OBELISK OF THE HIPPODROME SQUARE

The obelisk is called "Theodosius Obelisk", because the Byzantine (Eastern Roman) Emperor in the late 4th Century, Theodosius I carried it into the current site. This obelisk is located in the site of Square of Horses [The Hippodrome Square] in Istanbul [at that time, it was called Constantinople, a capital city of Byzantine Empire (Eastern Roman Empire)]. The ancient Hippodrome, the scene of chariot races and the center of Byzantine civic life, located in front (west) of famous Blue Mosque [Sultanahmet Camii]. Interseting thing is there are three pillars in the site of Hippodrome. From north to south; Theodosius Obelisk (Dikilitas), Serpentine Column (Burmali Sutun, or Snake Tower), and Constantinus VII Column (Colossus).

Stats:

Location: Site of the former Square of Horses [The Hippodrome Square], Istanbul, Turkey
Pharaoh: Tuthmosis III (reigned B.C. 1504-1450)
Height: 19.6 meters / 65 feet, 25.6 meters including the pedestal
Weight: No record
Stone: Red granite

This obelisk once graced the Karnak Great Temple of Amun (Amon) in ancient Thebes (now, Luxor). It was one of two erected at the south of the 7th Pylon of the Great Temple by Tuthmosis III. No one knows who ordered its removal from Karnak, or whether it was still standing when it was taken. It was transported to Alexsandria under the orders of the Byzantine (Eastern Roman) Emperor Constantius II [reigned A.D. 337-361. He is different from Constantinus II, just one letter is different ("tius" vs. "tinus"), who transported an obelisk to Rome, which is now called "Lateran Obelisk"], and then finally transported to Constantinople [now Istanbul] by the Byzantine Emperor Theodosius I [reigned A.D. 379-395]. It was erected in A.D. 390.

It's estimated that it was originally about 30 meters and 400 tons. But the obelisk is supposed to have been broken during the transportation to this city. The obelisk was splited into 2 parts [or 3 pieces?], and the current obelisk itself is about 19.6 meters / 65 feet tall. Its lower half reputedly also once stood in Istanbul, but it is missing. It was probably used as the materials for other buildings.

One column of inscription with hieroglyph glorifies his military exploits in 1550 BC, including a crossing of the river Euphrates in Syria: "Crossing the Great Circle of Naharina in valor and victory at the head of his army, making great slaughter... Lord of Victory who subdues all lands, establishing his frontier at the Beginning of the Earth [the extreme south] up to the Swampy Lands of Naharina [the farthest north]...." In fact, he extended the largest territory of Anciant Egyptian dynasty.