obtained for the smaller end, the space below was filled with
rammed earth, and the same process was repeated with the parallel balks of =
timber,
handspikes, and chocks: the small end gradually rising at each successive s=
tep,
the wall behind increasing in height, and an inclined plane of solid earth
gradually increasing its angle with the horizon, until it equalled that at
which solid earth could with safety be employed: when, the force required b=
eing
proportionally diminished, timber alone was employed for its elevation.
Finally, a scaffolding of timber was erected, embracing three sides of the
pedestal, and nearly equal to the ultimate height of the obelisk: ropes were
applied to the summit of the shaft, in such directions as to steady and che=
ck
it; handspikes gave the requisite impetus, until it felt the power of the
ropes, and was ultimately and safely lodged in its shallow receptacle."=
; Of course it was necessar=
y that
the bottom of the sunken socket in which the shaft was to stand, should be
perfectly level. Colonel Wilks offered to test this by a spirit-level, but =
the
Hindoo engineer 158 Quarrying, Transporti=
ng, and
Erecting Obelisks. preferred his own method:=
first
rubbing the surface clean and dry, he dropped on it a little water; the
portions where the water would not run were shown to be too high, and were
worked down with the chisel; the repetition of this process at last produce=
d a
perfect level. Of the erection of obelis=
ks by
the ancient Assyrians, we have no information. The setting a colossal bull =
in
its place, as shown in Layard's plates, is no help to us here. The inscript=
ion
that tells us that Assurbanipal brought two great obelisks from Of the erection of obelis=
ks by
the Romans, we have, at least, some information. Although Pliny here, is as
usual, of little service, yet the fuller account of Ammianus Marcellinus and
the bas-reliefs on the pedestal of the obelisk erected by Theodosius at The following extract fro=
m Pliny
(bk. xxxvi, ch. 14) simply recounts the erection of two obelisks at The account by Ammianus
Marcellinus of the removal of an obelisk [the present obelisk of the Latera=
n]
from Peter Gyllius, referring =
to this
description by Ammianus, is reminded by it of the taking down from its pede=
stal
of a column almost as large as the Quarrying, Transporting, =
and
Erecting Obelisks. 159 youth, till they had move=
d it
from its basis and laid it prostrate upon the earth." ("Ball's
Translation of P. Gyllius," p. 106.) The most interesting cont=
ribution
to the history of Roman erection of obelisks is furnished by the bas-reliefs
sculptured on the pedestal of the This is a faithful reprod=
uction
of the drawing in Spon and Wheeler, as copied in Montfaucon's "L'Antiq=
uité
Expliquée," vol. iii, pl. 187. After careful comparison of the
original engraving with Montfaucon's copy, the latter was preferred for
reproduction here because, while exact in every detail, it was clearer and
sharper in outline. The plate brings together=
the
reliefs of the north and south sides of the pedestal. In its lower portion =
is
seen the relief found on the south side; it represents the circus after the
erection of the obelisk. Two shafts are seen standing in this circus: the o=
ne
is probably the obelisk as erected by Theodosius; and the other a shaft, or
pillar, formerly covered with plates of brass and called by Gyllius a "=
;structile
colossus." Near the centre stands the superintendent of the public gam=
es
who reaches out a crown to the victor. At the ends are the two goals. The two upper portions of=
the
plate, taken from the north side of the pedestal, are intended to represent=
the
erection of the obelisk. The following is Peter Gyllius' description of the=
se
reliefs: "The sculptures on the north side stand in two ranges, the
lowermost of which contains eighteen figures and two capstans, which are tu=
rned
round with iron crows by four men and wind the ropes, which are drawn throu=
gh
pulleys, round the capstan, and so draw the obelisk along the ground. In the
same range is engraved the obelisk in an upright posture, as it now stands,
with three figures, one of which, 160 Quarrying, Transporti=
ng, and
Erecting Obelisks. as the inhabitants tell y=
ou,
represents the master, and the other the servant, whom he designs to correct
(if a third person had not interposed) because he had erected the obelisk in
his absence. In the upper range are also figures of two capstans, with the =
same
number of men working them, and laboring with those below them to drag the
obelisk. The wreaths of the ropes, in particular, are very nicely cut."=
; ("Ball's
Translation of Gyllius," p. 104.) Gyllius has here failed t=
o remark
the fifth man at each capstan, who "holds back," or keeps tight, =
the
rope as it is hove in. The prostrate obelisk, says Zoega, is laid upon a
"chamulcus," or "cradle," - using, to describe the low
frame, with its large wheel, on which the obelisk rests, the same word which
Ammianus Marcellinus employs in his account of the transport of an obelisk =
from
the Tiber bank into Two inscriptions upon the
pedestal record the erection of the shaft by Theodosius. They were first
published by Gyllius. At Niebuhr's visit to The Greek inscription, wh=
ich is
on the west side of the pedestal, runs thus: "[This] quadrilateral
column, a weight continually lying on the ground, King Theodosius alone hav=
ing
ventured to erect, gave command to Proclus, and so great a column stood ere=
ct
in thirty-two days." The Latin inscription is =
on the
east side of the pedestal: DIFFICI=
LIS
QVONDAM DOMINIS PARERE SERENIS IVSSVS =
ET
EXTINCTVS PALMAM PORTARE TYRANNIS OMNIA T=
HEVDOSIO
CEDVNT SOBOLIQVE PERENNI TER DEN=
IS SIC
VICTVS EGO DOMITVSQVE DIEBVS IVDICE =
SVB
PROCLO SVPERAS ELATVS AD AVRAS "I was once unwillin=
g to
obey imperial masters; but was ordered to bear the palm after [to commemora=
te
the victory over] the destruction of tyrants. All things yield to Theudosius
and his ever-during offspring. Thus I was conquered and subdued in thirty d=
ays,
and elevated towards the sky in the praetorship of Proclus." (Translat=
ion
in Long's " CHAPTER VIII. ANALYSIS OF THE MATERIALS AND META=
LS
FOUND WITH THE OBELISK AT ARRANGED BY PROFESSOR PERSIFOR FRAZER. THE RED SYE=
NITE
GRANITE OF THE SHAFT. THIS rock is of a general=
pinkish
hue when viewed from a distance, and on nearer approach reveals the irregul=
ar
mottling of pink, black, and white, admirably rendered on Plate xliv. Fig. =
4.
It is almost impossible to render by a flat print the translucency, or that
effect of vividness produced by both lustre and color, but the attempt here=
is
a very close approach to nature. The first thing that stri=
kes one
is the freshness and soundness of the rock. No maladie de granite is observable, and this fact will answer the
first and natural question as to why this rock was so much preferred by the
Egyptians for monumental purposes. I made a number of careful determination=
s of
its specific gravity, first in lump, as more applicable to questions of
transportation, and afterward in powder to determine by comparison the poro=
sity
of the rock. The specific gravity of the rock, as it is, i.e., with all the cavities it contains, is 2.6618, but, broken=
up
to the size of a pea, the quartz pulverizes except in the interior of the s=
mall
masses, and the specific gravity becomes 2.7188. It would perhaps rise to 2=
.75
or 2.76 if completely pulverized, but this can have no bearing, unless it b=
e to
determine in this way approximately how much of the desert sand is composed=
of
the old granite and how much of the newer and generally lighter rocks. A cu=
bic
foot of the rock weighs 166.1625 pounds. An independent series of
experiments, made in 1878 by Professor G. W. Wigner, and published in the Analyst, established the specific
gravity of the syenite at 2.682. The absorbent power of the unchanged stone=
was
at the rate of about 7.8 grains of water per square foot; the weathered sur=
face
showed an absorbent power six times as great. After powdering the stone and
separating the constituent minerals by means of Sonstadt solution, there we=
re
found of Mica Quartz<=
span
style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> &n=
bsp; Felspar=
&=
nbsp; &=
nbsp; 2.595
The proportion of mica va=
ried
considerably in different parts of the stone. The stone as a whole contained: Silica =
&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p; 68.18
Iron pe=
roxide &=
nbsp; 4.10
Alumina=
&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p; 16.20
Lime Magnesi=
a &=
nbsp; 0.48
Soda Potash =
&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p; 6.48
Mangane=
se oxide
&=
nbsp; trace
161
162 Analysis of Materials=
and
Metals. $$$ The felspar contained=
: Silica 63-38 Iron peroxide 22.25 Alumina Lime 1.09 Magnesia 0.45 Soda 1.84 Potash 10.66 The mica yielded: Silica =
&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p; 46.16 Iron pe=
roxide &=
nbsp; 7.30
Alumina=
&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p; 41.18 Magnesi=
a &=
nbsp; 6.77 Soda Potash =
&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p; 5.24 Dr. F. A. Genth, Professo=
r of
Chemistry at the He writes: Plagioclase from the Granite of the Ob=
elisk.
- White, with delicate striation. It was impossible to obtain it entirely f=
ree
from quartz and in sufficient quantity for a complete analysis. The pieces
which I could pick out contained P.C. Silicic=
oxide &=
nbsp; 66.70
Alumini=
um oxide
&=
nbsp; 21.41
Calcium=
oxide 4.17 These percentages indicat=
e the
plagioclase to be orthoclase. Calculating from the calcium oxide the requis=
ite
amount of aluminium oxide and silicium oxide for a "calcium oligoclase=
,"
and from the remaining aluminium oxide the required sodium oxide and silici=
um
oxide for "sodium oligoclase," there are in one hundred parts: - =
MIXTURE O=
F QUARTZ
AND OLIGOCLASE PURE OLIG=
OCLASE. Quartz 9.87 Silicium oxide 56.26 62.42 Aluminium oxide 21.41 23.75 Calcium oxide 4.17 4.62 Sodium oxide 8.30 9.21 100. 100. A specimen of this granit=
e was
sent to Prof. A.J. Julien, who made three thin sections of it. Two of them =
were
selected for representation, together with a thin section of a specimen of
syenite from near ON THE
BIOTITE-HOLDING AMPHIBOLE-GRANITE FROM ASSOUAN (SYENE). The handsome stone of whi=
ch the
ancient Egyptians, and after their time the Romans, made such splendid use =
for
monumental and architectural purposes, is known to day in commerce as "=
;red
oriental granite." We have valuable information concerning its occurre=
nce,
among others from Joseph Russegger. 1
According to him, the "oriental granite" forms the principal mass=
of
several parallel chains which stretch from the East Egyptian coast-range (t=
hat
is from the Red Sea) westward, through Egypt and India, and only on the oth=
er
side of the Nile in the Libyan desert, are lost under 1
"Travels in Fig. 1. Thin section, in polarized light, of a
portion of the Shaft of the Egyptian Obelisk erected in Fig. 2. Thin section, in polarized licht, of a
portion of the Shaft of the Egyptian Obelisk erected in Fig. 3. Thin section. In polarized light, of a =
Rock
near Fig. 4. Fragment of the Shaft of the Egyptian O=
belisk
in Analysis of Materials and=
Metals.
163 a covering of more recent
sedimentary rocks. Numerous dykes and pockets of diorite and porphyry 1 intersect these granitoid chain=
s,
which, in consequence of more or less deep-seated weathering, are covered on
their bald and knotty surfaces to a great extent with rock-labyrinths and
gigantic blocks. Another very remarkable
phenomenon in which Russegger likewise sees a kind of decomposition, the re=
sult
of a long exposure to the combined influence of the water and the atmospher=
e,
is this, that the outside of the granite blocks, and of the granite rock it=
self
generally, is often covered with a very thin, dark black, highly lustrous
coating, which gives it the appearance of having been painted over with pit=
ch,
Russegger reports this coating as so thin, and so intimately mixed with the
mass of the rock, that it cannot be separated from the latter, and he takes
this material to be ferrous oxide. According to the descript=
ion at
hand the structure and composition of the "oriental granites" are
very variable. Coarsely granular varieties, made porphyritic by orthoclase
crystals which are distributed without regularity in the main mass, seem to=
be
the most usual. They occur immediately in the neighborhood of Assouan (Syen=
e).
Out of these are developed locally (for instance on the road along the
cataracts of Assouan) such coarsely granular masses that the individual fel=
spar
and quartz constituents reach the size of a cubic foot; in other places the
size of the grains diminishes, and then there results, by a parallel
arrangement of the scales of mica, a gneissoid rock. Among the varieties of
composition, three are especially given. That which seems to be most widely
distributed is an amphibole-granite containing biotite, in the composition =
of
which orthoclase, oligoclase, quartz, amphibole and biotite take part. Some=
of
the principal localities for this are the old quarries near Assouan and,
besides this, Djebel Gareb and Djebel Ezzeit. This principal rock, by the
gradual diminution of its amphibole, either merges into normal biotite-gran=
ite,
which may be either rich in mica (east side of the hill on which the town of
Assouan is built), or poor in mica (Debu); or it passes, by disappearance of
its quartz and the predominance of its amphibole, into normal syenite.
Russegger satisfied himself, in various localities, that one of these rock
varieties developed itself very gradually out of the other, and in such a w=
ay
that, in the mountain chain of the cataracts of Assouan, he was not able to
separate one from another. Also, on the east edge of the "Waddi el Ham=
mer"
he observed that the granite became fine-grained, and by visible diminution=
of
the quartz passed into syenite; the latter seems generally to become more
frequent toward the east. In the above lines I have=
used
for the varieties of rocks those names which at present are more common amo=
ng
German petrographers; nevertheless, as these names until recently, and perh=
aps
even now, have not won universal acceptance, and as the different appellati=
ons
of the rocks under consideration are derived from just the above-indicated
variations which are to be observed in Egypt, it may be worth while to
introduce a few historical remarks. A.G. Werner, the founder =
of the
present geology, defined with precision, for the first time, the nearly arb=
itrarily
employed names of rocks. In his "Short Classification and Description =
of
the Different Kinds of Rocks" Dresden, 1787, he defines granite as a
"mixed rock, which consists of felspar, quartz, and mica, which are so
united together in a granular network, that every part of the mixture penet=
rates
and is attached to the rest." 2
In the following paragraph he describes, in conformity with the above
definition, "a kind of granite which appears to be a particular specie=
s of
rock," because it contains hornblende in its mass, partly together with
mica, partly in place of mica. "If a more general occurrence of this
species of rock (which at first was only known near 1
Among the porphyries, the most interesting is that of "Dochbel Dohan,&=
quot;
or the "Mons Porphyrites" of the ancients, which produces the
beautiful red porphyry (porfido rosso antico) which was widely spread over =
the
entire old classic world. Russegger, l.c.
351-356. 2
"Welche in einem Körnigen Gewebe so mit einander verbunden sind d=
ass
ein jeder Theil des Gemenges in und mit dem Anderen verwachen ist."
Werner, "Klassification und Beschreibung der verschieden
Gebirgsarten," 164 Analysis of Materials=
and
Metals. bution, and Werner himself even became acquainted with them, for example, f=
rom ![](3D"Obelisks_Gorringe1882_files/image023.gif")
=
![](3D"Obelisks_Gorringe1882_files/image024.gif")
=
We have an extremely care= ful description of this Egyptian amphibole-granite (syenite of Rozière) = from the distinguished French geologist, A. Delesse.
As the
According to him, the rock consists of quartz, orthoclase, oligoclase, mica, and often also of hornble= nde. 5
The quar= tz is translucent and gray; it has occasionally a somewhat violet or smoky gray t= int, which, as in the case of the quartz of protogine, is derived from a small quantity of organic matter. The orthoclase has a beautiful bright red, red,= or yellowish-red color, which reminds one of the coloration of the orthoclase = in the syenite of the Vosges, but is much brighter; it forms crystals of sever= al centimetres in length, - twins, as in the case of granite rocks; it general= ly is the most prominent constituent of the mixture, is very often the mineral most largely represented, and generally gives the rock its reddish color. (= See Plate xliv. Fig. 4.)
Delesse found the specific gravity to be 2.568.
At a red=
heat it
loses only 0.35 p. c. This loss is very little, as is generally the case wi=
th
orthoclase. When the felspar decomposes, it sometimes assumes a brown color,
which is due to a little manganese oxide contained in it and which is set f=
ree.
The triclinic felspar has not a greasy lustre as in the syenite of the
1
Kohler, Bergmannishes Journal 1=
788,
ii, 824.
2
As little has the name hyposyenite, proposed by Dana for a mixture of
orthoclase and hornblende free from quartz, been able to graft itself on the
terminology.
3
D. Forbes, "The Study of Chemical Geology,"
4
In Delesse's original Mémoire," cited elsewhere, only the insid=
e of
the pyramid is mentioned. - P.F.
5
Delesse on the light red syenite from
Analysis of Materials and= Metals. 165
appears to be oligoclase;= it is commonly white, sometimes it is yellowish, or even greenish, as, for instan= ce in some specimens from Syene, in which it occurs very largely and even exce= eds the orthoclase in quantity. The mica, rich in magnesia and iron, forms brilliant scales of mostly black color, but, according to Rozière, is also sometimes brown and green. When its color is black, it is not distinguishable from that of the hornblendes which is often united with the mica. 1 Also some pyrite and, = as in all hornblende-granites, some magnetite occur in it. Garnet is found in it = (but very infrequently) of a dark brown color and crystallized in the usual form= of the rhombic dodecahedron.
According to his method,
described in the Annales des Mines<=
/i>
(4me série, t. xiii, p. 379), Delesse determined the relative volume=
s of
the different minerals which appeared on the surface of a polished fragment,
and found red orthoclase forty-three per cent.; gray quartz forty-four per
cent.; white oligoclase nine per cent.; black mica four per cent. "This
piece, which was very rich in quartz, seemed to contain no hornblende; it
contained, notwithstanding, less orthoclase and especially less mica than f=
rom
its appearance would have been supposed; furthermore, this optical deceptio=
n is
general and is to be ascribed to the fact that the minerals which possess
bright and lustrous colors, like the bright red felspar and especially the
mica, attract the attention much more than the quartz of gray or dull
color." Delesse undertook an analysis of an Egyptian granite, by grind=
ing
up a large piece from the
B.C.
Silicon= oxide (Si.O2) = <= span style=3D'mso-tab-count:1'> &= nbsp; 70.25
Alumini= um oxide (Al2O3) &= nbsp; &= nbsp; 16.00
Oxide o= f iron, containing manganese = ; 2.50
Lime (C= a.O) &= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; 1.60
Alkalie= s and magnesia (by loss) = 9.00
Loss by incineration = &nb= sp; <= span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> .65
Total <= span style=3D'mso-tab-count:4'> &= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; = 100.00
Delesse thus summarizes t= he result of his investigations: "It appears that the chemical constituti= on of the Egyptian syenite does not vary in important respects from that which= I have found for several granites; as it contains a great deal of quartz, it = can be regarded as a hornblende-granite, or as a rock species which forms a transition from the granite family to the syenite family."
This result therefore cor=
responds
perfectly with the nomenclature usual in
At the time that M. Deles=
se wrote
the above remarks, the microscope had not yet established its home on the
work-table of the petrographer. I have carefully examined the thin sections
which were made from the rock of the
At the first glance under= the microscope it is apparent that the biotite-holding amphibole-granite of Sye= ne has a thoroughly crystalline granular structure. Its principal components, however, are crystals imperfectly developed on every side, generally in the form of fragments; even for these. Werner's description holds perfectly goo= d, that "every part of the mixture penetrates and is attached to the rest."
As an exception, two smal= l and isolated parts of one of the sections show somewhat a granitophyre structur= e, - an extremely fine permeation of felspar and quartz-like graphic-granite.
1
Russegger, whose communications on the rock of the quarries of Syene (Assou=
an)
agree well with those of Delesse, says: "Hornblende forms an accessory
constituent, with the increase of which the mica decreases and the familiar
transition into syenite is established." Hornblende and biotite can th=
us
replace each other.
166 Analysis of Materials= and Metals.
The essential elements of= the rock are microcline, oligoclase, quartz, and amphibole, with which some bio= tite is associated.
The microcline is the con= stituent mentioned by Delesse as red orthoclase. It is very fresh and free from interpositions; between the crossed Nicols it shows in an exceptionally beautiful manner, in the sections parallel to the basal plane, the "gr= ating" structure dependent upon its peculiar lamellar construction. On those secti= ons which are parallel to the brachypinacoid a simpler flame structure is observable.
Plate xliv, Figs, i and 2= give a good idea of the splendid bright picture which the observer of these thin sections obtains in the polarizing microscope. The oligoclase shows on its basal sections, in contrast to the microcline, only one fine, but very appa= rent twin striation parallel to the edge PM (see Fig. 2, right hand lower part). It is also free from interpositions, b= ut less fresh than the microcline, and in the vicinity of clefts which interse= ct it, has a "mealy" opacity. That this is really oligoclase, Delesse had already made probable, and the analyses of Professor F.A. Genth add add= itional confirmation to this hypothesis.
Some isolated grains of f= elspar have become, in consequence of advancing decomposition, perfectly opaque. Whether these also are to be reckoned as plagioclase, or whether they are t= o be considered as orthoclase, I am not able to decide from the two sections bef= ore me.
The QUARTZ occurs partly = in large individual grains, partly in fine-grained aggregates. These latter have the form of veins, and cross between the fragmentary, shattered, larger felspar= and quartz constituents. There is therefore here the mortar structure described by Toernebom as occurring in the Swe= dish granites, and which, according to his view, is characteristic of the oldest, but is wanting in the later granites. 1 The larger quartz grains belonging to the first separation are irregularly shaped, as has been already remarked. They contain a considerable number of fluid cavities, which to a certain extent are arranged in the well-known cloud-like zones. The bubbles of the larger liquid inclusions are immovable; those of the smaller, on the other hand, show invariably a greater or less movement. Besides this, the quartz contains a few small reddish translucent scales of hematite (either hexagonal or distorted to rhombs); also in one of its grains numerous hair-like black needles lying confusedly over each other are to be seen. In ordinary light the sections of the quartz grains are cle= ar as water, but between crossed Nicols, they shine in monochromatic bright co= lors (Fig. 2, below).
In one of the two thin se= ctions under consideration, there is accidentally a quartz grain which has been cut parallel to its base. This remains in all horizontal positions dark, and sh= ows a very perceptible interference cross when the eye-piece is pulled out.
The HORNBLENDE occurs in prismatic, but otherwise irregularly defined individuals. It is quite fresh and, in ordinary light, green and translucent. Tested with one Nicol, it sh= ows in the direction of the axis of elasticity c a very powerful absorption.
The slight obliquity of t= he position of extinction to the prismatic edges (the axis c) and the very apparent, obtuse angles of the cleavage lines characterize this mineral in an exceptionally perfect manner.
BIOTITE occurs in single = large brown translucent scales. The transverse sections show the usual lamellar structure and, by the employment of one Nicol prism, the strong absorption = of the ordinary ray, of which the vibrations are perpendicular to c.
Besides the above-conside= red essential constituents in the composition of the rock, the following access= ory minerals also associate themselves in it, though, it must be confessed, in a very subordinate manner. Of primary= origin: titanite, apatite, magnetite, and zircon. Garnet and pyrite, mentio= ned by Delesse, are not contained in the sections before me.
1
Naagra or dom granit och gneiss in Geol. Foeren i
Analysis of Materials and= Metals. 167
$$$ TITANITE is found in = both sections in numerous small yellowish-red translucent grains, which, together with a very pure constitution, show an irregular outline.
The APATITE occurs in exc= essively fine water-clear acicular crystals.
The MAGNETITE appears in = the form of opaque, partly irregularly bounded, and partly octahedrally crystallized grains.
Finally, there are four s= mall crystals of zircon in one section and six in the other. When they lie paral= lel to the plane of their section, one can convince one's self that they are of prismatic habit, and that both poles are terminated by pyramidal planes; in other positions, one sees small square transverse sections. The little pris= ms are 0.13 to 0.16 mm. long, and have diameters of from 0.03 to 0.05 mm.
Secondary formations are almost entirely wanting in the sections before me; in only two places appear a little viridite and yellowish-green translucent needles of pislazite. The rock of the Needle can therefore be regarded as unusually fresh and hea= lthy in spite of the honorable age which it possesses.
Amphibole-granites which = have a like, or at least a similar constitution to that of Syene. are rocks of frequent occurrence; thus, amongst others, Ferdinand Zirkel has made known numerous American localities: as, for example, from the north end of the Truckee Range; from the Pah-tson Mountains; from Agate Pass; Cortez Range; = Egan Canon, Nevada; Cottonwood Canon in the Wahsatch Range, etc.; and, moreover, according to the determination which Clarence King and his associated geologists have set up, they appear at all these points to be later eruptive rocks. 1
In Europe, rocks of the k=
ind
under discussion are known, for instance, from Odenwald, from the Vosges, a=
nd
from
Since F. Zirkel 2 with reference to the North Ame= rican, and H. Rosenbusch 3 with regar= d to the European amphibole-granites, have called attention to the fact that all these amphibole-granites contain titanite so constantly that this latter sh= ould be reckoned as one of their characteristic accessory constituents, it is not without interest to observe that the Egyptian rock conforms to the experien= ce gained elsewhere.
Professor Frazer has adde=
d to the
plates of thin sections from the monolith, a third, prepared from a rock in=
the
vicinity of
In conclusion, the follow=
ing is a
short diagnosis of the
The MICROCLINE and PLAGIO=
CLASE are
both still very fresh, the separate felspar grains which show no twin stria=
tion
may possibly be orthoclase. QUARTZ occurs only in rounded grains, and much =
more
sparsely than in the Egyptian rock. It is almost free from interpositions; =
even
fluid bubbles are only to be observed in certain places, and exhibit very s=
mall
dimensions. The green translucent hornblende is in greater quantity than the
brown biotite; in addition to which, also, large isolated scales of muscovi=
te
and very fine scales of a green micaceous mineral are observable. Among the
accessory constituents of the rock from
1
F. Zirkel, "Microscopical Petrography in the
2
L.c., 58.
3
H. Rosenbusch, "Microscopical Physiography of the Massive Rocks,"=
168 Analysis of Materials= and Metals.
power for light, I should=
again
take for zircons. Magnetite or particles of other ore are entirely absent f=
rom
the
Mit der Ueber= setzung ganz einverstanden.
According to the geologis=
ts Rozière,
Newbold, Russegger, d'Hericourt, and Frass, the limestone which forms the
bluffs near
P.C.
Calcium carbonate &nb= sp; = = 99.62
Magnesi= um carbonate &nb= sp; .27
Ferric = oxide &= nbsp; &nbs= p; = trace
Residue
(insoluble in acid) =
;
100.07
If this remarkable purity= of composition characterized the rock of the entire quarry, the Egyptians had a treasure of which they doubtless knew the value.
Mortars and Cements. - There are two kinds of mortar or cement = in which the steps of the obelisk were laid, and which are represented by the numbers in the series of Lieut.-Commander Gorringe as Nos. 3 and 4. Besides these, there is another cement, of which only an extremely small portion was obtained, but with which an important archaeological question was connected= , - the cement of the pyramidion.
The first of these, "= ;No. 3 - Samples of mortar in which all the steps and the pieces enclosed were laid, except the one piece in the east angle." This sample was sent to Prof.= R.H. Richards for examination. He says: "The sample weighed about fifty grains,' and proved to be a very soft, white, friable, chalk-like substance, quite porous, and pitted with little depressions. It contained some splinte= rs of wood which did not seem to be an essential ingredient of the mass. Under= the microscope the powder and fragments gave the usual indications of gypsum. Chemical analysis showed the powder to be composed of: -
P.C.
"C= alcium carbonate &nb= sp; = 1= 2.91
Calcium sulphate &nbs= p; &= nbsp; &nbs= p; 69.36
Silicio= us residue = ; &n= bsp; = ; 2.69
Ferric = oxide &= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; .63
Water (= loss just below redness) = 13.42
99.01
Analysis of Materials and= Metals. 169
$$$ "This material s= eems therefore to be an impure plaster of Paris. The calcium carbonate may perha= ps have been purposely added with the intention of hardening the plaster, and = in this way making it more durable."
The same chemist thus rep= orts the result of his investigation of "No. 4, the yellow cement in which the corner-, or standard of measure= stone was laid," and alongside of his analysis is placed one of the same material by Leonard P. Kinnicutt. Prof. Richards says: Of this sample, about twenty grams were received for examination. It was very friable, crumbling = to sand in the hands, and was of a dark yellowish color. An analysis of this cement was made with the following results: -
|
|
PER CENT.= |
|
|
|
|
RICHARDS.= |
KINNICUTT= . 1 |
|
|
Silica as quartz sand |
86.16 |
87.25 |
Silica as SiO2 |
|
Calcium carbonate |
9.89 |
5.02 |
Carbonic acid as CO |
|
Ferric oxide |
2.05 |
1.52 |
Iron as Fe2O= 3 Aluminium as Al2O3 |
|
Calcium sulphate |
1.83 |
5.90 |
Calcium as CaO |
|
Water |
trace<= o:p> |
0.36 |
Magnesium as MgO |
|
|
99.93 |
100.05 |
|
Prof. Richards adds: &quo= t;It seems therefore to have been a lime mortar containing a very high rate of s= and, the lime being present in such small quantity as scarcely to cement the gra= ins of sand together.
"Lieut.-Commander Go= rringe will unquestionably explain the reason for desiring to know whether in the = cement which remained attached to the pyramidion, or small pyramid, surmounting the shaft of the obelisk there were to be found any traces of gold or of copper= . 2 A qualitative examination made = in my own laboratory with this question above in view gave negative results, but = for greater certainty, in view of the importance which Lieut.-Com. Gorringe attached to it, a specimen was sent to Dr. F.A. Genth, whose report on it h= ere follows.
"'Fragments of a grayish-white color, consisting of a mechanical mixture of a grayish-white earthy material, and more compact scale-like particles attached to quartz w= ith little felspar and hornblende.
A qualitative examination= showed that the earthy matter was mostly calcium carbonate; there were also presen= t in the cement considerable quantities of calcium phosphate, hydrous calcium sulphate, and hydrous silicates of aluminium, iron, magnesium, calcium, sod= ium, and potassium, together with a small quantity of a brownish tarry or resino= us matter soluble in alcohol. Only a little over one gram of the mixture served for the analysis, which gave: -
P.C.
"Q= uartz, felspar, and hornblende &= nbsp; 13.98
Silicic= acid &= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; 4.79
Phospho= ric acid &= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; 4.70
Sulphur= ic acid &= nbsp; &nbs= p; 1.98
Carboni= c acid &= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; 12.58
Cupric = oxide &= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; 0.04
Ferric = oxide &= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; 2.01
Mangani= c oxide &= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; 0.16
Alumina= &= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; &nbs= p; 3.81
Magnesi=
a &=
nbsp; &nbs=
p; &=
nbsp;
Lime
Soda
Potash = &= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; &nbs= p; 0.36
Organic= matter, water, etc. &= nbsp; = 20.18
100.00 "
1
Mr. Kinnicutt's analysis was furnished me by Lieut.-Commander Gorringe with=
out
further explanation than the above table affords.
2
To determine whether or not the pyramidion had been gilded or covered with
bronze, traces of which would certainly have been detected if it had been. =
- H.H.G.
170 Analysis of Materials= and Metals.
$$$ "It is remarkabl= e that bone ash as well as gypsum have been used by the old Egyptians in the preparation of this cement. Calculating from this analysis, as far as it ca= n be done, the principal components of this cement, we find it to contain: -
P.C.
"Q= uartz, etc. &n= bsp; = ; &n= bsp; = ; 13.98
Calcium carbonate (CaCO3) &n= bsp; = ; <= /span>28.59
Calcium phosphate (Ca3P2O3) = 10.26
Hydrous= calcium sulphate (CaSO4 + 2 H2O) 4.25
Water, = organic matter, etc. = &nb= sp; = 19.29, etc."
It is hardly necessary to= add that these results render it very clear that so far as the material furnish= ed for examination was concerned, there was no evidence of either gold or copp= er having been attached to it at a previous period. The very slight trace of t= he latter metal - four hundredths of one per cent - is an amount of impurity w= hich is too insignificant to lend support to the opposite hypothesis. Parts of o= ne of the iron clamp dogs (No. 5 in Lieutenant-Commander Gorringe's list) were submitted by him to officers of the U.S. Ordnance for physical and chemical tests, and the results given to me for embodiment in this chapter. No comme= nt is necessary on this fine piece of work, and I have simply taken the libert= y of introducing, in italics, into the list of substances determined by Captain Buder's analysis, others found by the analysis of Dr. Wendel for Mr. A.L. Holley, in order that the two may be compared. It will be noticed that the constituent to which Captain Butler in a foot-note attributes the high temperature necessary to forge this iron is entirely wanting in the analysi= s of Dr. Wendel (arsenic).
It would be very interest= ing to know more of the history of the production of that iron, and especially to = have authentic information as to its age, 1 for while we have abundant testimony as to the existence of mines and furna= ces in the times of the Egyptians, one of the most distinguished of Egyptologis= ts has doubted their possession of iron. Mr. Holley, in a letter to the editor= of the New York World, says of thi= s iron:
Our frie=
nd, Mr.
Fred. E. Church, lately handed me a piece of iron found under our Egyptian
obelisk, and asked me to report to you about its quality and the probable
method of its manufacture. The specimen was too small for any physical test
whatever. A clean fracture revealed to the expert eye a rather highly
carbonized and granular but tough-looking metal, not unlike what is called
puddled steel. I sent the specimen to Dr. Wendel, the able chemist of the <=
st1:place
w:st=3D"on">
This fragment was a part = of one of the iron dogs used for clamping the stones of the steps together.
The following is the repo=
rt of
Captain J.G. Butler,
Submitte=
d for
mechanical test by Major Clifton Comly per Captain J. G. Butler on the Emery
Testing Machine, one iron clamp dog used in foundation of obelisk in
Clamp Do= g (see Plate xi): About 10 inches long, 1 inch wide, 1/2 inch thick, partly encase= d in lead, and flaked with rust.
Cut off = one end, forged it to a point; tried to harden it by plunging it red-hot into water. Would not harden. Cut off other end and forged into a ring at third attempt= , at a much higher heat than necessary or proper for wrought iron 3 (probably the effect of copper,= which is apparently incorporated mechanically, judging by appearance only of copperish streaks and spots, which appeared more distinctly when the specim= en was large than when reduced.)
1
The information on this point is authentic. The age of the iron in 1882 is =
1904
years. The doubting Egyptologist may profit by reading Chapter I
"Steel," by J.S. Jeans. 1880. (H. H. G.)
2
See analysis at the end of Captain Butler's paper.
3 Appended analysis shows this effect to have been due probably to arsenic. <= o:p>
Analysis of Materials and= Metals. 171
$$$ In order to adapt the specimen to the machine it was necessary to apply the ends to "holders= " by means of screw threads, hence two specimens were cut out of the dog as s= hown below.
![](3D"Obelisks_Gorringe1882_files/image025.gif")
=
The above figures represe= nt one of the two specimens A and B, cut from the dog, as below.
![](3D"Obelisks_Gorringe1882_files/image026.gif")
=
SPECIMEN A - DIAMETER, 0".273.
ELONGATION,= SET, AND BREAKING WEIGHT OF FOREGOING SPECIMEN OF OBELISK IRON OR ALLOY.
|
Strain ap= plied. |
Load per =
|
Gauge rea= ding. |
Elongatio= n per inch. |
Set per i= nch. |
|
|
292 |
5,000 |
.0426 |
.000000 |
- |
Fracture<= /p> granular.= |
|
468 |
8,000 |
.043 |
.000078 |
- |
|
|
585 |
10,000 |
.0432 |
.000117 |
- |
|
|
- |
5,000 |
.0425 |
- |
.000019 |
|
|
702 |
12,000 |
.0436 |
.000194 |
- |
|
|
877 |
15,000 |
.0442 |
.000311 |
- |
|
|
- |
5,000 |
.0425 |
- |
.000019 |
|
|
1.053 |
18,000 |
.0450 |
.000467 |
- |
|
|
1,170 |
20,000 |
.0455 |
.000565 |
- |
|
|
- |
5,000 |
.0425 |
- |
.000019 |
|
|
1,228 |
21,000 |
.0456 |
.000584 |
- |
|
|
1,287 |
22,000 |
.0460 |
.000662 |
- |
|
|
1,345 |
23,000 |
.0461 |
.000681 |
- |
|
|
1,404 |
24,000 |
.0462 |
.000701 |
- |
|
|
1,462 |
25,000 |
.0465 |
.000760 |
- |
|
|
1,521 |
26,000 |
.0466 |
.000778 |
- |
|
|
1,579 |
27,000 |
.0468 |
.000818 |
- |
|
|
1,638 |
28,000 |
.0470 |
.000856 |
- |
|
|
1,696 |
29,000 |
.0473 |
.000914 |
- |
|
|
1,755 |
30,000 |
.0475 |
.000954 |
- |
|
|
- |
5,000 |
.0430 |
- |
.000078 |
|
|
1,813 |
31,000 |
.0480 |
.001051 |
- |
|
|
1,872 |
32,000 |
.0485 |
.001149 |
- |
|
|
1,930 |
33,000 |
.0488 |
.001206 |
- |
|
|
1,989 |
34,000 |
.0490 |
.001245 |
- |
|
|
2,047 |
35,000 |
.0492 |
.001284 |
- |
|
|
2,106 |
36,000 |
.0496 |
.001362 |
- |
|
|
2,164 |
37,000 |
.0525 |
.001933 |
- |
|
|
2,223 |
38,000 |
.0596 |
.003304 |
- |
|
|
2,340 |
40,000 |
.0980 |
.010698 |
- |
|
|
3,190 |
54,530 |
- |
.014199 |
- |
Broke |
Diameter at fracture, 0''=
.18;
area, 0.0254![](3D"Obelisks_Gorringe1882_files/image027.gif")
=
";
contraction of area, 56.6 %.
SPECIMEN B - DIAMETER, 0".274.
ELONGATION,= SET, AND BREAKING WEIGHT OF FOREGOING SPECIMEN OF OBELISK.
|
Strain ap= plied. |
Load per =
|
Gauge rea= ding. |
Elongatio= n per inch. |
Set per i= nch. |
|
|
295 |
5,000 |
.0700 |
.000000 |
- |
Deep= seams extended almost through specimen longitudinally at point of fracture. Frac= ture slightly fibrous. |
|
590 |
10,000 |
.0710 |
.000194 |
- |
|
|
885 |
15,000 |
.0722 |
.000428 |
- |
|
|
1,180 |
20,000 |
.0730 |
.000584 |
- |
|
|
1,475 |
25,000 |
.0740 |
.000778 |
- |
|
|
1,770 |
30,000 |
.0755 |
.001070 |
- |
|
|
- |
5,000 |
.0712 |
- |
.000233 |
|
|
1,829 |
31,000 |
.0762 |
.001206 |
- |
|
|
1,888 |
32,000 |
.0775 |
.001459 |
- |
|
|
1,947 |
33,000 |
.0786 |
.001673 |
- |
|
|
2,006 |
34,000 |
.0960 |
.005057 |
- |
|
|
2,065 |
35,000 |
.1100 |
.007780 |
- |
|
|
2,780 |
47,120 |
- |
- |
.010503 |
Broke. |
Diameter at fracture about
0".20; area, 0.0314 =
";
contraction of area, 46.8%.
172 Analysis of Materials= and Metals.
In the f= oregoing specimens wherever there appeared a flaw or seam there was oxidation.
A proper=
grip
could not be obtained upon specimens otherwise than by threading the ends a=
nd
reducing the diameter concentrically. This gave two specimens of almost the
same size of area of cross section as one would have been. Machine operated=
by
J.E.
(Signed) J. G= . BUTLER, Captain of Ord.
Analysis of the iron clam= p dog from obelisk as received from and made by Captain John Pitman, Ordnance
Department, U.S.A:
|
|
CAPT. BUT= LER. |
|
DR. WENDE= L. |
|
Iron |
98.756 |
|
98.738 |
|
Slag, etc. |
1.917 |
|
0.150 |
|
Silicon |
- |
|
0.017 |
|
Arsenic |
1.059 |
|
|
|
Copper |
0.102 |
|
0.102 |
|
Phosphorus |
0.076 |
|
0.048 |
|
Manganese |
0.005 |
|
0.116 |
|
Cobalt |
None |
|
0.079 |
|
Nickel |
0.039 |
|
|
|
|
Trace |
|
0.009 |
|
Comb'd carbon |
0.033 0.032 |
0.138 |
0.521 |
|
Graphite |
0.036 0.037 |
||
|
Calcium |
- |
|
0.218 |
|
Silica |
0.060 |
|
|
|
Aluminum |
- |
|
0.070 |
|
Lead |
0.013 |
|
0.028 |
|
Magnesium |
- |
|
|
|
Oxygen |
0.056<= o:p> |
|
______ |
|
|
100.235 |
|
100.096 |
Slag consists of ferric o= xide 1.870 and silica 0.060.
(Signed) J.G.=
Captain of Or= dnance.
Density= of ring &= nbsp; 7.8218 &= nbsp; Taken by Capt. Smith,
Density= of cylinder &nbs= p; = 7.768 &= nbsp; Ord. Dept., U.S.A.
Lead is another of the metals common in modern commerce and of which the production by the Egyptians was more likely on general grounds fr= om the greater simplicity of the process; and better attested by the remains of their old explorations, the occurrence of galena in various igneous rocks. Specimen No. 6 of Lieutenant-Commander Gorringe's list is "part of the lead around the iron clamps just considered."
The date at which this wo= rk was accomplished (22 B.C.), as in the case of the mortars, leaves it to conject= ure as to whether the same or a similar material was employed in the original erection of the obelisk. The following results were obtained by Prof. R.H. Richards to whom a specimen was given.
The piece received weighe= d 15 grams. This lead proved to be very soft and pure. It could be flattened to = an exceedingly thin edge without cracking. Its specific gravity is 11.35 and it yielded to analysis: -
P.C.
Lead
Copper = &= nbsp; &nbs= p; 0.06
Iron
Silver = &= nbsp; &nbs= p; 0.052
99.022
Analysis of Materials and= Metals. 173
$$$ No gold, antimony, or= arsenic was detected. The sample was too small for a more complete analysis. This l= ead appears to have been quite well refined, and must have come from an ore in which the silver contents were very low, unless, as may possibly be the cas= e, the silver was separated by the capellation process. Comparing this with ot= her leads it is found that the specific gravity of the best Patinson lead is 11.395, Streng; 11.38, Kaisten. A sample of soft lead obtained by refining blast furnace lead in a reverberatory furnace was reported as of specific gravity 11.34. 1
It yielded to analysis: <= /p>
P.C.
Lead
Copper = &= nbsp; &nbs= p; .54
Iron
Nickel = &= nbsp; &nbs= p; .04
Antimon= y &= nbsp; .06
Arsenic=
&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p; __.05
99.40
This seems to resemble th= e lead from the obelisk in some respects. It should, however, be borne in mind, wh= en making the comparison, that the quantity of the latter was too small to obt= ain the low percentages of metallic impurities which were probably present.
Bronze. - Of all the objects submitted to examination none is m= ore interesting than the bronze of which the crabs supporting the four angles of the shaft were made. Their date is placed by Lieut.-Com. Gorringe as B.C. 2= 2, and the number in his list is seven. Small square prisms of about one cm. on the side were cut from the dowels holding in place these crabs, and one of these was submitted to Prof. F.A. Genth whose results here follow. "A fresh fracture shows a crystalline structure; it is somewhat brittle and not very dense, the specific gravity being 8.415; its color is reddish bronze-yellow; its composition was found to be:
P.C.
"C= opper &= nbsp; &nbs= p; = 90.700
Lead
Tin
Iron
Nickel = &= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; Trace
Cobalt = &= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; 0.108
Sulphur= &= nbsp; &nbs= p; 0.070
99.518"
Dr. Genth adds: "I d= o not know of any other Egyptian bronzes which have ever been analyzed (though th= ere may be many) except that of an arrow-head from an Egyptian grave, in which = was found (by Goebel-Scheigger 60.207): -
P.C.
"C= opper &= nbsp; &nbs= p; = 77.62
Tin
99.64"
The methods of separating= copper formation at that time were very imperfect, and it is very probable therefo= re that the tin determination is altogether too high.
Examination of paints on images about 4,000 years old. - Along = with the objects immediately connected with the obelisk, Lieut.-Commander Gorrin= ge handed to me some scales of pigment which had fallen from the surfaces of certain images which he had collected whilst in Egypt, and to which he assi= gns the above age. These were also submitted to Dr. Genth, whose description and analysis here follow. He says:
1
Reich in Berg und Hütten Zeitu=
ng,
1860.
174 Analysis of Materials= and Metals.
$$$ &quo= t;There were three samples, one representing the gold and yellow, the others the bl= ack and red colors. They consisted of scaly materials, of about 0.5 mm. in thickness. Many were composed of a very thin yellowish-white bottom layer o= f a dull earthy appearance, and upon this a white layer of about equal thicknes= s; finally, the paint. In many of the scales the bottom layer was wanting. When treated with dilute hydrochloric acid, most of the scales dissolved rapidly with effervescence, some more slowly, leaving the paint upon a thin film of= a resinous substance. The yellow and gilt contain the largest quantity of this resinous film, which, on heating, gives off a pleasant odor, resembling tha= t of the resin of balsam fir. It seems that the portions which were to be gilded were first coated with a varnish prepared from this resin, and that the gol= d, thinner than the thinnest gold-leaf, was laid upon it.
The yellow paint, of a brownish-yellow color, turning reddish on ignition, appears to have been a variety of ferric hydrate, the ordinary "yellow ochre"; the red paint, ferric oxide, or "red ochre"; and the black, "lamp-bl= ack."
The latt= er colors contain only a very small quantity of resinous admixture, the red the least, the black a larger portion.
I first = thought when I observed the black particles swimming in the liquid, after dissolving the colored scales in hydrochloric acid, that the black was produced by a varnish prepared from asphaltum, but on dissolving the resinous matter by alcohol, the black was left as a fine powder, which on ignition burnt off l= ike lamp-black.
The mine= ral constituents which formed the basis of the paints were principally variable mixtures of calcium carbonate and hydrous calcium sulphate, or gypsum.
The foll= owing results were obtained by the analyses of the three different specimens of paint.
GILT AND YE= LLOW PAINT.
The whole quantity for an= alysis was only 0.1902 grams, which gave: -
P.C.
Silicic= acid &= nbsp; &nbs= p; 3.79
Sulphur= ic acid &= nbsp; 2.07
Carboni= c acid &= nbsp; &nbs= p; 31.44
Ferric = oxide &= nbsp; &nbs= p; 0.53
Alumina= &= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; 2.05
Magnesi= a &= nbsp; &nbs= p; 0.57
Lime
Soda
Potash = &= nbsp; &nbs= p; 0.22
Gold
Resin, = water, etc. &n= bsp; = ; 10.21
100.00
The principal constituent= s of this paint are, therefore,
P. C.
Calcium carbonate &nb= sp; = 71.45
Hydrous= calcium sulphate &nbs= p; 4.45
Resin, = water, etc. &n= bsp; = ; 9.28, etc.
BLACK PAINT= .
The quantity for analysis= was 0.4244 grams. The carbonic acid determination was unfortunately lost, by upsetting the apparatus. The following substances were found.
Silicic= acid &= nbsp; &nbs= p; 2.76
Sulphur= ic acid &= nbsp; 24.28
Ferric = oxide &= nbsp; &nbs= p; 0.33
Alumina= &= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; 0.75
Magnesi= a &= nbsp; &nbs= p; 0.23
Lime
Soda
Potash = &= nbsp; &nbs= p; 0.13
Carbon = and resin &= nbsp; &nbs= p; 4.50
Gold
Carboni= c acid, water, etc. &= nbsp; 27.84
100.00
Ismail. &=
nbsp; &=
nbsp; &nbs=
p; &=
nbsp; Tewfik
THE KHEDIVES
Analysis of Materials and= Metals. 175
The principal constituent= s of this paint are, therefore, present in the following proportions: -
Calcium carbonate (about) &= nbsp; &nbs= p; 33.40
Hydrous= calcium sulphate &nbs= p; &= nbsp; 52.21
Carbon = and resin &= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; 4.50
Water, = etc. &= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; 2.21, etc.
RED PAINT.<= /p>
Only 0.1074 grams could be obtained for analysis, and the scales had only a very thin coat of paint (ferric oxide). I found: -
Silicic= acid &= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; 1.96
Sulphur= ic acid &= nbsp; &nbs= p; 39.05
Carboni= c acid &= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; 1.02
Ferric = oxide &= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; 2.80
Alumina= &= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; &nbs= p; 1.13
Magnesi=
a &=
nbsp; &nbs=
p; &=
nbsp;
Lime
Soda
Potash = &= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; 0.06
Water a= nd resin &= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; 17.88
100.00
This paint contains, ther= efore, as follows: -
Calcium carbonate &nb= sp; = 2.32
Hydrous= calcium sulphate &nbs= p; &= nbsp; 83.96
Resin, = water, etc. &n= bsp; = ; &n= bsp; 0.31, etc.
The quantities of material furnished for examination were unfortunately too small for a fuller investigation, but it is hoped that even these imperfect analyses may be of some value."
F.A. GENTH, <= /p>
INDEX
Abandonment of the "Cleopatra" 104-105
Abd-el-Lateef, cited, 108; quoted 70, 72, 74, 123
Abercromby, Sir R. 07
Absorbent power of syenite 161
Address at laying corner-stone N. Y. obelisk, 34-35; at presentation ceremonies 50-= 54
Adelphi
steps, site for
Age of obelisks: Albani, 137; Alnwick, 137; Amyrtaeus, 138; Assyrian, 158; Begi= g, 142; Boboli, 137; Borgian, 137; Corfe Castle, 139; Drah Abou'l Neggah, 144; Flaminian, 130; Heliopolis, 122; Lateran, 127; Lepsius', 141; London, 68, 9= 6; Luxor, 119; Monte Cavallo, 126; Monte Citorio, 133; Monte Pincio, 135; New York, 4= , 68; Pantheon, 134; Paris, 119; Piazza della Minerva, 133; Piazza Navona, 135; Prioli, 126; Santa Maria Maggiore, 126; Vatican, 118; Villa Mattel, 134; Wa= di Nasb, 144. See also Oldest.
Agreement
for removing
Albani obelisk 137
Alexander VII re-erects Piazza della Minerva obelisk . 134
Alexander,
Sir J. E., removal of
All the Year Round, extract from 102
Alnwick obelisk 137-138
Alumina in syenite, 161-162; in cements 169
Aluminium oxide in felspar of the syenite 162
Amenemha II, copper mining in reign of 143
Amenhat I 122
Amenhotep II erected Alnwick obelisk 137
Amenhotep
III founds temple at
American Bible Society declines to contribute New Testament to deposit in the foundation, 7,^; names of officers not deposited 33
American Numismatic and Archaeological Society presents medals of N. Y. obelisk 53-5= 6
Amphibole in syenite 166
Amphibole-gneiss 167
Amphibole-granite 163, 164, 167
Amyrtjeus, obelisks of 138-139
Analysis
of materials and metals found with N. Y. obelisk at
"Angha" (The) tows the "Cleopatra"
Anglo-Saxon Lodge, No. 137, contributes Masonic emblems for deposit in foundation of N.= Y. obelisk
Animals, Egyptian veneration of, 69; use of,
Antef, name on obelisk at Drah Abou'l Neggah
Anthony, J. B., lays comer-stone of N. Y. obelisk.
Antinori re-erects La Trinita obelisk
Antinoüs, Monte Pincio obelisk erected in honor of, 135 name on,
Antiquity. See Age; Archaeology.
Apartment-house
near N. Y. obelisk at
Apatite in the syenite
Apollo-Phoebus identified with the sun . . . .
Apparatus. See Machinery; Tools.
Ara Coeli, Convent of, former site of Villa Mattei obelisk
Arabs employed in removal of N. Y. obelisk .
Archaeological
treasures on site of N. Y. obelisk, 12, 14
Archaeology of N. Y. obelisk
Architecture, Egyptian, 35, 60; and Freemasonry
Arsenic used by Egyptians in forging iron
Ashley, J. L., offers the "Eothen" for towing the "Cleopatra" <= /p>
Aslambekoff, Rear-Adm.
Assouan obelisk, 143, 146; quarries, 119, 122, 135, 146-147, 163. See also Syenite.=
Assurbanipal, obelisks removed by
Assyrian obelisks, 60, 158; transportation,
Augustus,
Emp., obelisks removed to
Backsheesh
Baedeker, quoted, 71; cit= ed
Baker, B., plan of the &q= uot;Cleopatra"
Bandini cited
Bankes, W. J.,
Barbarus, Prefect of
177
Index.
Barberini obelisk 135-136
Basalt, obelisks of 138, 146
Base of obelisk. See Foundation.
Bass-reliefs. See Inscriptions.
Baur, T., 46
Bayard, T. F., 57
Begig obelisk 142
Bellonius, P., cited 74, 108
Bellori, discovery of fragment of obelisk .136
Belzoni, 97; cited, 139; quoted i47
Bergb, H., contributes documents for deposit in foundation of N. Y. obelisk 33
Bernini, re-erects Piazza della Minerva obelisk, 134; reerects Piazza Navona obelisk= 135
Besson,
plan for removing
Bible
deposited in pedestal of
Bierstadt, E., photographs N. Y. obelisk . 47
Biotite-granite 163, 164, 166
Birch, S., quoted, 62, 68, 122; cited, 108, 121, 124, 127, 134, 135. 136, 137. 138, 139, 152. 155
Bishop, Capt., in charge of guard of honor at re-erection of N. Y. obelisk 47
Bloomfield, Sir B., letter from Mr. Briggs to, 97-98
Boats
of ancient
Bombay Courier, extract from, 97
Bone ash in cements 170
Bonomi, J., cited 112, 127, 130, 132, 133, 134, 137, 138
Bonwick, J., cited, 59; quoted 62
Booth, Capt.y 104, 105
Borgian obelisk 137
Boswell,
Capt., plan for removing
Boys, presentation to, of medals commemorative of N. Y. obelisk S4-56
Breakage: danger of, in moving N. Y. obelisk, 15, 21; of strands in embarking pedesta= l of N. Y. obelisk, 25; how prevented in voyage of "Dessoug," 27; of b= ottom of N. Y. obelisk, 75; of tackles in lowering Luxor obelisk, 86, 87; of heel= of London obelisk, 102; in "Cleopatra," 103; how prevented in raising London obelisk, 106; of pyramidion of Vatican obelisk, 112. See also Crack; Defacement; Defects; Fall; Fragments; Shaft
Bresca 116
Briet 78
Briggs, S., letter to Sir B. Bloomfield 97-98
Bristow, G. F., 49
Bronze tools used by Egyptians, 150; analysis of that in crabs of N. Y. obelisk 17= 3
Browning,
H., solution for preservation of
Brugsch Bey, translation of inscriptions on N. Y. obelisk, 65-^8; cited, 62, 69, 70, 71, 72, 124, 127, 142, 150, 152, 153
Bryce, Sir A., 96
Buchoz, cited 141
Byzantine
emperors, removal of obelisks to
Caesareum in
Caillard, Director-Gen. o= f Posts, 24
Caissons, for N. Y. obeli=
sk, 12,
15, 16, 20, 41; for
Calcium carbonate, in the
limestone found near the
Calcium oxide in felspar = of the syenite 162
Calcium sulphate in the m= ortar and cement 168, 169
Caligula, Emp., removes V=
atican
obelisk from
Cambyses, injuries to tem= ples 72
Camels, to lighten draugh=
t of the
"
Camels, ancient use of 15= 3
Canal for moving obelisks=
from
quarries to the
Cangiahs 80
Cannon-balls, substitutio= n of, for wheels . 9, 15, 26, 27. 42, 44
Caoutchouc on
Carbonic acid in cements = 169
Carburi, Count, method of= moving pedestal of statue of Peter the Great 8, 9
Carter, Capt. H., given c= ommand of the "Cleopatra," loi; compelled to abandon her .... 104
Cartouch. See Inscription= s.
Carvings. See Inscription= s.
Cavan, Lord, 96
Cements, analysis 168-170=
Centre of gravity of
Ceremonies. See Corner-stone; Presentation.
Cerisi, de, 77. 78
Chabas, cited, 62; translation of inscriptions on N. Y. obelisk, 63-64; on Paris obelisk, 94-95; on Constantinople obelisk, 125-126; on Alnwick obelisk 138 =
Champollion, J. J., cited= , 77, 80, 119, 137; how enabled to translate inscriptions 140
Chamulcus for moving obel= isks 152, 156
Channel iron tracks 9, 26= , 40, 42, 44
Charles X 52, 78
Chérif Pacha, lett= er to, from Mr. Farman, 3; letter from, to Mr. Farman 3
Chisels used by Egyptians= in quarrying obelisks, 147, 148, 149, 150; by Hindoos 151
Cholera, attack of, at
Christians, method of spe=
nding
Sunday in
Church, F. E., 3°, 17= 0
Church steeples represent= same idea as obelisks 60
Civilization. See Egyptia= n.
Clamp dog found under N. = Y. obelisk, analysis, 170-172
Clamps for attaching N. Y. obelisk to pedestal, 46; weight of .46
Claudius, Emp., erects Va=
tican
obelisk in
Cleavage of obelisks from= their quarries 147, 148
Cleaver, Eev. J. B., bene= diction at laying of corner-stone of N. Y. obelisk 38
Clement VI re-erects Pant= heon obelisk 134
"Cleopatra" (The), 6; plan of, loi; enclosing obelisk in, 102; fitting for the voyage, = 104; abandoned, 104-105; picked up, 105; insurance on, 107
Cleopatra, Queen, her con= nection with the obelisks 73
Index. 179
Cleopatra's Needle, N. Y. obelisk properly known by that name, 3; why so called unknown= , 4; when the name was given, 36; its propriety 73
Climate,
protection of
Coins,
found in excavating, 12, 73; deposited in foundation of N. Y. obelisk, 33; =
of
Comanos, N. D., letters from Mr. Evarts to, 6
Comparative dimensions and weight of obelisks, table, 145
Congress.
See
Conly, Maj. C, 170
Constantius,
^»?/., removes Lateran obelisk to
Contd excavated obelisk 74
Contract. See Agreement.
Cook, F. C, quoted 7°, 71
Cooper, cited, 68, 69, 108, 121, 124, 126, 127, 133, 134, 136, 137, 138, 139, i43&g= t; 144, 148, 157
Cooper, Com. G. H., 46, 56
Cooper, M. W., 57
Copper, Egyptian mines of, 143; no trace found on N. Y. obelisk 169, 170
Corner-stone, ceremonies in laying it in N. Y. 34-38
Correspondence
relating, to N. Y. obelisk, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 10, 50; to registry of
"Dessoug," 57; to
Cost. See Expense.
Crabs of N. Y. obelisk, 12; difficulty in removing them, 14; their weight, 46; securing them in position, 48; inscriptions on, 55; translation, 76; why th= at form of support was adopted 75-76
Crabs,
of
Crack,
in base of N. Y. obelisk, 12; in
Cradle, for moving N. Y. obelisk, 9, 15,- 16, 44-45; for moving Paris obelisk, 89; = for landing London obelisk, 105; for moving Vatican obelisk, 114; for moving Constantinople obelisk, 160; ancient use of, 152. See also Chamulcus.
Crane, use of, by ancient Egyptians 154
Criminals anciently used in moving large stones 153
Crocodilopolis obelisk 142
Crosby, Dr. H., prayer at presentation ceremonies, N. Y. obelisk 49
Cross
placed on
Cupric oxide in cements 169
Curvature of obelisks 83,119
Daily Graphic 4°
Dates. See Age; Time.
Death symbolized by pyramids 59, 60
Decorations. See Embellishments.
Defacement
of N. Y. obelisk at
Defect,
in
Delays
in removing, N. Y. obelisk, 16, 17, 24, 29;
Delesse, A., quoted 164-165
Denon, cited 75^ i^j
Department of Parks, N. Y., approves site, 31; fails to prepare site for foundation 32=
Depew, CM., a
Deposit
of articles in foundation, of N. Y. obelisk, 32-34; of
"Dessoug," purchase of, 22-24, 5^-57; voyage, 29-30; granted an American registry, 56-= 57; sale of, 57
Detaching obelisks from their quarries. See Cleavage.
Dial found near base of obelisk 73
Dietrich, W. G. 49
Digging. See Excavations.
Dimensions of obelisks, table, 145. See also Size.
Diodorus Siculus cited 'S'l 152, 154
Diorite found with syenite 163
Disembarking, pedestal of N. Y. obelisk, 31-32; N. Y. obelisk, 39-42; Paris obelisk, 89; London obelisk . 105
Distance,
N. Y. obelisk was moved, 42, 44, 45, 47, 48;
Diving
operations in removing, N. Y. obelisk, 16, 21;
Dock,
at
Dock Department, N. Y., loans derrick 31
Docking the caisson and "Dessoug" 24
Domitian,
Emp., quarries Piazza Navona obelisk, 135; erects
Donaldson cited 119, 150, 153
Drah Abou'l Neggah, obelisks of, 144
Drovetti 78
Dudgeon, R., makes hydraulic pumps used in removing N. Y. obelisk, 8; contributes one for deposit in foundation 34
Durability
of obelisks, 61; how
Dynamite
used in clearing
Earthquake,
probable cause of fall of
Ebers, quoted, 69, 149; cited, 70, 72, 121, 122, 123, 142, 143. 153
Ebn-Khordadbeh quoted 123
Edrisi, quoted, 73-74; cited 108
Educational influences of obelisks 54, 61, 96
Effendi, K., 80
Egmont, van, quoted 74
Egypt, postal service, 22; her associations with Freemasonry, 35; obelisks still i= n, 142-144 See also Aexandria; Khedive; Pharaohs.
Egyptian civilization IS'l^t S^. 62
180 Index.
Egyptian government, claims against, ii. See also Khedive.
Egyptian mythology, 59, 60, 69, 132, 143. See also Inscriptions.
Egyptologists, imperfect knowledge of, 62
Ehlers,
E. M. L., Grand Marshal in laying the cornerstone of
Embarking,
Embellishments,
on
Emblems. See Inscriptions; Symbolic.
Emery powder used in cutting stone 150
Encasing. See Sheathing.
Engine. See Steam.
Engineering skill of Egyptians 146
Entef 144
"Eothen" (The) offers to tow the "Cleopatra" 105
Ephrem
Syrus,
Erection of obelisks, ancient methods, 45, 156-160. See also Re-erection.
Esmeade obelisk 136
Evarts, W. M., his aid in securing New York obelisk, v, 2; letters to Mr. Farman, 2= , 4; letter from Mr. Farman, 3-4; letters to Mr. Comanos, 6; present at reerecti= on, 47; address at presentation ceremonies, S<>~53; letters relating to American registry of "Dessoug" 57
Excavations
around. Expense,
in removing Fall
of obelisks: Begig, 142; Benevento, 136; Constantinople, 124; Drah Abou'l
Neggah, 144; Flaminian, 130; Heliopolis, 123; Karnak, 121; Lateran, 127;
London, 73, 108; Monte Cavallo, 126; Monte Citorio, 133; Monte Pincio, 136;
Pantheon, 134; Piazza della Minerva, 134; Piazza Navona, 135; San, 142; San=
ta
Maria Maggiore, 126; Wadi Nasb 143 Farman,
E. E., his efiforts in obtaining N. Y. obelisk, 2; letters to M. Evarts, 2,=
3-4;
letter to Ch^rif Pacha, 3; from Ch^rif Pacha, 3; from Evarts, 4; his tact in
negotiations 50 Feddam
82 Felspar,
in syenite, 161, 162, 163, 164, 166; in cements, 169 Fergusson,
J., quoted, 120; cited 142 Ferric
oxide, in the limestone, 168; in the mortars and cements 168, 169 Feuardent,
G. L., meaning of Masonic emblems on foundation of N. Y. obelisk, 19-20; why
crabs were adopted for supports 75-76 Figures
on obelisks. See Inscriptions. Fire
used in cleavage of obelisks 147 Fissure.
See Crack. "Fitzmaurice"
(The) picks up the "Cleopatra" 105 Flaminian
obelisk. See Piazza del Popolo. FonUna,
D., re-erects Vatican obelisk, 111-117; rewards and honors received by him,=
117;
other architectural work, 118; re-erects, Santa Maria Maggiore obelisk, 127;
Lateran obelisk, 127; Flaminian obelisk . 130 Forbes,
D., cited 164 Force
exerted, in turning N. Y. obelisk, 14; in lowering it, 17; in moving caisso=
n,
22; in raising its pedestal, 25; in embarking the obelisk, 26; in turning i=
t in
"Dessoug," 27; in transport through N. Y., 43; in raising it at
Central Park, 45; in lowering Paris obelisk, 82, 83, 84; in disembarking it=
, 89;
in moving it through Paris, 89, 90; in raising it, 91; in launching London =
obelisk,
103; in re-erecting Vatican obelisk, 112, 116; that used by ancients in mov=
ing
heavy blocks 153, 154 Form
of obelisks 60, 61, 83, 112, 119 Foundation
of N. Y. obelisk affected by surf at Alexandria, I, 12; its removal, 17;
embarking it, 27; its weight, 27; its discharge from the "Dessoug,&quo=
t;
31; preparation of site for, 32; replacing it, 32; date of, 34; objects
deposited in, 32-34. See also Pedestal. Foundation
of Foundation-stone.
See Corner-stone. Fracture.
See Crack. Fragments
of obelisks, in Fraser,
Prof. P., analysis of materials and metals found with the N. Y. obelisk at =
Frass
cited 168 Freemasonry.
See Masonic. Friction,
reduction of, in moving obelisk 42, 43 Garnet
found in amphibole-granite 165 Gasparin,
letter to M. Le Bas 93 Gau,
ancient method of quarrying 147, 149 Geinitz,
Dr., cited 168 Generation,
obelisks symbolic of, ij 59 Genth,
Dr. F. A., analysis, of felspar in syenite, 162; of cement, 169; of bronze =
of
crabs, 173; of paints from images 173-175 Gibbon,
E., quoted . no Gilder,
R. W., hymn at presentation ceremonies, N. Y. obelisk 49 Gizeh,
Lepsius' obelisk found near, 141; where its pyramids were quarried 153 Goff,
N., present at re-erection of N. Y. obelisk 47 Goguet
cited 152 Gold
not attached to pyramidion of N. Y. obelisk 169, 170 Gorringe,
Lt.-Com. H. H., tribute from Mr. Hurlbert, v; letter from Mr. Vanderbilt and
reply, 5; undertakes removal of N. Y. obelisk, 5; letters accrediting him to
Egyptian government, 6; arrival at Alexandria, 9; interview with the Khediv=
e,
10; letter to governor of Alexandria, 10; purchase of "Dessoug,"
22-24; takes leave of Khedive, 28; selecting site for obelisk in N. Y., 31;
tribute from Secretary of the Navy, 50; from Mr. Evarts, 51; from Mr. Sulli=
van,
54; commemorative medal, 54; expense of removing obelisk, 56; foot-notes, 1=
05,
107, 169; record of London obelisk 108-109 Index. 181 Governor
of Grace,
W. R., present at re-erection of N. Y. obelisk, 47; receives the obelisk in
behalf of N. Y. 53 Grade
of route of obelisk, in N. Y., 42, 44; in Paris 89 Grading
land, in Grand
Lodge of Freemasons, Granite,
obelisks made of, 141, 146. See also Amphibole; Syenite Graphic
40 Graywacke
Knoll selected as the site, 31; preparing it for the foundation 32 Greek
inscriptions, on ruins at Greek
mythology yc Green,
"jFudge A 2 Greenstone
163 Guiscard,
R., said to have overthrown, Santa Maria Maggiore and Monte Cavallo obelisk=
s,
126; Monte Citorio obelisk 133 Gyllius,
P., quoted 124-125, 126, 158-159, 160 Gypsum
in the mortar 168 Haddan,
J. L., plan for removal of Hadrian,
Emp., quarried Monte Pincio obelisk Hagar
Silsileh, quarries of, Hall,
Rev. C. H., prayer at laying of corner-stone of N. Y, obelisk Hammamat,
quarries of 152 Hatasou,
Queen, obelisks of, at Haussez,
Baron d', 77, 78 Height
of obelisks. See Size. Heliogabalus,
Emp., re-erects Monte Pincio obelisk 136 Hematite
in the quartz of the syenite 166 Herald
65 Hericourt,
d', cited 168 Hermapion,
translation of inscriptions on Flaminian obelisk 140 Herodotus,
cited, 150; quoted 152, 153 Herschell,
Sir J. F., quoted 147 Hewitt,
A. S 57 Hewitt,
R., yr 48 Heyman
quoted 74 Hieroglyphs.
See Inscriptions. Hindoo,
^if^ Historical
sketch, of Hittorf,
J. J., 82 Hobhouse
cited 160 Hoisting.
See Raising. HoUey,
A. L., iron of the Egyptians 170 Hornblende
in syenite, 12, 164, 166; in amphibole-granite, 165; in cements 169 Horses,
ancient use of iS3 Hospital
at Howard,
J. E., 172 Hudson
River R. R., moving N. Y. obelisk across, 41-42 Hume,
J., 98 Hurlbert,
W. H., preface, v; negotiations for securing N. Y. obelisk, 2, 4, 5; select=
ing
its site in N. Y. 31; contributes, box for deposit in foundation, 33 gold p=
late
with inscription describing removal, 33 present at re-erection Hydraulic
jacks, use in moving Hydraulic
pumps, use in removing N. Y. obelisk, 16, 17, 20, 21, 26, 40, 43, 44, 45;
deposit of one in foundation Hymn
at presentation ceremonies, N. Y. obelisk Hyposyenite,
proposed name Ibrahim
81 Imitation
of Egyptian obelisks 141 Implements.
See Tools. Inclined
plane, use of, in moving Inclination,
of N. Y. obelisk at Innocent
X re-erects Piazza Navona obelisk 135 Inscriptions,
on ruins at Iron,
Egyptian production of, 170; analysis of clamp found under N. Y. obelisk 17=
0-172
Iron
peroxide in mica and felspar of syenite 161-162 Iron
tools used by Egyptians 150 Iron
tracks 9, 26, 40, 42, 44 Isis,
Ismaïl,
gift of N. Y. obelisk 2, 3 Italian
Consul at Jauna, D., 74 Johnston, J. T., 48 Joining of blocks by anci=
ents i49
Journal des D3ais 9o Joussouf, B., letter to C=
ount
Sebastiani 79 182 Index. Julian, Emp., cited Julien, Prof. A. J., Kavasses 80 Kennedy, Z>r., quoted =
149,151 Khedive. See Egyptian gov=
ernment;
Ismaïl; Mohammed All; Tewfik Pacha. Kiernan, F., 57 King, plan for transporti=
ng King, C, cited 167 Kings. See Pharaohs. Kingston Hall, obelisk at=
, 139 Kinnicutt, L. P., analysi=
s of the
cement .... 169 Kircher, A., cited, 74, 1=
*4, 126.
i»7. »30. i33. i34. i35. X36, 137. 147 La Borde, de, 77, 78 Land transport, in
Landing. See Disembarking= .
Largest known obelisk 127=
Lateran obelisk no, 118, = 127-129, 155-156, 158
Latin inscription on
Launching, N. Y. obelisk,=
16, 20,
21, 22;
Lawler's Marine Railway u= sed in disembarking N. Y. obelisk 40
Lawsuit relating to salva= ge on the "Cleopatra" 105, 107
Layard, A. H., cited 154,= 158
Lead found with iron clam= p under N. Y. obelisk, analysis, 172-173
Leakage during voyage of = "Dessoug," how prevented 26
LeBas, A., removal of
Leidy, Dr. J., cited 168 =
Le Maire excavated N. Y. = obelisk to base 74
Lenormant, quoted, 75; ci= ted 119, 122, 123, 138, 142
Lepage receives cross of = Legion of Honor 93
Lepsius cited 121, 122, 1= 24, 134, 139, 142, 144, 151
Lepsius' obelisk 141-142 =
Letronne, restores inscri=
ptions
on pedestal of
Letters. See Corresponden= ce.
Levelling, Hindoo method = 157-158
Lever, use of, in moving =
Library of
Lifting. See Raising.
Lime, in mica and felspar= of syenite, 1 61-162; in cements. 169
Limestone,
in foundation and steps of N. Y. obelisk, 18; Egyptian quarries of, 153;
analysis of that found near the
Livron, de, 78
Loading. See Embarking. <= /p>
Loftie cited 142
London obelisk, circumstances of gift, 3; plan of removal, 5, 6; delay in, 9; its removal, 51, 96-108; its age, 68; inscription on, 70; fall of, 73; record o= f, 108-109
Long, quoted, 74; cited .= .. 69, 126, 138, 149, 160
Long, Sir J. T., fragment= of obelisk at Wansted 139
Loring, C. H., 46
Lotus-flowers on obelisks= 122
Louis XVni negotiated gif=
t of
obelisk to
Louis Philippe present at=
raising
of
Louvre, Museum of, 60
Lowering, N. Y. obelisk, =
7, 8, 16,
17, 20;
Lucas, P. 74
Lupus, L., name on
"Luxor " (The), construction of, 78; behavior at sea, 6, 79; arrival at Luxor= , 82; opening bow to admit obelisk, 87; voyage, 88; disembarking obelisk 89
Lyman, D., 56
McCook, A. G., 57
Machinery, for removing N. Y. obelisk, 8, 13, 42, 45; Paris obelisk, 82, 83, 84, 90, 9= 2; London obelisk, 105, 106; Vatican obelisk, J12, 113, 114; used by ancient Egyptians 153, 154, 156
Mackau, de, 78
Magnesia, in syenite, 162; in cements 169
Magnesium
carbonate in the limestone found near the
Magnetite, in amphibole-g= ranite, 165; in syenite 166, 167
Mahutean obelisk 134
Mallet cited 108
Mallets used by Hindoos 1= 51
Manganese oxide in syenit= e 162
Manganic oxide in cements= 169
Marcellinus, A., cited, 1= 27, 130, 152; quoted, 155-156, 158
Marine railway, for disembarking N. Y. obelisk, 39-40; for transport in N. Y 42-43=
Masara, quarries of, 153
Masonic emblems on N. Y. obelisk, 18-20; emblems deposited in foundation, 33; ceremonies in laying corner-stone, 34-38. See also Grand Lodge.
Masonic skill of ancients 149
Mathematics, Egyptian knowledge of, 157
Mazacqui 80
Mechanical appliances known to Egyptians 153-154, 157
Medals, deposited in foundation of N. Y. obelisk, 2,Z Paris obelisk, 91; Vatican obelisk, 113, 116; commemorative of N. Y. obelisk 53-56
Mehemet. See Mohammed.
Men anciently employed in moving large stones 153, 154
Meneptah
I,
Metals
found with N. Y. obelisk at
Methven,
Capt.., plan for removing
Mica in syenite, i6i, 163; in amphibole-granite 165
Microline,
in syenite, 166; in
Mimaut 78
Mimerel,
appointed to remove
Mining, copper, 143
Models
of machinery for removal, of
Mohammed
Ali, gift of
Index. 183
Mohammed ben-Abd-alrahin,= quoted
Mohammedans, method of sp= ending their Sabbath
Monte Cavallo obelisk
Monte Citorio obelisk
Monte Coelio, former site= of Villa Mattei obelisk
Monte Pincio obelisk
Monuments, obelisks the m= ost common form of,
Morgan, H. de, translatio= n of inscriptions on N. obelisk
Mortars, analysis,
Mosaic pavement found aro= und steps of N. Y. obelisk
Mules, ancient use of, in= moving obelisks
Mummulite
Mummy-cases of Antef
Muscovite in amphibole-gr= anite
Mythology. See Egyptian. =
Nahasb obelisk
Napier, Lord, visits the "Dessoug"
Napoleon I planned remova=
l of
obelisk to
Nationality of the "Dessoug"
Necropolis of Drah Abou'l= Neggah
Nectanebo I, Prioli obeli= sk erected in reign of, 126; Amyrtaeus obelisks ascribed to,
Negotiations,
leading to gift and removal of N. Y. obelisk, 2-5; for removal of
Nelson, Lord, 97
"Nettuno," The = 29
New Testament deposited i= n the foundation of N. Y. obelisk 33
New York obelisk, its removal, 1-58; its archaeology, 59-76; inscriptions, 61-6= 8; historical sketch, 68-76; first given to France, 77; relinquished by France= , 79; analysis of metals, etc., found with it, 161-175
New York World, account of presentation ceremonies, 48-56
Newbold cited 168
Nicholas V planned re-ere=
ction of
Niebuhr, C, cited, 74, 12=
4;
discovered obelisks at
Nile, use of, for floatin=
g "
Norden
Northumberland, Duke of, = obelisks at houses of.
Notes on ancient methods = of quarrying, transporting, and erecting obelisks 146-160
Number of obelisks remove=
d from
Obelisks
removed from
Obstruction. See Opposition.
Oldest known obelisks 122, 141, 144
"Olga" (The) deserts the "Cleopatra" 104-105
Oligoclase, from the syenite, analysis, 162, 166; in amphibole-granite 165
Oliphant, L., cited . 142
On,
Opening,
the "Dessoug " to admit the obelisk, 7, 26; for disembarking, 40;=
the
"
Opposition to removing N. Y. obelisk, 2, 9-13, 16, 17, 21, 23, 120
Ornamentations. See Embellishments.
Orthoclase, in syenite, 164; in amphibole-granite 165
Orville, d', cited 141
Osborn quoted 68
Overthrow. See Fall.
Oxen, ancient use of, 153, 154
Paints on Egyptian images, analysis, 173-175
Pamphilian obelisk 135
Pantheon obelisk 134
Parker cited, 62, 68, 126, 127, 133, 134, 135, 136, 138, 153
Parker, T. H.,
Paton, W. H.,
Pedestal,
of Karnak obelisk, 122; of
Pedestal of London obelisk, inscription placed on, by English, in 1802, 97; its loca= tion now unknown, 97; size of new one, 106; deposit of objects in, 106; inscript= ion on, 107
Pedestal of N. Y. obelisk, 12; its removal, 17; transportation and embarking, 24-25; weight, 25, 32; disembarking and transportation, 31-32; placing in position= 39
Pedestal
of
Pharaoh's Needles 123
Pharaohs, connection with obelisks 59-60
Philae,
original site of
Phoebus identified with the sun 75
Phosphoric acid in cements 169
Photographs,
of N. Y. obelisk taken before removal, 12; taken during re-erection, 47; of=
the
inscriptions and figures on, 61; deposited in foundation, 33; deposited in
pedestal of
Piankhi,
.ff^(»^, visit to
Piazza
Piazza della Minerva obelisk 133-134
Piazza
di San Pietro, site of
Piazza Navona obelisk 135
Pigments. See Paints.
Pislazite in the syenite 167
Pitching. See Rolling.
Pitman, Capt. J., analysis of iron clamp found under N. Y. obelisk 172
Pius VI, inscription on La Trinita obelisk 135
184 Index.
Pius VII re-erects Monte Pincio obelisk 136
Place
de la Concorde chosen as site for
Plagioclase,
from the syenite, analysis, 16a; in
Plaster of Paris in the mortar 169
Pliny, quoted, 68, 133. 154, 155, 156, 158; cited, 70, 112, 118, 130, 133
Pococke, quoted, 74; cited 136, 1 39
Polishing obelisks 149
Pontius
re-erects N. Y. obelisk at
Pontoons used in lifting and transporting N. Y. obelisk, 40-41
Porphyry found with syenite 163
Postal
service of
Potash, in syenite, 162; in cements 169
Power. See Force; Hydraulic.
Prayers,
at laying comer-stone N. Y. obelisk, 35; at presentation ceremonies, 49; at
lowering
Presentation ceremonies, N. Y. obelisk 48-56
Price, F., tribute to v, 9
Prioli obelisk 126
Priolus, A., erects Prioli obelisk 126
Prisse cited 137
Proportions in form of obelisks 60-61,112
Psametik II, cartouch on obelisks 134
Ptolemy
Euergetes II erects
Ptolemy Philadelphus, transportation by, 54-155
Pulley, use of, by ancient Egyptians, 154. See also Tackles.
Pumps. See Hydraulic pumps.
Pyramidion, of N. Y. obelisk, 61, 62; analysis of its cement, 169; Paris obelisk, 82; London obelisk, loi; Vatican obelisk, 112; Luxor obelisks, 119; Karnak obelisks, 121; Heliopolis obelisk, 123; Constantinople obelisk, 125; Piazza della Minerva obelisk, 133; Pantheon obelisk, 134; Corfe Castle obelisk, 13= 9; Wansted fragment 139
Pyramids, their symbolic character, 35, 36, 59, 60; when quarried, 153; ancient metho= d of lifting stones for, 154
Pyrite in amphibole-granite 165
Quarries of Masara and Ha= mmamat 153
Quarrying obelisks, ancie= nt methods, 146-151
Quartz, in syenite, 161, = 163, 164, 166; in amphibole-granite, 165, 167; in cements 169
Raft,
for removing
Railway. See Marine.
Raising, N. Y. obelisk, 8, 13, 14, 25, 40, 45, 46; Paris obelisk, 90-92; London obel= isk, 105-107; Vatican obelisk, in, 112, 113, 114, 116; large blocks, ancient met= hod, 154
Rameseion 80, 81
Ramses II, inscription of, on N. Y. obelisk, 62-68; on Paris obelisk, 86; on London obelisk, 108; on Flaminian obelisk, 132; on La Trinita obelisk, 135; erects Luxor obelisks, 119; restores Lateran obelisk, 127; erects, Villa Mattei and Pantheon obelisks, 134; Boboli obelisk, 137; San obelisks, 142; weight of statue of 153
Ramses
III, name on
Ramses IV 121
Ramses V 121
Ramses VI 121
Ransom, M. W., letter from Mr. Evarts to, 57
Rawlinson, G., quoted, 62, 146, 157; cited, 71, 122, 127, 133, 134, 13s, 138, 144, 150, IS3
Reagan, J. H., letter from Mr. Evarts to, 57
Record of all Egyptian obelisks, 119-145
Re-creation, obelisks symbolic of, i, 59
Re-erecting, N. Y. obelisk, 46-48; Paris obelisk, 89-92; London obelisk, 105-107; Vatican obelisk, 110-118; Lateran, Santa Maria Maggiore, and Monte Cavallo obelisks, 126, 127; Pantheon obelisk, 134; Benevento obelisk, 136, 137; Arles obelisk, 141; obelisks at Alexandria 108
Refitting the "Dessoug" 23
Reft. See Crack.
Registry granted to the "Dessoug" 56-57
Relics,
broken from N. Y. obelisk at
Religion. See Egyptian mythology.
Removal, of the New York obelisk, 1-58; its removal from Heliopolis to Alexandria, 3= 6, 52, 72; Paris obelisk, 77-95; London obelisk, 96-108; Vatican obelisk, 110-= 116; Constantinople obelisk, 124; Santa Maria Maggiore and Monte Cavallo obelisk= s, 126; Lateran obelisk, 127; Flaminian obelisk, 130; Monte Citorio obelisk, 1= 33; Piazza della Minerva and Pantheon obelisks, 133, 134; La Trinita obelisk, 1= 35; Monte Pincio obelisk, 136; Boboli obelisk, 137; Alnwick obelisk, 137; Amyrt= aeus obelisks, 139; Corfe Castle obelisk, 139; of obelisks from Egypt, 51, 61; to Alexandria, 108; from quarries, 149; ancient methods of, 151-156. See a/^^ Transportation.
Reproduction, obelisks symbolic of, i, 59
Resistance of rollers increased by iron channels and cannon-balls 42
Resistance to interference with removal of N. Y. obelisk, 12, 15
Resurrection, Egyptian belief in, 59
Riaz
Pacha, letter to governor of
Richards, Prof. R. H., analysis, of mortars and cements, 168-170; of lead found with = iron under N. Y. obelisk 172-173
Robinson cited 143
Roebling's Sons, J. A., 9
Rolland,
Baron, plan for removing
Rollers, for transport of obelisk in N. Y., 42, 43; use by ancient Egyptians 153, 15= 4, 157
Rolling of "Cleopatra" loi, 103
Roman, inscriptions on ruins at Alexandria, i; re-erection of obelisks at Alexandr= ia, i; mode of erecting obelisks, 45, 158-160; mythology, 75; use of Monte Cito= rio obelisk, 133; origin of Cataaia and Arles obelisks, 141; transportation of obelisks 155-156 Rome, removal of obelisks to, 51; obelisks in, 70, 126-136, 155. See also Esmeade; Fragments; Lateran; Monte Cavallo; Monte Citorio; Mo= nte Pincio; Pantheon; Piazza della Minerva; Piazza Navona; Piazza del Popolo; S= anta Maria Maggiore; Trinita (La); Vatican; Villa Mattei.
Rosellini, plate of, 121
Rosenbusch, H., cited 167
Rosetta stone, a key in translating hieroglyphs 62, 140
Rotation. See Turning.
Rozière, de, ancient method of quarrying 147, 148, 149
Index. 185
Rozière cited 162,= 164, 165, 168
Rüppell cited 143, <= /p>
Ruins, in
Russegger, J., cited, 162= , 163, 168; quoted 165
Russian aid in resisting interference with removal of N Y. obelisk 15
Sacy, S. de, cited 74, 123
St.
Maur, V. de, removing
St.
Peter's Square,
Saïs, probable original site of Piazza della Minerva obelisk
Salustian obelisk 135
Salvage on the "Cleopatra " 105, 107
San obelisks 142-143
Sand, bags of, use of, by ancients to raise heavy weights, 157; in the mortars 16= 9
Sanderson, J., quoted 125
Sandstone, in foundation of N. Y. obelisk, 12; pedestals of, 123, 139; obelisks of, 14= 3, 146; quarries of, 149
Santa Maria Maggiore obelisk 118, 126-127
Sarbut el-Khadem, obelisk of, 143
Sardanapalus,
removal of iabelisk to
Saw used in cleavage of obelisks 148
Scarabee found in excavating 12, 59, 60
School-boys, presentation to, of medals commemorative of N. Y. obelisk 54~56
Schroeder, Lieut. S., tribute to, v; accepts position of assistant, 9; refits the &quo= t;Dessoug," 23; removal of Paris obelisk, 77-95; removal of London obelisk, 96-108; re-= erection of Vatican obelisk 110-118
Sculptures. See Inscriptions.
Sebastiani, Count, letter from Boghoz Joussouf to, 79
Seizure of the "Dessoug," how avoided 23
Semiramis, Queen 154
Separation of obelisks from their quarries. See Cleavage.
Sepulchral monuments, obelisks as, 61
Seringapatam obelisk 148, 153, 157
Sesostris, Monte Citorio obelisk attributed to, 133
Seti I, obelisks erected by, 70, 130, 135
Shadrach, idol of, identified as an obelisk 60
Shaft of "Dessoug," breakage, 29
Shape of obelisks. See Form.
Sharpe, cited, 73, 74, 137, 138, 154; quoted 156
Shaw,
W. J., translation of inscription on model of
Sheathing,
N. Y. obelisk, 13;
Shipping. See Embarking.
Ship's papers of the "Dessoug"
Silica, in the syenite, 161, 162
Silicic acid in cements
Silicic oxide in the syenite
Silicious residue in the mortar
Sion House obelisk
Site
of, N. Y. obelisk, 30, 31;
Sixtus
V re-erects,
Size, of obelisks, 60, 61, no; table, 145; Assyrian, 158; Corfe Castle, 139; Drah Abou'l Neggah, 144; Heliopolis, 123; Lepsius', 142; London, lor, 106; Monte Citorio, 158; New York, 20; Paris, 82, 83; Piazza del Popolo, 158; Sin, 142, 143; Sarbut el-Khadem, 143; Vatican, n2, 115, n6; Wansted, 139; of ancient boats of Egypt, 151, 152; of blocks moved by ancient Egyptians, 152, 153; of vessels used by Romans to transport obelisks 155, 156
Sledges for moving obelisks 152, 153, 154, 156
Smallest obelisk 142
Smith, Capt., 172
Smith, G., cited 154
Smith, P., cited 158
Smith,. W., quoted 68, 69
Smith & Sons, W. B 32
Smyth,
Adm., plan for removing
Snowden, J. R., cited 117
Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals deposits documents in foundation of N.= Y. obelisk
Soda, in syenite, 162; in cements
Sodium oxide, proportion in felspar of the syenite
Softening stone before cutting
Specific
gravity, of
Spectators. See Visitors.
Sphinxes,
symbolic character, 60; in Egyptian temples, 72; on
Spon and Wheeler, copy of plate from,
Squalls during voyage of "Dessoug "
Squeezes made from the N. Y. obelisk
Stability,
of N. Y. obelisk, 45, 48; of
Stanley, A. P., quoted 96, 124
Staten
Steam-engine
used, in transport of obelisk in N. Y., 43; in moving
Stebbins, H. G., negotiations for securing N. Y. obelisk, 2-5; site for, 31; presenta= tion ceremonies, 48; letter to Mr. Sullivan
Steel tools used by Egyptians
Steeples represent same idea as obelisks
Stelae
Steltzner, Dr. A., analysis of syenite
Steps, of N. Y. obelisk, 12; removing, 17; embarking, 24; weight, 27; disembarking= , 31; laying, in N. Y., 34; of London obelisk, 106; of Constantinople obelisk
Sterne, L., negotiations relating to gift of N. Y. obelisk
Stone-cutting,
of the Egyptians, 150; in
Storm in voyage of the "Cleopatra"
Strabo quoted
Struts
for supporting
Stuart, v., discovered fallen obelisks at Drah Abou'l Neggah i44
Submarine work 16
Subsidence of land around the obelisk i, 12
Suetonius cited ^55
Sullivan, A. S., 48; letter from Mr. Stebbins, 50; presents medals commemorative of N= . Y. obelisk 53-5
Sulphuric acid in cements 169
Sun-dial, use of Monte Citorio obelisk as, 133
186 Index.
Sun,
Sun-worship of Egyptians 59, 69, 75
Sunday- work in removal of N. Y. obelisk '3
Supports,
for N. Y. obelisk, 8, 12, 75; of
Syene. See Assouan.
Syenite, in foundation of N. Y. obelisk, 17, 18; obelisks of, 122, 123, 136, r37, 13= 9; characteristics of, 146; economy in use of, 149; where found, 162, 163; cho= ice of, for obelisks, 60, 161; analysis of, 161-168. See also Amphibole.
Symbolic character, of obelisks, i, 4, 36, 59, 60; of pyramids, 59, 60; of sphinxes = 60
Table of dimensions and weight of obelisks 145
Tackles,
for moving N.Y. obelisk, 14; breakage of one, 15; for moving
Taylor,
Baron, removal of
Tel-et-Mai, chapel of, size, 153
Telephone system, failure of attempt to secure it for deposit in the foundation 33
Temper of Egyptian tools 150
Testing
apparatus by
Tewfik Pacha, confirms gift of N. Y. obelisk, 10; Mr. Gorringe's interviews with, = 10, 28; thanks of Congress to, 57, 58; tributes to, 49, 52, 80
Thames
Embankment selected as site for
Thebaid, Alnwick obelisk found in the, 137
Theodosius,
.^ot/., re-erects
Thothmes
I, obelisks at
Thothmes III, erects N. Y. obelisk, 4; name on, 62-68; his character, 52, 62; cartou= ch on obelisks, 59; obelisks erected by, 68, 108; restores Temple of the Sun, = 70; cartouch on London obelisk, 108; Karnak obelisks of, 122; erects Constantin= ople obelisk, 124; name on, 125; ordered Lateran obelisk, 127; name on, 127; min= ing in his reign 143
Thothmes IV erects Lateran obelisk 127
Thomas, T., 49
Tiberius,
Emp., removal of N. Y. obelisk to
Tide, use of, in disembarking N. Y. obelisk 39
Timber for use in moving, N. Y. obelisk, 9, 17, 26; Paris obelisk, 85, 88; London obelisk, 107, 108; Vatican obelisk 112
Time, allowed for removal of N. Y. obelisk, 5; of beginning active operations, 9; occupied in obtaining possession of obelisk, xo; in turning it, 14, 15; in diving operations, 16; in lowering obelisk, 21; in launching caisson, 21, 2= 2; in waiting for use of dock at Alexandria, 24, 25; in embarking obelisk, 26;= of setting sail, 28; of arrival at N. Y., 30; of laying foundation and comer-stone, 34; occupied in disembarking obelisk, 40; in transport through= N. Y., 44, 45; in re-erection, 46; in entire removal, 47; of presentation ceremonies 48
Time, occupied in removing Paris obelisk, 78, 88, 91, 92; of first attempt to rem= ove London obelisk, 96; occupied in its removal, 102, 103, 105, 106, 107, 108; = of re-erecting Vatican obelisk, no, 113, 116, 118; occupied in quarrying and erecting Karnak obelisks, 122; when Heliopolis obelisk, 123; of removing Constantinople obelisk, 124; Santa Maria Maggiore and Monte Cavallo obelisk= s, 126, 127; Lateran obelisk, 127; Flaminian obelisk, 130; Monte Citorio obeli= sk, 133; Piazza della Minerva obelisk, 134; of re-erecting Pantheon obelisk, 13= 4; Villa Mattei obelisk, 134; of removing La Trinita obelisk, 135; Monte Pincio obelisk, 136; Benevento and Alnwick obelisks, 137; Amyrtceus, Corfe Castle,= and Wansted obelisks, 139; Arles obelisk, 141; re-erecting Constantinople obeli= sk, 160. See also Age; Delays.
Titanite,
in the syenite, 166, 167; in
Toemebom cited 166
Toralinson, G., translation of inscriptions on Flaminian obelisk 131-132
Tools used, by Egyptians, 149, 150, 151; by Hindoos 151
Tott, Baron de, 74
Track, for embarking N. Y. obelisk, 25-26; for moving it in N. Y 32
Tracks (channel) 9, 26, 40, 42, 44
Translation of inscriptions, on N. Y. obelisk, 62-68; on model of Sun Temple, 70-71; on= N. Y. and London obelisks, 73, 74; on crabs, 76; on Paris obelisk, 94, 95; on London obelisk, 108; on Luxor obelisk, 120; on Karnak obelisks, 121, 122; on Constantinople obelisk, 125, 126, 160; on Lateran obelisk, 127-129; on Flaminian obelisk, 130-132; on Alnwick obelisk, 138; on pedestal of Corfe Castle obelisk, 140, 141; on Drah Abou'l Neggah obelisk, 144; how done, 62,= 140
Transportation of obelisks, ancient methods, 151-156. See also Land transport; Removal.
Trestle
for transport of obelisk through
Trinita (La) dei Monti obelisk 135
Truss-cradle 15, 16
Tupinier, Baron, 78
Turn-table 27
Turning, N. Y. obelisk, 13, 14-16, 26, 27; Paris obelisk, 81, 83-86, 90, 91; London = obelisk, 102; Vatican obelisk 114, 115
Turning apparatus in transport of obelisk in N. Y. 45
Turning structure 7, 8, 9, 13, 14, 25, 39, 45
Turnings
in route, in N. Y., 42, 43, 44; in
Una, inscriptions of, 152
Unfinished obelisk at Syene 143
Ungarelli cited 127, 130, 133, 134, 135, 137
United States Congress, grants American registry to "Dessoug," 56-57; th= anks Khedive for gift 57-58
United States flag raised on the "Dessoug" 23
Unloading. See Disembarking.
Urbino, fragment of obelisk erected at, 136
Usorken
(Usortesen) I, name on N. Y. obelisk, 68; erects
Index. 187
Vanderbilt, W. H., tribute to, from Mr. Hurlbert, v;. guarantees expense of moving N. Y. obelisk, 2; letter to Mr. Gorringe and reply, 5; selecting site in N. Y., 3= 1; tribute from Mr. Evarts, 51; from Mr. Sullivan, 54; receives commemorative medal, 54; cost of removal 56
Vases
found on site of
Vessels.
See Boats; Rafts; also "Cleopatra"; "Dessoug"; "
Victor, P., cited 155
Villa Celimontana. See Villa Mattei.
Villa Mattei obelisk 134
Viridite in the syenite 167
Visitors,
to N. Y. obelisk at
Voyage,
of "Dessoug," 29-30; of "
VuUiamy,
designs for castings for
Vyse, C?/. H., cited 100
Wadi Nasb obelisk 143-144
Wansted, fragment of obelisk at, 139
Water, proportion in the mortar, 168; in the cements 169
Water, used in cleavage of obelisks, 147; transportation on, by ancients 151
Water-spouts 3°
Water-tight compartments in the "Cleopatra" 101, 104
Ways beams for transport of obelisk in N. Y. 43
Ways
for moving obelisk to the "
Wedges used in cleavage of obelisks 147, 148
Weight, of N. Y. obelisk, 25, 26, 42; and caisson, ao; of its pedestal, 25, 32; of = its base and steps, 27; of its clamps, 46; of its new crabs, 46; of Paris obeli= sk, 83; of its pedestal, 90; of London obelisk, 99, 102; of Vatican obelisk, 11= 2; of obelisks, table, 145; of blocks moved by ancient Egyptians, 152, 153; of= syenite 161
Wendel, Dr., analysis of iron clamp found under N. Y. obelisk 170, 172
Werner, A. G., quoted 163, 165
Westropp cited 141, 143
Wharton,
W. A., plan for removing
Whitin, L. F., advances money for removal of N. Y. obelisk 5
Whiting, Lieut.-Comdr. W. H., in charge of guard of honor at re-erection of N. Y. obelisk 47
Whitthorne, W. C, 57
Wigner, G. W., specific gravity of syenite 161
Wilkinson cited, 62, 68, 69, 70, 119, 143, 147, 149, 150, 151, 152, 153, 154, 155, 15= 7
Wilson,
E., 97, 98, 101, 112; agreement with Mr. Dixon for removing
Wood. See Timber.
Worship of obelisks an error 59
Young, translation of hie= roglyphs 140
Zircon, in the syenite, 1=
66, 167;
in
Zirkel, F., cited 167
Zoega cited, 74, 124, 126= , 127, 130, 133, 134, 135, 136, 137, 139, 141, 152, 157, 160
Zucovich, E., 29
Zulficar Pacha present at= the turning of the N. Y. obelisk, 15