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Title
Roman obelisk.
Collection

Wonders: Images of the Ancient World

Obelisks

Library locations
The Miriam and Ira D. Wallach Division of Art, Prints and Photographs: Picture Collection
Shelf locator: PC-WON OBEL
Topics
Inscriptions, Hieroglyphic
Fountains
Obelisks -- Italy -- Rome
churches -- Italy -- Rome
Monuments & memorials -- Italy -- Rome
Coats of arms -- 1500-1599
Carriages & coaches -- To 1699
Genres
Prints
Notes
Content: This is an obelisk originally commissioned by pharaoh Ramses II, and later brought to Rome in 30 AD by Caesar Augustus, the first emperor, who had it erected in the Circus Maximus and dedicated to the sun. The obelisk fell during the battles with the Goths for control of Rome, and was gradually covered by debris. In 1587 the monument was uncovered and restored in a slightly shorter form. Two years later, Pope Sixtus V ordered it moved to the Piazza del Popolo, where it marked an intersection of three streets referred to as the "Trident of Rome". The top of the obelisk was capped with a metal ornament depicting the mountains and star from the coat-of-arms of Pope Sixtus (barely visible on the band across the lion on the shield of the papal arms atop the inscription at lower left).
Content: Large (water?) stain on left edge of paper extends into image. Smaller stain on border at center right. Horizontal fold line at center. Foxing around all edges of paper. Faint imprint of image from top half visible on bottom, and vice versa. Round ownership stamp impressed at bottom center reads: "New York Society Library, Green Alcove".
Physical Description
Extent: 1 print : b ; 52.5 x 36.5 cm.
Type of Resource
Still image
Identifiers
Universal Unique Identifier (UUID): 455e9fe0-c5bf-012f-ec2a-58d385a7bc34
Rights Statement
The New York Public Library believes that this item is in the public domain under the laws of the United States, but did not make a determination as to its copyright status under the copyright laws of other countries. This item may not be in the public domain under the laws of other countries. Though not required, if you want to credit us as the source, please use the following statement, "From The New York Public Library," and provide a link back to the item on our Digital Collections site. Doing so helps us track how our collection is used and helps justify freely releasing even more content in the future.

Item timeline of events

  • 2020: Digitized
  • 2024: Found by you!
  • 2025

MLA Format

The Miriam and Ira D. Wallach Division of Art, Prints and Photographs: Picture Collection, The New York Public Library. "Roman obelisk." The New York Public Library Digital Collections. https://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/510d47e4-6447-a3d9-e040-e00a18064a99

Chicago/Turabian Format

The Miriam and Ira D. Wallach Division of Art, Prints and Photographs: Picture Collection, The New York Public Library. "Roman obelisk." New York Public Library Digital Collections. Accessed December 3, 2024. https://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/510d47e4-6447-a3d9-e040-e00a18064a99

APA Format

The Miriam and Ira D. Wallach Division of Art, Prints and Photographs: Picture Collection, The New York Public Library. Roman obelisk. Retrieved from https://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/510d47e4-6447-a3d9-e040-e00a18064a99

Wikipedia Citation

<ref name=NYPL>{{cite web | url=https://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/510d47e4-6447-a3d9-e040-e00a18064a99 | title= (still image) Roman obelisk.|author=Digital Collections, The New York Public Library |accessdate=December 3, 2024 |publisher=The New York Public Library, Astor, Lenox, and Tilden Foundations}}</ref>

Roman obelisk.