Obelisk of Theodosius

Welcome to the ancient heart of the capital of the world. I am delighted to be your guide today as we explore one of the most mesmerizing and historically layered spaces on the earth. …

Before we look closely at the obelisk itself, we must mentally reconstruct the enormous architecture of the Hippodrome that once enveloped this very spot. You are currently standing near the northern end of what was once the…

Let us direct our gaze upwards, to the magnificent, soaring shaft of the obelisk itself. We are looking at a single, monolithic piece of rare pink granite, quarried near Aswan in southern Egypt. …

As you draw your eyes down from the hieroglyphs, you will notice a striking topographical anomaly. The obelisk does not rest directly on the modern paving stones of Sultanahmet Square. …

Let us now walk around the pit to stand before the northeastern face of the marble base. To orient yourself, you should be facing the monument with the beautiful, domed German Fountain positioned behind you. …

Continue walking around the trench to your right, until you reach the northwestern face of the marble pedestal. You should now have the majestic, cascading domes and soaring minarets of the Blue Mosque located in the background…

Walk with me now to the southwestern face of the base. In the ancient configuration of the Hippodrome, you would now be facing south, looking down the long track toward the monumental starting gates, where the chariot teams…

Move with me one final time to the southeastern face of the monument. You are now standing with your back to the majestic Blue Mosque. …

As we step back from the Obelisk of Theodosius and take in the wider expanse of Sultanahmet Square, it is time to reflect on the staggering resilience of the monuments before us. The obelisk you have spent time examining is a…