Luxor Obelisk in Paris
In the center of Place de la Concorde in Paris, amidst bustling traffic and luxury scents, stands the Luxor Obelisk—a 3,300-year-old artifact. It has witnessed empires rise and fall, survived the French Revolution, and made a 2,500-mile journey across the sea.
Ancient Egypt’s "Sky Piercers": Ramses II and the Luxor Temple
Before becoming a famous landmark in Paris, the obelisk was an important religious symbol. It was carved during the reign of Ramses II around 1250 BCE. These monuments were not just for decoration; they were meant to connect the earth to the sun god, Amun-Ra.
Key Features of the Obelisk:
– Material: Both obelisks were made from a single block of red granite from Aswan.
– Height and Weight: The obelisk in Paris is about 23 meters (75 feet) tall and weighs around 250 tons.
– Inscriptions: The hieroglyphs on the obelisk are not magical. They are about 3,000 years old and celebrate Ramses II’s military successes and his loyalty to the gods.
– Pyramidion: The tops of the obelisks were originally covered in electrum, a mix of gold and silver, to reflect the morning sun.
The Egyptians called them tekhenu, which means “to pierce the sky.” They were placed in pairs at temple entrances to serve as symbolic guardians. For many centuries, the two obelisks stood side by side at the Luxor Temple, guarding the great pylon of Ramses II, until 19th-century politics led to one of them being relocated.
Luxor Tours & Activities
Looking to save some costs on your travel? Why not join a shared group tour to explore Luxor, Egypt? Here are some activities you might be interested in:
The Impossible Journey of "The Louxor"
Transporting a 250-ton granite pillar in the 1830s was as challenging as a modern moon mission. It took advanced engineering that almost bankrupted the French navy.
Construction of The Louxor (1830): Workers built a flat-bottomed barge in Toulon. This barge drew very little water, so it could travel through the shallow Nile.
The Great Dig (1831): Once in Egypt, 300 workers spent months digging a canal through the sand to bring the ship close to the monument.
The Lowering: A complex system of pulleys, capstans, and manpower was used to lower the obelisk onto its side. This process took weeks of slow movement.
The Long Wait: The ship stayed in the Nile for months, waiting for the annual flood to rise high enough to float back to the Mediterranean.
The Arrival (1833): After facing storms at sea and being towed up the Seine, the obelisk finally reached Paris. It remained on the docks for three years while the city decided where to place it.
On October 25, 1836, in front of a crowd of 200,000 people, they lifted the obelisk into an upright position in the Place de la Concorde. King Louis-Philippe was so worried the ropes would break that he hid in the Tuileries Palace, only coming out onto the balcony once the monument was safely vertical.
Hidden Secrets & The "Obscene" Baboons
If you examine the pedestal of the obelisk in Paris, you will notice gold-leaf diagrams that show how it was moved. However, the original base is not there.
When the obelisk was in Egypt, its granite pedestal had high-relief carvings of sixteen baboons. They were standing on their hind legs with their arms raised in worship of the sun. The French authorities in the 1830s thought the anatomy of the baboons, especially their noticeable “manhood,” was too inappropriate for the public square.
They removed the “obscene” baboons and sent them to the Louvre Museum, where they still are today, away from the sensitivities of 19th-century pedestrians.
Other Modern Additions:
The Golden Cap: The original pyramidion was lost or stolen in antiquity. In 1998, the French government added the current 24-carat gold-leaf cap to restore the monument’s intended “sun-catching” glory.
The Sundial: The Place de la Concorde is actually the world’s largest sundial. On sunny days, the shadow of the obelisk points toward Roman numerals embedded in the pavement of the square.
The Twin Left Behind: A Tale of Two Cities
The Paris obelisk stands proudly on the Champs-Élysées, but its twin remains at the Luxor Temple. Seeing the second obelisk reminds us of what has been lost. The entrance to the temple is now uneven; where there used to be two obelisks, one is missing.
For many years, France technically owned the second obelisk. It wasn’t until 1981 that President François Mitterrand officially gave it back to Egypt. France realized that moving the second obelisk would be too difficult and not worth the trouble it would cause in diplomatic relations.
Traveler’s Guide: How to See Them Both
Both Paris and Luxor offer different experiences for history lovers and photo enthusiasts.
Tips for Paris (Place de la Concorde)
– Best Time to Visit: Go at sunset. The golden light looks great, and the Eiffel Tower sparkles in the background.
– Great View: Walk toward the Tuileries Garden and turn back. You’ll see the obelisk framed by the Arc de Triomphe.
Pro Tips for Luxor (Luxor Temple)
– Visit at Night: The temple is open late and lights up beautifully. The shadows on the hieroglyphs of the obelisk are captivating.
– Find the Spot: Stand where the Paris obelisk used to be. You can still see where it was marked on the pylon.
– Sphinx Avenue: Check out the Avenue of Sphinxes behind the obelisk; it goes all the way to Karnak Temple.
Got a Question?
F.A.Qs
The obelisk was a diplomatic gift from Muhammad Ali Pasha, the Ruler of Egypt, to King Charles X of France in 1830. It was intended to strengthen ties between the two nations and to thank the French for their work in deciphering ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs.
It is approximately 3,300 years old. It was commissioned by Pharaoh Ramses II around 1250 BCE during the 19th Dynasty of the New Kingdom.
The original plan was to take both. However, the logistical nightmare and massive cost of transporting the first 250-ton pillar (which took over two years) were so high that the French government decided to leave the second one behind. France officially “gave back” the rights to the second obelisk in 1981.
The original base of the Paris obelisk featured carvings of 16 baboons in a state of “natural excitement” while worshipping the sun. 19th-century Parisian officials found them too obscene for public display. Today, that original pedestal is housed in the Louvre Museum, while the obelisk in the Place de la Concorde sits on a modern pedestal showing the technical drawings of its transport.
Yes. While the original ancient cap was lost to time, the French government added a 24-carat gold-leaf pyramidion in 1998 to commemorate the bicentennial of the French Revolution and to restore the monument to its former sun-catching glory.
Did you know that
By purchasing through our links, you support us at no additional cost.
Thank you for your support. ♥️
