It’s thought that the female pharaohHatshepsutcommissioned the work during the 18th dynasty, more than 3,500 years ago.
Just what are obelisks?
Typically placed at the entrances of temples, they are the hallmark of Ancient Egyptian ingenuity and engineering.
In fact, 13 are located in Italy.
So what happened to the Aswan obelisk that left it tracked in bedrock?
Now, it functions as an open-air museum that gives great insight into the construction techniques of Ancient Egypt.
Photo:xiaotao / Shutterstock
There are still examples of these Dolerite balls, on-site as Aswan.
Harder than granite, the Dolerite wouldn’t crack or break after repeatedly pounding against the stone surface.
It sounds unbelievable, but wet wood was the answer.
Photo:Hidden Inca Tours
The slots were filled with sun dried wooden wedges.
Image from 1904 by Travelers in the Middle East Archive (TIMEA).
Image from 1904 by Travelers in the Middle East Archive (TIMEA). Photo:Wikipedia
Photo:Wikipedia
Photo:emel82
Photo:xiaotao / Shutterstock
Photo:Chad Bontrager / Shutterstock
