Chapter XIII: NECTANEBO II.; two, at Rome,

both uninscribed; one near the church of St. Maria
Maggiore, the other in the Piazza of the Quirinal Palace.

We arrive thus at the number thirty-nine; and if to this number we add the _two_ Pharaonic obelisks, Prioli and Nahasb; the _two_ Theban obelisks lost at Nineveh; the _three_ Ptolemaic obelisks of Philæ; the _four_ Roman obelisks of Domitian, Hadrian, and that called Albani; and _five_ of obscure origin—namely, the sandstone obelisk at Alnwick, the fragment at Benevento, mentioned by Bonomi, the two Florence obelisks, and the obelisk at Arles—we shall then have a total of fifty-five, of which thirty-three are still standing, and twenty-two have fallen.

We cannot pretend, at this distance of time, to have traced every obelisk issued from the quarries of Syené, to its present resting-place. We know that there were many important cities with their temples in the Delta, now in ruins, their place alone indicated by tumulus-like mounds, where, doubtless, obelisks once stood; nor have we forgotten the fragment which forms part of the pavement of Cairo; nor the hieroglyphed stump on which Pompey’s Pillar rests for its chief support at Alexandria. But, strange to say, of the twenty-nine obelisks thus ascertained to be standing, only six remain to Egypt herself—namely, Alexandria, one; Heliopolis, one; Karnak, two; Luxor, one; and Philæ, one.

To the eminent Egyptologist, Mr. Joseph Bonomi,[54] science is indebted for a list of thirty-two obelisks, arranged in the order of size, and ranging in altitude between 5 feet 10 inches, the smallest of the two obelisks in the museum at Florence; and 105 feet 7 inches, the height of the giant of the obelisk family, that of St. John Lateran at Rome. This latter obelisk has lost nearly a yard from its base in consequence of injury, and would, when perfect, have measured upwards of 108 feet. Mr. Bonomi’s list is given in the form of a pictorial diagram, from which we quote the figures as follows:—

Ft. In.
1. St. John Lateran, Rome, Thothmes III. 105 7
2. Karnak, Queen Hatasou 93 6[55]
3. St. Peter’s, Rome, plain 88 2
4. Luxor, Rameses II. —— ——
5. Piazza del Popolo, Rome, Seti I. 87 5
6. Paris, Rameses II. 76 0
7. Monte Citorio, Rome, Psammeticus 75 5
8. Karnak, Thothmes I. —— ——
9. Alexandria, Thothmes-Rameses 69 1
10. Heliopolis, Usertesen I. 67 4
11. Arles, France 59 9
12. Navona, Rome, Domitian 54 3
13. Atmeidan, Constantinople, Thothmes III. 50 0
14. St. Maria Maggiore, Rome 48 0
15. Piazza Quirinale, Rome 47 8
16. Trinita de Monti, Rome 43 6
17. Prioli, Constantinople 35 0
18. Philæ —— ——
19. Hadrian, Rome 30 0
20. Corfe Castle, Bankes 22 0
21. Pantheon, Rome 19 9
22. Piazza Minerva, Rome 17 0
23. Alnwick, Syon House 9 0
24. Villa Mattei 8 3
25. British Museum 8 1
26. Florence 5 10

[54] “Transactions of the Royal Society of Literature;” second series; vol. i., 1843; page 158.

[55] _Vide_ notes, pages 26 and 149.

It will be seen that Mr. Bonomi omits to mention the height of the Luxor and of the lesser Karnak obelisk: the former appears in his table as fourth in altitude; while its companion, the Paris obelisk, is sixth, with a difference of upwards of ten feet between them. This, if it be so, may possibly result from the removal of some portion of the base of the French monument; although it has been always known that there was some difference of length between them. The smaller Karnak obelisk is about seventy-five feet high. The British obelisk, being prostrate, does not appear in the list; but it has now been ascertained to be taller than its Alexandrian brother, the precise measurements being 68 feet 5½ inches; and 67 feet 2 inches; while the latter is actually shorter, by two inches, than the Heliopolis obelisk. These data serve to place the British obelisk tenth on the list in point of height. Mr. Bonomi’s researches likewise direct attention to the following interesting facts in connection with the statistics of obelisks—namely, that out of twenty-one of these Pharaonic monuments, eight possess only one column of hieroglyphs; and in the case of the Alnwick obelisk, only on one side of the shaft; one, two columns; and seven, three columns; while the remaining five are plain and without any carving at all.

The obelisks at present erect are distributed as follows, age taking precedence in each of the divisions:—

ROME—_Twelve_. Ft. In.
St. John Lateran 105 7
Flaminian, Porta del Popolo 87 5
Trinita de Monti 43 6
Pantheon, Piazza Rotunda 19 9
Villa Mattei, Cœlian Hill 8 3
Vatican, St. Peter’s, plain 88 2
Monte Citorio 75 5
Piazza della Minerva 17 0
St. Maria Maggiore, plain 48 5
Piazza Quirinale, plain 47 8
Piazza Navona (Domitian) 54 3
Monte Pincio (Hadrian) 30 0

ITALY, in addition to those at Rome—_Four_.
Florence Museum (2) 5 10
Domitian and Titus 9 0
Benevento, fragment —— ——

EGYPT—_Six_.
Heliopolis 67 4
Karnak, Thothmes I. 75 0
Karnak, Hatasou 97 6
Alexandria 67 2
Luxor 84 3
Philæ 35 0

ENGLAND—_Six_.
Cleopatra’s Needle 68 5½
Syon House 8 0
British Museum (2) 8 1
Kingston-Lacy Hall (Bankes) 22 0
Alnwick Castle, sandstone 33 0

FRANCE—_Two_.
Paris, from Luxor 76 6
Arles on the Rhone 56 9

CONSTANTINOPLE—_Two_.
Atmeidan (shortened) 50 0
Prioli 35 0

GERMANY—_One_.
Albani —— ——

Making a total of thirty-three obelisks at present standing.

With one exception, all the known obelisks are Egyptian; hewn by the Egyptians, and from the rocks of Egypt itself, granite, basalt, and sandstone; the exception being that of Arles. Putting, however, the Arles obelisk out of consideration, obelisks admit of being grouped into Pharaonic, Ptolemaic, and Roman; while a sub-group may be formed in each class, consisting of the inscribed and uninscribed. The inscribed obelisks narrate their own history as if endowed with life; but uninscribed obelisks are mute, and can alone be identified by their surroundings. As it may be convenient to view the obelisks from each of these points of view, we have compiled a few lists, which, we believe, will be found convenient; adopting in every case an order of seniority.

PHARAONIC OBELISKS.

Heliopolis, Usertesen.
Biggig, ditto.
Karnak, Thothmes I.
Karnak, Queen Hatasou.
St. John Lateran, Thothmes III.
Constantinople, ditto.
Alexandria, ditto.
London, ditto.
Syon House (Alnwick), Amenophis II.
Flaminian, Porta del Popolo, Seti I.
Trinita de Monti, ditto.
Luxor, Rameses II.
Paris, ditto.
Pantheon, Piazza Rotunda, ditto.
Villa Mattei, ditto.
St. Peter’s, Vatican, Menephtah.
Monte Citorio, Psammeticus I.
Piazza della Minerva, Psammeticus II.
British Museum (two), Nectanebo I.
St. Maria Maggiore, Nectanebo II.
Piazza Quirinale, Monte Cavallo.
Prioli, Constantinople.
Nahasb, Saitic.
Nineveh (two), Theban.

PTOLEMAIC.

Bankes, Kingston-Lacy Hall.
Propylon at Philæ, sandstone.

ROMAN.

Domitian, Rome.
Domitian and Titus, Benevento.
Hadrian, Rome.
Albani, Munich.

UNCERTAIN ORIGIN.

Alnwick Museum, sandstone.
Benevento, fragment.
Florence (two).

FOREIGN.

Arles, France.

UNINSCRIBED OBELISKS.

St. Peter’s, Rome, Menephtah.
St. Maria Maggiore, Nectanebo II.
Piazza Quirinale, ditto.
Propylon of Philæ, Ptolemy Philadelphus.
Albani, Munich.
Alnwick Museum, sandstone.
Florence (two).
Arles, France.

The progress of our obelisk to England offers several points of interest which we must leave to another pen than our own to develop. Before its transport to London became the theme of discussion, there were few probably who cared for it; but since the prospect of its arrival has dawned, many have shown an interest in its disposal. Its earliest friend was the Earl of Harrowby, who considered it worthy of one of the noblest sites in London; and sees in that site a “moral fitness.” Indeed, to ourselves, the question is not so much,—Where it will look the best; as, Where it will best be preserved and appreciated:—and we certainly know of no spot in the metropolis so fitting in every respect as St. Stephen’s Green, otherwise Parliament Square, with its noble and its venerable monuments and traditions. We could point out many good spots for its erection, but none better; and when the great weight of the monument is taken into consideration, and the obstacles to moving it through a crowded city, we ought to be more than content with the precincts of Westminster Abbey as its ultimate resting-place.

To the son of one who has served his country—to a sailor’s son—the Egyptian obelisk illustrates a brilliant bit of British history, of “great events, deeds, and characters” of British bravery; of VICTORY or WESTMINSTER ABBEY. And of the “moral fitness” of the Westminster site, let us give ear to the gentle teachings of one whose words ought ever to be received with the deepest veneration and respect—Dean Stanley—who, preaching from the pulpit of Westminster itself, on the text—“And who is my neighbour?” illustrating the parable of the Good Samaritan, and the numerous occasions, at home and abroad, on which Christian kindness might be rendered—remarked, the great Egyptian obelisk, now on its way to England, might preach us an useful lesson. “That obelisk,” he observes, “if ever it should be planted, will be a lasting memorial of those lessons which are taught by the Good Samaritan. * * * What will it tell us when it comes to stand, a solitary heathen stranger, amidst the monuments of our English Christian greatness—perchance amidst the statues of our statesmen, under the shadow of our legislature, almost within the very precincts of our abbey? It will speak to us of the wisdom and splendour which was the parent of all past civilisation—the wisdom whereby Moses made himself learned in all the learning of the Egyptians for the deliverance and education of Israel—whence the earliest Grecian philosophers and the earliest Christian fathers derived the insight which enabled them to look into the deep things alike of Paganism and Christianity. It will tell us, so often as we look at its strange form and venerable characters, that ‘The light which lighteneth every man’ shone also on those who raised it as an emblem of the beneficial rays of the sunlight of the world. It will tell us that as true goodness was possible in the outcast Samaritan, so true wisdom was possible even in the hard and superstitious Egyptians, even in that dim twilight of the human race, before the first dawn of the Hebrew law or of the Christian gospel.”

SO MOTE IT BE.