S.W. Black Travel
#13 AU/NZ
This 3,400-Year-Old Egyptian Obelisk Ended Up in Istanbul #history #ancient
Most people walk past this monument without realising they’re looking at one of the oldest structures in Istanbul. The Obelisk of Theodosius stands proudly in the ancient Hippodrome, but its story begins far from Turkey. It was carved in Egypt more than 3,400 years ago during the reign of Pharaoh Thutmose III, long before Rome or Constantinople ever existed. The granite was cut along the Nile and covered in hieroglyphs celebrating the pharaoh’s military victories. Centuries later, Emperor Theodosius brought the obelisk to Constantinople as a symbol of imperial power. Raising it in the Hippodrome was a massive engineering feat. It originally weighed hundreds of tonnes and only the upper section survives, yet it still reaches an impressive height that dominates the square. The marble base is just as fascinating. It shows detailed carvings of Theodosius watching the games in the Hippodrome with his court. You can still see the faces, clothing, and crowds etched into the stone. It is one of the best preserved links to the city’s Byzantine past. We visited Istanbul on our Mediterranean cruise and it reminded me why the Med is one of the greatest destinations on earth for history lovers. Every port feels like stepping inside a museum without walls. From ancient Egypt to the classical world and the rise of Byzantium, the stories are everywhere. If you love history, architecture, or planning a Mediterranean cruise, this is your sign to explore it for yourself.