OBELISK AT PIAZZA DEL DUOMO

Although the elephant is not an Italian fashion, but it is supposed to be a symbol of Catania. It is because .... in ancient times pygmy elephants lived in this place, that protected the city's inhabitants by chasing away fierce animals, or perhaps the Islamic people who has a territory around here (Mediterranean Region) know African elephant, and probably thought to be a bearer of good luck against Mt. Etna's eruptions. This statue of elephant is made of volcanic stone (lava), and is supposed have sculpted during the Roman Era. On the other hand, the obelisk was from the Aswan quarries, like other obelisks. But it's unknown where in Egypt this was built and where is the location of this one's twin. The obelisk bears hieroglyphs identifying the goddess Isis. This is supposed to have brought to Catania in the Roman Era, but the details after that is unknown. When the Piazza was redesigned in 18th Century, an architect Giovanni Battista Vaccarini assembled the obelisk and the elephant in 1736 on the model of Bernini's Minerva Elephant in Rome. Piazza del Duomo is Catania's main square, and surrounded by the fine Baroque architectures; Municipal Office (Palazzo del Municipio) is in North and Duomo is in East.

Stats:

Location: Piazza del Duomo, Catania, Sicilia, Italy
Pharaoh: Unknown
Height: Not sureStone:
Red granite