Obelisk at Saint Peter's Square, Vatican City
Posted by: Groundspeak Premium Member Modestia
N 41° 54.133 E 012° 27.383
33T E 289014 N 4642049
Placed at Saint Peter's Square, Vatican City State
Waymark Code: WM32P4
Location: Vatican City State
Date Posted: 01/31/2008
Published By:Groundspeak Regular Member Team Min Dawg
Views: 245
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From Heliopolis, but lacks hieroglyphs. Brought to Rome by Caligula in 37 for the spina of the Vatican Circus. Relocated by Pope Sixtus V in 1586 using a method devised by Domenico Fontana; the first monumental obelisk raised in the modern period, it is the only obelisk in Rome that has not toppled since Roman times. During the Middle Ages, the gilt ball on top of the obelisk was believed to contain the ashes of Julius Caesar. Fontana later removed the ancient metal ball, now in a Rome museum, that stood atop the obelisk and found only dust. Pero Tafur in his Andanças (circa 1440) mentions that many passed between the ground and the "tower" basis "thinking it a saintly thing".

25.5 m, supported on bronze lions and surmounted by the Chigi arms in bronze, in all 41 m to the cross on its top.
(source: wikipedia)
Date Created/Placed: September 28, 1586

Address:
Vatican City State

Height: 25.5 m

Illuminated: yes

Website: [Web Link]
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