Hatshepsut obelisk re-erected in original location at Karnak Temple

Nevine El-Aref , Sunday 10 Apr 2022

After decades of laying beside the sacred lake at Luxor’s Karnak Temple, a team of Egyptian restorers and archaeologists succeeded in re-erecting the restored Hatshepsut’s obelisk on Saturday.

Hatshepsut obelisk

The obelisk was carved from granite and originally erected at Karnak Temple, but a destructive earthquake in antiquity caused it to collapse on top of the debris accumulated on the Udjat hall built by Queen Hatshepsut’s father, King Thurmose I.

At the beginning of the 20th century, French Egyptologist George Legrain removed the upper part of the obelisk and laid it down beside the artificial sacred lake inside the temple complex.

Secretary General of the Supreme Council of Antiquites Mostafa Waziri said that the obelisk had to be re-erected as the studies carried out on it revealed that the obelisk was under threat because of the location it had been moved to.

The restoration and re-erecting of the obelisk was carried out according to the latest scientific methods and in collaboration with the Engineering Authority of the Armed Forces, which provided the necessary equipment.

The obelisk is 11 metres tall and weighs 90 tonnes. It is decorated with scenes depicting Queen Hatshepsut and her relationship with the deity Amun as well as showing his different names and titles.

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