OBELISK AT TERME DI DIOCLEZIANO

According to the scholar's research, it turns out this obelisk is one of the pair, the companion is in the Boboli Gardens in Florence.

This obelisk was discovered underground at the site of current "Chiesa di Santa Maria Sopra Minerva" by Roman archaeologist, Rodolfo Lanciani and his team in 1883. The site was the important temple in the Roman Empire Era, Iseum (the Temple of Isis) had been there. Therefore, this obelisk would probably used for Iseum. According to the inscription, this was erected at Heliopolis by Ramses II. Also, it turns out later that the another pair was already (in 1790) transported to Boboli Gardens in Florence. Although there is no record when this was transported from Heliopolis, but it would probably be in 1st century.

Inscriptions: The Egyptologist Labib Habachi says "On the pyramidion of the obelisk is a winged scarab with a sun disk and the two cartouches of Ramesses (Ramses) II. On each side of the shaft is a column of inscription listing the name of the king and epithets styling him as beloved of one or another of the solar gods and mentioning his giving offerings in Heliopolis." (Source: "The Obelisk of Egypt" by Labib Habachi, 1977 Charles Scribner's Sons)

Excavated obelisk was left as it was. 4 years later, it was happened in January 1887 that all 548 soldiers of Italian squad were killed by the Ethiopian troop at the Battle of Dogali. For a memorial of Italian victim, and in order to ease the Italian people's sorrowfulness, it was decided that this obelisk was erected. The location was selected in front of "Stazione di Termini" (Termine Station) in Rome. The names of the Italian soldiers who were killed at the Battle of Dogali were inscribed on the pedestrial. Therefore, this obelisk is also called Dogali Obelisk. In connection with the number of dead soldiers, the square in front of the Station was then named "Piazza del Cinquecento" (500 People Square). The dedication ceremony of the obelisk took place on June 5, 1887.

In 1924, "Piazza del Cinquecento" was remodeled. The obelisk was moved in the next year to a small park, a little north of the Piazza where is a little south of "Piazza della Repubblica". The site is a part of "Terme di Diocleziano (Diocletian's Baths). Therefore, this obelisk is also called Terme Obelisk.Terme means baths.

Stats:

Location: Small Park South of Piazza della Repubblica, Rome, Italy
Pharaoh: Ramses II (The 19th Dynasty, reigned B.C. 1304-1237)
Height: 6.34 meters

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