The Paris Obelisk

Fig. 1 - Ramesses II Obelisk in Paris

     The Egyptian Pharaoh Ramesses II set up two obelisks at the entrance to the Luxor temple, one of which has been moved to France and is now in the Place de la Concorde in Paris.  

     The obelisk was moved to Paris via a specially built boat named "the Luxor". This boat left Toulon in France on April 15, 1831. By December 19th the obelisk was safely on the the Luxor, but it could not be moved until the inundation of the Nile River started. It was not until August 25th of 1832 that the obelisk began its long trip to Paris.

Fig. 2 - The Story of Erecting the Obelisk is on the Pedestal

     The obelisk was erected in the Place de la Concorde on October 25th, 1836. About 200,000 spectators, including King Louis-Philippe, were present when the obelisk was set atop the pedestal on which it now rests. The story of how the obelisk was erected is shown on the sides of the pedestal.

          Numerous other Egyptian obelisks now reside in far off lands. One of them is now in London, another is in New York. And there are a number of obelisks now in Rome.