At one time there must have been a largo number of obelisks in Egypt, as they are traced all the way from Phike to the Mediterranean. South of the first cataracts there are none of large size, owing, as is supposed, to the difficulty of conveying such large masses of granite up the river from the quarries of Syene. Since the Romans became masters of Egypt, the obelisks have been made a constant prey, and comparatively few are now left standing. Augustus was the first who removed any of these monoliths : one he caused to be placed in the Campus Martins, another in the Circus. The great obelisk of the Lateran was conveyed from Heliopolis to Alexandria by Constantine, and from thence removed by that emperor's son Constantine to Rome, where it was erected in the Circus Maximus. This obelisk is the largest now known, its shaft being 105 ft. (although it has been reduced, a portion at the lower part having been cut off in consequence of being fractured), and two of its sides, 9 ft. 84 in., the other two 9 ft. ; the shaft weighs about tons. That which was originally brought frorb Heliopolis, and placed in the Vatican Circus, and which now stands in the piazza of St. Peter's, is next in size to that of the Lateran, though supposed to have been somewhat abridged of its original dimensions. The entire height of the shaft itself is 83 ft.; it is 8,ft. 10 in. square at its base, and 5 ft. II in. at the other end. In all 48 obelisks were transported by the emperors to Rome ; o these the five largest still remain, but only seven of the smaller ones have escaped destruction.
During the calamities that bcfel Rome under its barbarian invaders after the downfall of the empire, the obelisks were damaged and over thrown; but those not entirely destroyed have been gradually restored under various pontiffs. The first to attempt this was Sixtus V., and so much interest did the proposal to raise one of these shafts excite, that 500 different plans are said to have been sent in from various parts of Europe. The task was allotted to Dominic° Fontana, who employed 600 men and 140 horses in raising it, and was so elated with his success, that ho published full details of the process iu a handsome folio volume. In all twelve obelisks have been erected in Rome, but the most entire ignorance or disregard has been shown of the principles which render these monoliths so graceful in their original state. Not only have they been placed on absurdly unsuitable pedestals—one, for instance, on the back of an elephant—but above the original termination (the simple and elegant pyramidion), has been fixed a cross, with other equally misplaced and often puerile orna ments. The following table contains a list of the Roman obelisks, arranged in the order of their modern restoration, with the dimen sions of the shafts—but omitting the modern bases and crowning ornaments, and other particulars : I. The Vatican, in front of St. Peter's, where it was removed by Fontana from the Vatican Circus. On the side facing the church, and on the opposite side, we see the dedication to Augustus and Tiberius. Height 83 ft. 2 in. Without hieroglyphics, and still entire.
II. In front of the church of Santa Maria Maggiore, erected by Fontana. Height 43 ft. 5.1 in. ; without hieroglyphics ; broken in three or more places.
III. In front of the St. John Lateran church, erected by Fontana ; Height 105 ft. 7 in. Hieroglyphics ; broken in three pieces. This magnificent monolith was originally erected before the propylica of tho temple at Thebes by one of the kings of the 18th dynasty.
IV. Flaminio del Popolo, erected by Fontana. Height 78 ft. 6 in. Hieroglyphics ; broken in three pieces. This was one of the two obelisks brought by Augustus from Heliopolis. These four obelisks were raised under pope Sixtus V. during the years 1586-89.
V. In the Piazza Novena.; sometimes called the Pamphilian obelisk; erected by Innocent X., in 1651. Height 54 ft. 3 in. Has hierogly phics, but not genuine ones, having been cut by order of Domitian. Fountain round the base.
VI. Minerveo della Minerva, erected by Bernini for Alexander VII., in 1667. This obelisk, with singular bad taste, is placed on the back of a horrible elephant, the work of Bernini. Height about 17 ft. Hieroglyphics.
VII. Mahuteo della Rotondo, raised by order of Clement XI. in 1711, in front of the Pantheon of Agrippa. Height 19 ft. 9 in. Hieroglyphics; probably the pendant of No. 6: fountain round the base.
VIII. Quirinale di Monte Cavallo, erected by Antinori for Pius VI., Viii. Quirinale di Monte Cavallo, erected by Antinori for Pius VI., in 1786. Height 47 ft. 8 in. No hieroglyphics ; appears broken in two or three places.
IX. Sallustiano della 'Prink.% di Monte, erected by Antinori for Pius VI., in 1789. Height about 43 ft. 6 in. Hieroglyphics.
X. Campense di Monte Citorio, erected by Antinori for Pius VI., in 1792. Height 71 ft. 6 in, ilieroglyphics.
XI. Aurelian° della Passeggiata, on the Monte Pincio, erected for Pius VII., in 1822. Height about 30 ft. Hieroglyphics. This is called by Zoega the Barberini obelisk, of which he says, " Hie c Romanis obeliscis adhuc cognitis soles expectat sospit.atorem." X11. Private obelisk erected in 1817 on the Ccelian Hill, in the gardens of the Villa Mattel; hardly worth mentioning. It is a small fragment of a real obelisk mounted on a piece of modern granite.
Of the two obelisks which I'liny mentions (` Hist. Nat.,' xxxvi. 9) as standing in front of a temple at Alexandria, only one is. now standing, Like most of the mon uments of Lower Egypt, it bears the name of the great Mindless II. The annexed cut (ool. 10)of this obelisk, popularly known as Cleoratra'a needle, will serve to show the appearance of one of these monuments with its pedestal, m the cut of the Luxor obelisks illus trates their original position. The following are the dimensions of the Alexandrian obelisk idth of one base of shaft, 8 ft. 2 in.; width of same face of the obelisk at base of the pyramidion, 5 ft. 2 iu. ; width of other sides at base of shaft and base of pyramidion, 7 ft. 8'7 in., and 4 ft. 8'5 in., respectively ; height of shaft to base of pyramidion, 60 ft in.; height of pyramidion, 6 ft. 61 in.; whole height of shaft, 67 ft. In. ; height of pedestal and plinths,12 ft. ; making the entire height of the obelisk and supports a little over 79 feet. The corres ponding obelisk lies on the ground. This ono was some time ago pre sented to the British government, but it was found to be so much damaged as not to be worth the cost of removal.