To Move an Obelisk

Abstract: Today, there are more Egyptian obelisks outside of Egypt than there are left where they were made. The obelisks are certainly beautiful, but what lies beneath are uncountable hours, days and years of work. Work which made the obelisks end up where they are today. From quarrying these enormous pieces of stone by smashing rock against rock, to building ships without equal for their transportation. It is hard to understand the amount of resources, manpower and organization that went into creating these tall monuments. Therefore, this study will attempt to examine each step in transporting the obelisks, from the quarry to their destination. Where theories collide, the study will weigh them against each other critically to give a fuller account of the transportation of the obelisks of Egypt. This study will begin by presenting a background, or basis, which will be further built upon as it progresses. The first chapter is mainly focused around the circumstance of transportation, along with giving a basic description of obelisks as individual objects. The next step lies in studying the general shipbuilding techniques used in ancient Egypt. This in turn will help in understanding the obelisk ships and the loading and unloading of these vessels. The obelisk ships and their loading will be the focal point of this study. The mainstay of the sources used for this study comes from earlier theories. The primary sources of this study will mainly consist of textual remains along with depictions.