DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.4023#0142
Obelisk;
[ P^ ]
REMARKS
UPON THE
B E L I S K S.
I HAVE already mentioned two Obelisks, in speaking of Alexandria. I
mull observe to the reader, that there are others likewise in all parts of Egypt.
These precious monuments have appeared to me worthy to be placed after
the pyramids, and to deserve some general observations, as well with regard to
the material of which they are made, as with respect to their shape and use;
but I declare, at the same time, that I did not make these observations, till after
my return from Egypt.
The material, of which they are made, iecures their preservation, and gives
them the advantage of a long duration. They are commonly of granite; which
enhanced their value. It is easily perceived, that it was difficult to sind such;
for the granite very rarely furnishes pieces so large as were necessary for this
purpose.
Their shape and their embellishments placed them likewise in the number
of precious things, and proper to serve as majestick ornaments. They seem more
especially to have been designed for decorating the gates of temples, palaces, or
the extremity of a colonnade \ They are quadrangular, riling up in form of a
a Pliny assigns another use of the obelisk plac- directly under the apex of the obeli sk, were respec-
ed in the Campus Martius, and which he gives tively equal to the lengths of the shadow thereof at
the honour to Augustus of having been the first noon, on the several days of the year •, as the same
to apply an obelisk to; namely, to serve as a gno- lengths decreased from the shortest day to the long-
mon to a sun-dial. " Ei, qui est in Campo, divus est, and again encreased from the longest day
Augustus addidit mirabilem usum, ad deprehen- to the shortest."
dendas solis umbras, dierumque ac noftium ita Aster which the author mentions, in a passage
magnitudines, Strato lapide ad magnitudinem obe- greatly corrupted, and therefore now almost unintel-
lisci, cui par fieret umbra, brumal confe&e die, ligible, " Thatpne Manilius, or Manlius, had
sexta hora, paulatimque per regulas (quse sunt ex added to the top of the obelisk a gilded ball, whos
e
asre inclusas) singulis diebus decresceret, ac rursus use was to mslke the sbadow of the extremity the
augesceret: digna cognitu res & ingenio fecundo more observatyle, as the middle part of the fhadow
mathematici." Plin. Nat. Hist. lib. xxxvi. cap. of that globe could readily be estimated ; whereas
10. edit. Harduin. fol. the shadow of an apex would, at so great a distance,
The learned Martin Folkes efq. has explained be intirely imperceptible." Vide Dr. Martvn's
this paffage ofPliny, in the sollowing manner: abridgement of the philosophical transafiions, vol. x.
" From this description, I understand that there pag. 1380. '
was laid down, from the foot of the obelisk, north- The pasiage I have cited above from Pliny,
ward, a level pavement of stone, equal in breadth occasioned a grejit contest, amongst the gentlemen
to the breadth os the obelisk itself, and equal in length of the French Academy of sciences, who applied to
to its shadow at noon, upon the shortest day; that the Academy os Belles lettres to decide it. The de-
is to say, that its length was to the height of the cision of that academy may be seen in vol. i. os
obelisk, almost as twenty-two are to ten ; and that Histoire de Vacademie des infcriptions £5? belles lettres.
into this pavement there were properly let in paral- The contest arose chiefly from the false reading in the
lei rulers of brass, whose distances from the point, original, mentioned above by Martin Folkes esq.
pyramid
[ P^ ]
REMARKS
UPON THE
B E L I S K S.
I HAVE already mentioned two Obelisks, in speaking of Alexandria. I
mull observe to the reader, that there are others likewise in all parts of Egypt.
These precious monuments have appeared to me worthy to be placed after
the pyramids, and to deserve some general observations, as well with regard to
the material of which they are made, as with respect to their shape and use;
but I declare, at the same time, that I did not make these observations, till after
my return from Egypt.
The material, of which they are made, iecures their preservation, and gives
them the advantage of a long duration. They are commonly of granite; which
enhanced their value. It is easily perceived, that it was difficult to sind such;
for the granite very rarely furnishes pieces so large as were necessary for this
purpose.
Their shape and their embellishments placed them likewise in the number
of precious things, and proper to serve as majestick ornaments. They seem more
especially to have been designed for decorating the gates of temples, palaces, or
the extremity of a colonnade \ They are quadrangular, riling up in form of a
a Pliny assigns another use of the obelisk plac- directly under the apex of the obeli sk, were respec-
ed in the Campus Martius, and which he gives tively equal to the lengths of the shadow thereof at
the honour to Augustus of having been the first noon, on the several days of the year •, as the same
to apply an obelisk to; namely, to serve as a gno- lengths decreased from the shortest day to the long-
mon to a sun-dial. " Ei, qui est in Campo, divus est, and again encreased from the longest day
Augustus addidit mirabilem usum, ad deprehen- to the shortest."
dendas solis umbras, dierumque ac noftium ita Aster which the author mentions, in a passage
magnitudines, Strato lapide ad magnitudinem obe- greatly corrupted, and therefore now almost unintel-
lisci, cui par fieret umbra, brumal confe&e die, ligible, " Thatpne Manilius, or Manlius, had
sexta hora, paulatimque per regulas (quse sunt ex added to the top of the obelisk a gilded ball, whos
e
asre inclusas) singulis diebus decresceret, ac rursus use was to mslke the sbadow of the extremity the
augesceret: digna cognitu res & ingenio fecundo more observatyle, as the middle part of the fhadow
mathematici." Plin. Nat. Hist. lib. xxxvi. cap. of that globe could readily be estimated ; whereas
10. edit. Harduin. fol. the shadow of an apex would, at so great a distance,
The learned Martin Folkes efq. has explained be intirely imperceptible." Vide Dr. Martvn's
this paffage ofPliny, in the sollowing manner: abridgement of the philosophical transafiions, vol. x.
" From this description, I understand that there pag. 1380. '
was laid down, from the foot of the obelisk, north- The pasiage I have cited above from Pliny,
ward, a level pavement of stone, equal in breadth occasioned a grejit contest, amongst the gentlemen
to the breadth os the obelisk itself, and equal in length of the French Academy of sciences, who applied to
to its shadow at noon, upon the shortest day; that the Academy os Belles lettres to decide it. The de-
is to say, that its length was to the height of the cision of that academy may be seen in vol. i. os
obelisk, almost as twenty-two are to ten ; and that Histoire de Vacademie des infcriptions £5? belles lettres.
into this pavement there were properly let in paral- The contest arose chiefly from the false reading in the
lei rulers of brass, whose distances from the point, original, mentioned above by Martin Folkes esq.
pyramid