Philae Obelisk

Monument

What is recorded here

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The Philae Obelisk is a 7-meter tall ancient Egyptian obelisk found at Philae, Egypt and currently standing at Kingston Lacy in Dorset, England. Made around 131–124 BC during the reign of Ptolemy VIII Euergetes and queens Cleopatra II and Cleopatra III, it was discovered by Giovanni Belzoni in 1818 and brought to England by William John Bankes. The obelisk's Greek and Egyptian hieroglyphic inscriptions played a crucial role in the decipherment of ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs. Today, digital research is used to preserve and study the obelisk, with its text influencing the name of the Philae robotic lander that landed on comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko in 2014.

What it is

A 7-meter tall ancient Egyptian obelisk made around 131–124 BC, currently standing at Kingston Lacy in Dorset, England.

Who made and used it

Made during the reign of Ptolemy VIII Euergetes and queens Cleopatra II and Cleopatra III around 131–124 BC. Discovered by Giovanni Belzoni in 1818 and brought to England by William John Bankes.

Why it is rare

One of a pair of twin obelisks, with the other broken into pieces in antiquity. Its Greek and Egyptian hieroglyphic inscriptions played a crucial role in the decipherment of ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs.

What survives

The surviving obelisk consists of a long shaft, topped by a pyramidion and a rectangular base. The bottom of the shaft is a modern restoration.

Why it mattered

The Cleopatra name on the bilingual stone confirmed a key part of Champollion's proposed sound system for hieroglyphs. The obelisk therefore helped turn Egyptian writing from undeciphered signs into readable language.