Title
Black siltstone obelisks of Nectanebo II
Caption
Black siltstone obelisks of Nectanebo IIFound in Cairo but originally from Hermopolis (modern Al-Ashmunayn) / Middle Egypt. 30th Dynasty / around 350 BC. Obelisks were solar symbols placed in temples. Many are massive / such as 'Cleopatra's Needles' now in London and New York / but smaller examples such as these may have been placed at the entrance to a ramp into part of a temple. The inscriptions records the dedication to the Egyptian god Thoth / 'Lord of Hermopolis' / one of Thoth's major cult centres. Most of the extant remains of the site date to the Graeco-Roman period / but a British Museum expedition (1980-90) found many remains of older temples.
Credit line
Photo12/Ann Ronan Picture Library
Reference
ARP11A03_227
License type
Rights managed
Available size
53.8Mb (1.2Mb) / 10.0in x 20.9in / 3000 x 6264 (300dpi)