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The New York Obelisk

Chapter VI

Reading edition

The inscriptions of the new york obelisk.

I. Inscriptions of Thothmes III.

The inscriptions of Thothmes III. comprise the four sides of the pyramidion and the central columns of the four faces of the obelisk.

The Pyramidion.

The pictures of the four sides of the pyramidion here given are reproduced from the squeezes taken under the direction of Mr. Gorringe as published in his "Egyptian Obelisks". They are, however, given in their correct form, as the squeezes seem to have been taken by an inexperienced hand and a person unacquainted with Egyptological subjects. The figures seated in the squares are the gods Râ-Hor-Khuti and Tum, representing the rising and the setting sun. The former is the hawk-faced god seated on a throne, holding in his right hand the staff of power (us "power"), and handing it to the king with the usual sign (ânkh "life"). Besides this the disk of the sun (râ "sun") reclines on his head. The god Tum, on the other hand, is represented in his human form, bearded and wearing a king's head-dress , and holding in his hands the identical symbols of "life" and "power". In front of the gods we find in each case the king represented as an androsphinx () in the act of offering libation to the divinity. It must be noted that this kind of sphinx being human-faced and bearded, is always the representation of Pharaoh as the essence of the godhead.

Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks

East Face of the Pyramidion.

Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks

The three vertical columns to the left above and the two below the sphinx refer to the sphinx-king, the remainder to the god Râ-Ḥor-khuti (i. e. "the sun, Horus in the horizon") and the libation in the hands of the sphinx.

The three columns above the sphinx are:

Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks

nuter nefer neb taui Men-kheper-Râ du ânkh zeta

The god · good · lord (of · the) two countries · Thothmes III. · giving · life · forever.

Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks

nuter nefer neb taui Men-kheper-Râ

The god · good · lord (of · the) two countries · Thothmes III. ·

Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks

du ânkh zeta

giving · life · forever.

i. e. This is Thothmes III., the gracious god, the lord of the two countries [Egypt], who gives eternal life.

Below the sphinx we read:

Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks

qa nekht khâ em Us sa Râ Men-kheper-Râ

The bull · powerful · glorious · in · Thebes · son (of) · Râ · Thothmes III.

i. e. This is the powerful and glorious bull [king] in Thebes, the Sun's offspring, Thothmes III.

The term neb taui "lord of the two countries" is the usual title of Pharaoh. The two countries referred to are Upper and Lower Egypt, which are still and have been from time immemorial the two provinces of Egypt. The word seems, however, to imply still more. In the pompous wording of the Pharaonic monuments it expresses the grand title of the Roman emperors: lord of the Universe.—The du ânkh zeta "who gives eternal life" calls attention to the king's power over the life and death of all his subjects. As he himself received life from the gods, so he bestowed it on his people at pleasure.— qa nekht "the powerful bull" is a truly Oriental expression for "the mighty hero", the bull being a symbol of strength and power. The same king is addressed by the deity in his victory-stelé, already alluded to on page 31, in the following words: du·ȧ ma sen hen·k em qa renp men ȧb sput âbui nen han·tu·f "I let them behold your majesty like a young and stout-hearted bull whetting his horns; none can escape him."— Us "Thebes" was the capital of Upper Egypt and the seat of government at that time.— sa Râ "the son of Râ" is the usual title of Pharaoh which has already been explained on page 31.

Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks

The four columns to the right above the god bear the following legend:

Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks

du ânkh· f neb Râ-Ḥor-khuti nuter â neb taui (neb ta neb ta)

giving · life · him · all · Râ-Hor-Khuti · the god · great · lord (of the) two countries.

Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks

du ânkh· f neb Râ-Ḥor-khuti

giving · life · him · all · Râ-Hor-Khuti

Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks

nuter â neb taui (neb ta neb ta)

the god · great · lord (of the) two countries.

i. e. This is Rā-Hor-Khuti, the great god, the lord of the two countries [Egypt], who gives him [the king] all life.

Between the god and the sphinx-king we read these words referring to the libation brought by the king:

Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks

er du·t ȧrp

for · a gift · wine.

i. e. As a gift (the king brings an offering of) wine.

Râ-Ḥor-khuti "the sun, the hawk of the horizon" is the name of the sun-god when in his full power at noon (see page 30).—The names of all kings are always written in oval rings called cartouches, to distinguish them more readily from other words and names in the inscriptions. The usual "divine" title of Thothmes III. is Men-kheper-Râ (the first sign being read last), which means "the stable and creative sun". His family name, in its simplest form, is Deḥuti-meses "child of Thoth". There are as many as 12 variants (or different readings) of this cartouche, prominent and somewhat odd among them being the following:

Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks

Deḥuti-meses-nefer-kheperu Deḥuti-meses-ḥeq-Us Deḥuti-mes

Thoth's child, of beautiful form. Thoth's child, lord of Thebes. Thoth's child.

Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks

Deḥuti-meses-nefer-kheperu Deḥuti-meses-ḥeq-Us

Thoth's child, of beautiful form. Thoth's child, lord of Thebes.

Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks

Deḥuti-mes

Thoth's child.

The most singular cartouche of Thothmes III., however, is found on our New York Obelisk on the East Face and central column (see page 56).

South Pace of the Pyramidion.

Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks

The three columns above to the left refer to the sphinx-king and are identical with those of the East pyramidion (page 47): nuter nefer neb taui Men-kheper-Râ du ânkh zeta "This is Thothmes III., the gracious god, the lord of the two countries [Egypt], who gives eternal life".

Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks

The hieroglyphs below the sphinx-king are totally destroyed, but must have been the same as those on the East pyramidion (page 48): qa nekht khâ em Us sa Râ Men-kheper-Râ "This is the powerful and glorious bull [king] in Thebes, the Sun's offspring, Thothmes III".

Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks

The four columns above to the right refer to the god Tum, the setting sun, seated on a throne beneath. The inscription is:

Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks

du ânkh· f neb Tum neb taui ḥeq Ȧn nuter â neb ḥa·t

Giving · life · him · all · Tum · lord (of · the) two countries · prince (of) · Heliopolis · the god · great · lord (of · the) temple.

Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks

du ânkh· f neb Tum neb taui ḥeq Ȧn

Giving · life · him · all · Tum · lord (of · the) two countries · prince (of) · Heliopolis ·

Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks

nuter â neb ḥa·t

the god · great · lord (of · the) temple.

i. e. This is Tum, the lord of the two countries [Egypt], the prince of Heliopolis, the great god, the lord of his temple, who gives him [the king] all life.

ḥeq Ȧn "the prince of Heliopolis" signifies as much as "the tutelary divinity of Heliopolis". This famous city was the capital of the XIIIth nome or province of Lower (Northern) Egypt bearing the same name. The name it received from the Greeks and Romans means "City of the Sun".— Tum "Tum" was the god of the setting sun. The word is derived from the Egyptian verb tum "to close, finish", and when referring to the sun "to set" (cf. page 27). A fuller form of the name is Atum.— ânkh neb literally "all life" is a very concise expression for "all manner of life" and embraces every visible act of life, such as breath, animation, motion, thought, speech, pleasure, &c. The hieroglyph , always pronounced neb, has, as can be seen from this sentence, two different meanings, "all" and "lord", which result from the primitive idea of "possession".

Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks

The inscription between the god and the sphinx-king is destroyed with the exception of the letter [r] at the top. It must have been, however, the same as on the East pyramidion, namely: er du·t ȧrp "As a gift (the king brings an offering of) wine".

Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks

West Face of the Pyramidion.

Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks

The four columns above to the right (the last one being destroyed) refer to the sphinx-king and read as follows:

Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks

nuter nefer ḥeq Ȧn suten kaut? neb

The god · gracious · prince of · Heliopolis · king of Upper and Lower Egypt · lord (of ·

Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks

taui Men-kheper-Râ du ânkh zeta

the) two countries · Thothmes III. · giving · life · forever.

Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks

nuter nefer ḥeq Ȧn

The god · gracious · prince of · Heliopolis ·

Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks

suten kaut? neb taui

king of Upper and Lower Egypt · lord (of · the) two countries ·

Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks

Men-kheper-Râ du ânkh zeta

Thothmes III. · giving · life · forever.

i. e. This is the gracious god, the prince of Heliopolis, the king of Upper and Lower Egypt, the lord of the two countries [Egypt], Thothmes III., who gives eternal life.

suten-kaut (pronunciation doubtful!) "the king of Upper and Lower Egypt" is the official title of the Egyptian kings and conveys the same meaning as the neb taui "the lord of the two countries" mentioned so frequently above. Another name of the king, and one that has been embodied into our language, is per â "Pharaoh", which is, literally translated, "the great house"; a title bearing the closest resemblance to the modern "Sublime Porte" of the Turkish sultan.

Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks

Below the sphinx is the same inscription as on the East pyramidion: qa nekht khâ em Us sa Râ Men-kheper-Râ "This is the powerful and glorious bull [king] in Thebes, the Sun's offspring, Thothmes III".

Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks

The three columns above to the left refer to the god Tum, who is seated below, and read:

Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks

du ânkh ded us Tum neb Ȧn nuter nefer

Giving · life · stability · strength · Tum · lord of · Heliopolis · the god · gracious ·

Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks

du ânkh ded us Tum neb

Giving · life · stability · strength · Tum · lord of ·

Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks

Ȧn nuter nefer

Heliopolis · the god · gracious ·

Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks

â neb en ḥa·t

great · lord · of · the temple.

i. e. This is Tum, the lord of Heliopolis, the gracious and great god, the lord of his temple, who gives life, stability, and strength.

The inscription between the god and the sphinx-king differs from that of the preceding pyramidions; it is:

Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks

er du·t qebeḥ ȧr ef du ânkh

For · a gift · libation · to make · him · give · life.

i. e. The king pours out a libation of water in order to receive from him [the god] life.

North Face of the Pyramidion.

Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks

The four columns above to the left refer to the sphinx-king and read:

Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks

nuter nefer neb ȧr khet suten kaut? neb

The god · gracious · lord · maker of · things · king of Upper and Lower Egypt · lord (of ·

Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks

taui Men-kheper-Râ du ânkh zeta

the) two countries · Thothmes III. · giving · life · forever.

Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks

nuter nefer neb ȧr khet

The god · gracious · lord · maker of · things ·

Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks

suten kaut? neb taui

king of Upper and Lower Egypt · lord (of · the) two countries ·

Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks

Men-kheper-Râ du ânkh zeta

Thothmes III. · giving · life · forever.

i. e. This is the gracious god, the lord and maker of everything, the king of Upper and Lower Egypt, the lord of the two countries [Egypt], Thothmes III., who gives eternal life.

The inscription below the sphinx is identical with the one on the East pyramidion; namely, qa nekht khâ em Us sa Râ Men-kheper-Râ "This is the powerful and glorious bull [king] in Thebes, the Sun's offspring, Thothmes III".

Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks

The three columns above to the right refer to the sun-god Râ seated below, and read:

Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks

du ânkh ef neb Râ-Ḥor- khuti neb taui

Giving · life · him · all · Râ-Horus in the horizon · lord (of · the) two countries.

Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks

du ânkh ef neb Râ-Ḥor- khuti

Giving · life · him · all · Râ-Horus in the horizon ·

Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks

neb taui

lord (of · the) two countries.

i. e. This is Rā-Hor-khuti, the lord of the two countries [Egypt], who gives him [the king] all life.

Râ-Ḥor-khuti "Râ-Horus in the horizon" is the title of the morning-sun, to which attention has already been called on page 30. The last sign is very frequently written khu·t, the showing the disk of the sun between two mountains and in the act of rising, and the signifying "a house" or "a place". The whole group means "the house of the rising sun" or "the source of light", which is usually translated by the general term "horizon". The whole title, therefore, stands for the rising or eastern sun (cf. the picture on page 28).

Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks

The inscription between the god and the sphinx-king is partially destroyed, leaving, however, enough traces to show that it must have been identical with the one on the West pyramidion: er du·t qebeḥ ȧr·f du ânkh "The king pours out a libation of water in order to receive from him [the god] life".

Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks

The Obelisk Proper.

On the obelisk proper the inscriptions of Thothmes III. are contained in the central column of each face. At the top of each column, immediately below the pyramidion, we find the sign , literally pet "heaven", which may either be taken with the next sign Ḥor "Horus" so as to signify "the heavenly Horus", or else it may be regarded to express the wish of the Pharaoh, that heaven would protect his obelisk and proclaim its inscriptions as of heavenly origin.

Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks

East Face [central column].

Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks

Ḥor-pet qa nekht khâ em Us neb mut or sheta neb ârâ or meḥen·t

The heavenly Horus · bull · powerful · glorious · in · Thebes · lord of the Vulture diadem lord of the Uræus-snake diadem ·

Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks

ûaḥ suten ma Râ em pet Tum neb·t en Ȧn

placed · king · like · Râ · in · heaven · Tum · lord · of · Heliopolis ·

Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks

meses sa en kha·t ef meses nef Deḥuti qema en

begotten · son · of · womb · his · born · him · Thoth · created · by ·

Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks

sen em ḥat-â em neferu ḥâu sen rekh enti ȧr·f

them · in · great-temple · in · beauty of · limbs · their · knowing · what · he should do ·

Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks

sutenî·t ûaḥ kher neḥeḥ suten-kaut? Men-kheper-Râ

kingdom · placed · for · eternity · king of Upper and Lower Egypt · Thothmes III.

Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks

Tum nuter â ḥenâ pau·t nuteru· f merî du ânkh

Tum · god · great · with · circle · (of) gods · his · beloved · giving · life ·

Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks

ded us neb ma Râ zeta

stability · strength · all · like · Râ · forever.

Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks

Ḥor-pet qa nekht khâ em Us

The heavenly Horus · bull · powerful · glorious · in · Thebes ·

Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks

neb mut or sheta neb ârâ or meḥen·t ûaḥ suten ma Râ em

lord of the Vulture diadem lord of the Uræus-snake diadem · placed · king · like · Râ · in ·

Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks

pet Tum neb·t en Ȧn meses

heaven · Tum · lord · of · Heliopolis · begotten ·

Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks

sa en kha·t ef meses nef Deḥuti

son · of · womb · his · born · him · Thoth ·

Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks

qema en sen em ḥat-â em neferu ḥâu

created · by · them · in · great- temple · in · beauty of · limbs ·

Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks

sen rekh enti ȧr·f sutenî·t ûaḥ

their · knowing · what · he should do · kingdom · placed ·

Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks

kher neḥeḥ suten-kaut? Men-kheper-Râ

for · eternity · king of Upper and Lower Egypt · Thothmes III.

Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks

Tum nuter â ḥenâ pau·t nuteru· f

Tum · god · great · with · circle · (of) gods · his ·

Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks

merî du ânkh ded us neb

beloved · giving · life · stability · strength · all ·

Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks

ma Râ zeta

like · Râ · forever.

i. e. Behold Pharaoh! He is the heavenly Horus, the powerful and glorious bull [king] in Thebes.[2] He is the lord of the Vulture and Uræus diadems[3], and his kingdom is established as firmly as the sun in the heavens. His name is[4]: "He whom Tum, the lord of Heliopolis, has begotten, and who is the son of his loins, whom Thoth has brought forth"[5], who was created by them [the gods] in the great temple of Heliopolis in the beauty of their limbs, and who knew beforehand what he would do to establish for himself an eternal kingdom. He is Thothmes III., the king of Upper and Lower Egypt, beloved of the great god Tum and his circle of gods, who gives all life, stability, and strength now and for ever!

South Face [central column].

Almost the entire column on this side is in a very poor condition, the hieroglyphs being hardly discernible. The following, however, may prove to be a correct restoration of the inscription.

Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks

Ḥor-pet qa nekht Râ mer suten-kaut?

The heavenly Horus · bull · powerful · Râ · beloved · king of Upper and Lower Egypt ·

Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks

Men-kheper-Râ ȧr nef em mennu· f en tef neb

Thothmes III. · made · by him · for · monument · his · for · father · lord of ·

Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks

Ȧn s·âḥâ nef tekhenui ûrui benben·t em

Heliopolis · caused to erect · by him · two obelisks · large · the pyramidion · of ·

Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks

usem em sep tep sed-ḥeb .......... nen

gold-metal · at · time · first (of) · the thirty-year-period · ... illegible! ... · not ·

Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks

ȧr nef sa Râ Deḥuti-meses-nefer-kheperu Râ-Ḥor-khuti merî zeta

(as) done by him · the son of Râ · Thothmes III. · Râ-Hor-Khuti · beloved · forever.

Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks

Ḥor-pet qa nekht Râ mer

The heavenly Horus · bull · powerful · Râ · beloved ·

Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks

suten-kaut? Men-kheper-Râ ȧr nef em

king of Upper and Lower Egypt · Thothmes III. · made · by him · for ·

Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks

mennu· f en tef neb Ȧn

monument · his · for · father · lord of · Heliopolis ·

Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks

s·âḥâ nef tekhenui ûrui benben·t

caused to erect · by him · two obelisks · large · the pyramidion ·

Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks

em usem em sep tepb

of · gold-metal · at · time · first (of) ·

Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks

sed-ḥe .......... nen ȧr nef

the thirty-year-period · ... illegible! ... · not · (as) done by him ·

Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks

sa Râ Deḥuti-meses-nefer-kheperu

the son of Râ · Thothmes III. ·

Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks

Râ-Ḥor-khuti merî zeta

Râ-Hor-Khuti · beloved · forever.

i. e. Behold Pharaoh! He is the heavenly Horus, the powerful bull, beloved of Rā. He is Thothmes III., the king of Upper and Lower Egypt, who has made this to be his monument in honor of his father Tum, the lord of Heliopolis, and who has set up for him two[6] large obelisks, the pyramidion being covered with gold-metal,[7] on the first day[8] of the thirty-year festival[9] ..........[10] No one has ever done what he did, the Sun's offspring, Thothmes III., the beloved of Rā-Hor-Khuti, who lives forever.

West Face [CENTRAL COLUMN].

The abrasion caused by the sand of the Libyan desert has effaced almost every hieroglyph on this side of the obelisk. All that can be seen is given below.

Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks

Ḥor-pet qa nekht khâ em Us suten-kaut?

The heavenly Horus · bull · powerful · glorious · in · Thebes · king of Upper and Lower Egypt ·

Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks

Men-kheper-Râ s·menkh per en meses ȧm · f

Thothmes III. · causing to be adorned · the house · of · birth · there · his ·

Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks

.......... sa Râ

..........illegible!.......... · the son of Râ ·

Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks

Deḥuti-meses-nefer-kheperu Râ-Ḥor-khuti merî zeta

Thothmes III. · Râ-Hor-Khuti · beloved · forever.

Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks

Ḥor-pet qa nekht khâ em Us

The heavenly Horus · bull · powerful · glorious · in · Thebes ·

Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks

suten-kaut? Men-kheper-Râ s·menkh per

king of Upper and Lower Egypt · Thothmes III. · causing to be adorned · the house ·

Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks

en meses ȧm · f ..........

of · birth · there · his · ..........illegible!.......... ·

Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks

sa Râ Deḥuti-meses-nefer-kheperu

the son of Râ · Thothmes III. ·

Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks

Râ-Ḥor-khuti merî zeta

Râ-Hor-Khuti · beloved · forever.

i. e. Behold Pharaoh! He is the heavenly Horus, the powerful and glorious bull [king] in Thebes. He is the king of Upper and Lower Egypt, Thothmes III., who has embellished the house where he was born, .........., the Sun's offspring, Thothmes III., the beloved of Rā-Hor-Khuti, who lives forever.

North Face [CENTRAL COLUMN].

Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks

Ḥor-pet ḥez qa Râ mer suten-kaut?

The heavenly Horus · the white crown · lifting · Râ · beloved · king of Upper and Lower Egypt ·

Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks

Men-kheper-Râ Ḥor-nub har nekht

Thothmes III. · the golden Horus · rejoicing in · strength ·

Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks

ḥu ḥequ men·tu? peḥu su khatf utu nef

smiting · the princes (of) · the countries · distant · they · because · ordered · for him ·

Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks

tef Râ nekhtu er ta neb dem·t ent khepesh em

father · Râ · victories · over · land · all · completeness · of · power · at ·

Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks

ru dedui· f er s·usekh tash·tu

the end of · the two hands · his · in order to · cause to be extended · the boundaries of ·

Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks

Qem·t sa Râ Deḥuti-meses-nefer-kheperu du ânkh neb zeta

Egypt · the son of · Râ · Thothmes III. · giving · life · all · forever.

Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks

Ḥor-pet ḥez qa Râ mer

The heavenly Horus · the white crown · lifting · Râ · beloved ·

Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks

suten-kaut? Men-kheper-Râ Ḥor-nub

king of Upper and Lower Egypt · Thothmes III. · the golden Horus ·

Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks

har nekht ḥu ḥequ men·tu?

rejoicing in · strength · smiting · the princes (of) · the countries ·

Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks

peḥu su khatf utu nef tef Râ

distant · they · because · ordered · for him · father · Râ ·

Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks

nekhtu er ta neb dem·t ent khepesh

victories · over · land · all · completeness · of · power ·

Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks

em ru dedui· f er

at · the end of · the two hands · his · in order to ·

Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks

s·usekh tash·tu Qem·t sa Râ

cause to be extended · the boundaries of · Egypt · the son of · Râ ·

Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks

Deḥuti-meses-nefer-kheperu du ânkh neb zeta

Thothmes III. · giving · life · all · forever.

i.e. Behold Pharaoh! He is the heavenly Horus, who has crowned[11] himself with the white crown[12], beloved of Rā. He is Thothmes III., the king of Upper and Lower Egypt, the golden Horus[13], rejoicing in his strength, the vanquisher of the princes of the countries which are distant. He did this because his father Rā had so commanded him, and had then given him victories over the entire world, and had placed an abundance of power on his arm, so that he [the king] might enlarge the boundaries of Egypt. This was done by the Sun's offspring, Thothmes III., who gives all life forever.

II. Inscriptions of Ramses II.

The inscriptions of Ramses II. are found in the two vertical columns to the right and left of the central column of each face and the two horizontal lines at the base of each face of the obelisk. The inscriptions are in a much better condition than those of Thothmes III., and can be more readily deciphered. They were engraved on the stone not quite three centuries after the pyramidions and the central columns were inscribed. Even a casual observer will notice that the hawk at the top of each central column is larger than those to the right and left of it, these being crowded into the remaining space.

East Face [NORTHERN COLUMN].

Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks

Ḥor-pet qa nekht Râ mer suten-kaut?

The heavenly Horus · bull · powerful · Râ · beloved · king of Upper and Lower Egypt ·

Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks

User-Mâ-Râ-sotep-en-Râ Râ meses nuteru ger taui

Ramses II. · the Sun · born of · the gods · possessing · the two worlds ·

Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks

sa Râ Ȧmen-mer-Râ-meses-su ḥun shepes merîti mȧ Ȧten

the son of Râ · Ramses II. · a child · glorious · beloved · like · Aten ·

Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks

pesed· f em khu·t neb taui User-Mâ-Râ-sotep-en-Râ sa Râ

shines · he · in · the horizon · lord · of the two countries · Ramses II. · son of Râ ·

Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks

Ḥor-pet qa nekht Râ mer

The heavenly Horus · bull · powerful · Râ · beloved ·

Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks

suten-kaut? User-Mâ-Râ-sotep-en-Râ Râ

king of Upper and Lower Egypt · Ramses II. · the Sun ·

Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks

meses nuteru ger taui sa Râ

born of · the gods · possessing · the two worlds · the son of Râ ·

Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks

Ȧmen-mer-Râ-meses-su ḥun shepes merîti

Ramses II. · a child · glorious · beloved ·

Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks

mȧ Ȧten pesed· f em khu·t neb

like · Aten · shines · he · in · the horizon · lord ·

Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks

taui User-Mâ-Râ-sotep-en-Râ sa Râ Ȧmen-mer-Râ-meses-su khu en Râ du ânkh

of the two countries · Ramses II. · son of Râ · Ramses II. · the glory · of · Râ · giving · life.

Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks

Ȧmen-mer-Râ-meses-su khu en Râ du ânkh

Ramses II. · the glory · of · Râ · giving · life.

i. e. Behold Pharaoh! He is the heavenly Horus, the powerful bull, beloved of Rā. He is Ramses II.[14], the king of Upper and Lower Egypt, the Sun himself, and the child of the gods. He is master of the two countries [Egypt], the Sun's offspring, Ramses II.[15] He is a youth glorious and beloved like Aten[16], when he shines in the horizon. He is the lord of the two countries [Egypt], Ramses II.[14], the Sun's offspring, Ramses II.[15], the glorious image of Rā, who gives life.

East Face [SOUTHERN COLUMN].

Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks

Ḥor-pet qa nekht kheperȧ sa suten-kaut?

The heavenly Horus · bull · powerful · Khepera's · son · king of Upper and Lower Egypt ·

Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks

User-Mâ-Râ-sotep-en-Râ Ḥor-nub user renpe·tu â en

Ramses II. · the golden Horus · abounding in · years · great · in ·

Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks

nekhtu sa Râ Ȧmen-mer-Râ-meses-su per en ef em

victories · the son of Râ · Ramses II. · going out · by · him · from ·

Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks

kha·t er shep khâu en Râ meses su er neb uâ

womb · to · obtain · diadems · of · Râ · begetting · himself · as · lord · only ·

Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks

neb taui User-Mâ-Râ-sotep-en-Râ sa Râ Ȧmen-mer-Râ-meses-su

lord of · the two countries · Ramses II. · son of Râ · Ramses II.

Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks

Ḥor-pet qa nekht kheperȧ sa

The heavenly Horus · bull · powerful · Khepera's · son ·

Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks

suten-kaut? User-Mâ-Râ-sotep-en-Râ Ḥor-nub

king of Upper and Lower Egypt · Ramses II. · the golden Horus ·

Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks

user renpe·tu â en nekhtu sa Râ

abounding in · years · great · in · victories · the son of Râ ·

Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks

Ȧmen-mer-Râ-meses-su per en ef em

Ramses II. · going out · by · him · from ·

Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks

kha·t er shep khâu en Râ meses

womb · to · obtain · diadems · of · Râ · begetting ·

Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks

su er neb uâ neb taui

himself · as · lord · only · lord of · the two countries ·

Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks

User-Mâ-Râ-sotep-en-Râ sa Râ Ȧmen-mer-Râ-meses-su

Ramses II. · son of Râ · Ramses II. the glory · of ·

Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks

khu en Râ ma Râ

the glory · of · Râ · to-day (literally: like Râ).

i. e. Behold Pharaoh! He is the heavenly Horus, the powerful bull, the son of Khepera[17]. He is Ramses II., the king of Upper and Lower Egypt, the golden Horus, who abounds in years and is great in victories. He is the Sun's offspring, Ramses II., who issued from the Sun's loins to receive the diadems of Rā. It is he who brought forth himself[18] as sole ruler and lord of the two countries [Egypt], Ramses II., the Sun's offspring, Ramses II., the glorious image of Rā, now and forever.

South Face [EASTERN COLUMN].

Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks

Ḥor-pet qa nekht Mâ mer suten-kaut?

The heavenly Horus · bull · powerful · Truth · beloved · king of Upper and Lower Egypt ·

Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks

User-Mâ-Râ-sotep-en-Râ neb ḥeb mȧ tef · f Ptaḥ-tathunen sa Râ

Ramses II. · lord of · festival · like · father · his · Ptah-tatunen · the son of Râ ·

Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks

Ȧmen-mer-Râ-meses-su nuter nuteri dûa taui rekh hapu

Ramses II. · god · morning star of · the two countries · knowing · the laws ·

Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks

shef·t em ȧrî·tu neb taui User-Mâ-Râ-sotep-en-Râ sa Râ

awe inspiring · in · (his) works · the lord of · the two countries · Ramses II. · son of Râ ·

Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks

Ḥor-pet qa nekht Mâ mer

The heavenly Horus · bull · powerful · Truth · beloved ·

Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks

suten-kaut? User-Mâ-Râ-sotep-en-Râ

king of Upper and Lower Egypt · Ramses II. ·

Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks

neb ḥeb mȧ tef · f Ptaḥ-tathunen

lord of · festival · like · father · his · Ptah-tatunen ·

Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks

sa Râ Ȧmen-mer-Râ-meses-su nuter

the son of Râ · Ramses II. · god ·

Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks

nuteri dûa taui rekh hapu

morning star of · the two countries · knowing · the laws ·

Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks

shef·t em ȧrî·tu neb taui

awe inspiring · in · (his) works · the lord of · the two countries ·

Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks

User-Mâ-Râ-sotep-en-Râ sa Râ

Ramses II. · son of Râ ·

Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks

Ȧmen-mer-Râ-meses-su du ânkh

Ramses II. · giving · life.

i. e. Behold Pharaoh! He is the heavenly Horus, the powerful bull, beloved of Mā.[19] He is Ramses II., the king of Upper and Lower Egypt, the lord of festivals, who is like his father Ptah of Memphis.[20] He is the Sun's offspring, Ramses II., a god himself, the morning-star of the two countries, who is well versed in the laws and awe inspiring in his works. He is the lord of the two countries [Egypt], Ramses II., the Sun's offspring Ramses II., who gives life.

South Face [WESTERN COLUMN].

Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks

Ḥor-pet qa nekht Râ sa suten-kaut?

The heavenly Horus · bull · powerful · Râ's · son · king of Upper and Lower Egypt ·

Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks

User-Mâ-Râ-sotep-en-Râ neb mut or sheta neb ârâ or meḥen·t

Ramses II. · lord of the Vulture diadem · lord of the Uræus-snake diadem ·

Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks

mâk Qem·t uâf men·tu? sa Râ Ȧmen-mer-Râ-meses-su

protector of · Egypt · smiter of · the countries · the son of Râ · Ramses II. ·

Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks

suten menkh mȧ Râ .......... neb taui User-Mâ-Râ-sotep-en-Râ

king · kind · like · Râ · illegible! · lord of the two countries · Ramses II. ·

Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks

sa Râ Ȧmen-mer-Râ-meses-su ma Râ

the son of Râ · Ramses II. · to-day (literally: like Râ).

Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks

Ḥor-pet qa nekht Râ sa

The heavenly Horus · bull · powerful · Râ's · son ·

Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks

suten-kaut? User-Mâ-Râ-sotep-en-Râ neb mut or sheta

king of Upper and Lower Egypt · Ramses II. · lord of the Vulture diadem ·

Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks

neb ârâ or meḥen·t mâk Qem·t uâf

lord of the Uræus-snake diadem · protector of · Egypt · smiter of ·

Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks

men·tu? sa Râ Ȧmen-mer-Râ-meses-su suten

the countries · the son of Râ · Ramses II. · king ·

Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks

menkh mȧ Râ .......... neb taui

kind · like · Râ · illegible! · lord of the two countries ·

Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks

User-Mâ-Râ-sotep-en-Râ sa Râ

Ramses II. · the son of Râ ·

Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks

Ȧmen-mer-Râ-meses-su ma Râ

Ramses II. · to-day (literally: like Râ).

i. e. Behold Pharaoh! He is the heavenly Horus, the powerful bull, the son of Rā. He is Ramses II., the king of Upper and Lower Egypt, the lord of the Vulture and Uræus diadems, who protects Egypt and smites the foreign nations. He is the Sun's offspring, Ramses II., a kind ruler like Rā, .......... the lord of the two countries [Egypt], Ramses II., the Sun's offspring, Ramses II., now and forever.

West Face [NORTHERN COLUMN].

Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks

Ḥor-pet qa nekht Râ mer suten-kaut?

The heavenly Horus · bull · powerful · Râ · beloved · king of Upper and Lower Egypt ·

Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks

User-Mâ-Râ-sotep-en-Râ Râ meses nuteru ger taui

Ramses II. · the Sun · born of · the gods · possessing · the two countries ·

Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks

sa Râ Ȧmen-mer-Râ-meses-su ..........

the son of Râ · Ramses II. · .......... illegible! ..........

Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks

nen ȧr ȧr· f em per tef· f neb taui

not · (was) done · (what) did · he · in · the house of · father · his · lord of · the two countries ·

Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks

User-Mâ-Râ-sotep-en-Râ sa Râ Ȧmen-mer-Râ-meses-su du ânkh

Ramses II. · son of Râ · Ramses II. · giving · life.

Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks

Ḥor-pet qa nekht Râ mer

The heavenly Horus · bull · powerful · Râ · beloved ·

Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks

suten-kaut? User-Mâ-Râ-sotep-en-Râ Râ

king of Upper and Lower Egypt · Ramses II. · the Sun ·

Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks

meses nuteru ger taui sa Râ

born of · the gods · possessing · the two countries · the son of Râ ·

Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks

Ȧmen-mer-Râ-meses-su ..........

Ramses II. · .......... illegible! ..........

Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks

nen ȧr ȧr· f em per

not · (was) done · (what) did · he · in · the house of ·

Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks

tef· f neb taui User-Mâ-Râ-sotep-en-Râ

father · his · lord of · the two countries · Ramses II. ·

Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks

sa Râ Ȧmen-mer-Râ-meses-su du ânkh

son of Râ · Ramses II. · giving · life.

i. e. Behold Pharaoh! He is the heavenly Horus, the powerful bull, beloved of Rā. He is Ramses II., the king of Upper and Lower Egypt, who is the Sun himself and child of the gods. He is master of the two countries [Egypt], the Sun's offspring, Ramses II. .......... No one has done what he did in his father's [Tum's] house. He is the lord of the two countries [Egypt], Ramses II., the Sun's offspring, Ramses II., who gives life.

West Face [SOUTHERN COLUMN].

Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks

Ḥor-pet qa nekht Râ sa suten-kaut?

The heavenly Horus · bull · powerful · Râ's · son · king of Upper and Lower Egypt ·

Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks

User-Mâ-Râ-sotep-en-Râ Ḥor-nub user renpe·tu â en nekhtu

Ramses II. · the golden Horus · abounding in · years · great · in · victories ·

Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks

sa Râ Ȧmen-mer-Râ-meses-su ..........

son of Râ · Ramses II. · .......... illegible! ..........

Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks

neb taui User-Mâ-Râ-sotep-en-Râ sa Râ Ȧmen-mer-Râ-meses-su ma Râ

lord of the two countries · Ramses II. · son of Râ · Ramses II. · to-day.

Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks

Ḥor-pet qa nekht Râ sa

The heavenly Horus · bull · powerful · Râ's · son ·

Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks

suten-kaut? User-Mâ-Râ-sotep-en-Râ Ḥor-nub

king of Upper and Lower Egypt · Ramses II. · the golden Horus ·

Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks

user renpe·tu â en nekhtu sa Râ

abounding in · years · great · in · victories · son of Râ ·

Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks

Ȧmen-mer-Râ-meses-su ..........

Ramses II. · .......... illegible! ..........

Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks

neb taui User-Mâ-Râ-sotep-en-Râ

lord of the two countries · Ramses II. ·

Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks

sa Râ Ȧmen-mer-Râ-meses-su ma Râ

son of Râ · Ramses II. · to-day.

i. e. Behold Pharaoh! He is the heavenly Horus, the powerful bull, the son of Rā. He is Ramses II., the king of Upper and Lower Egypt, the golden Horus, who abounds in years and is great in victories. He is the Sun's offspring, Ramses II., .......... He is the lord of the two countries [Egypt], Ramses II., the Sun's offspring, Ramses II., now and forever.

North Face [EASTERN COLUMN].

Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks

Ḥor-pet qa nekht Mâ mer suten-kaut?

The heavenly Horus · bull · powerful · Mâ · beloved · king of Upper and Lower Egypt ·

Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks

User-Mâ-Râ-sotep-en-Râ neb ḥebu mȧ tef· f Ptaḥ sa Râ

Ramses II. · lord of · festivals · like · father · his · Ptah · son of Râ ·

Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks

Ȧmen-mer-Râ-meses-su meses en Râ er s·ḥeb Ȧn

Ramses II. · begotten · by · Râ · in order to · cause to be glad · Heliopolis ·

Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks

er s·zef peru meses su neb taui

in order to · cause to be filled · the sanctuaries · begetting · himself · lord of · the two countries ·

Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks

User-Mâ-Râ-sotep-en-Râ sa Râ Ȧmen-mer-Râ-meses-su du

Ramses II. · the son of Râ · Ramses II. · giving ·

Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks

ânkh neb ma Râ

life · all · to-day (literally: like Râ).

Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks

Ḥor-pet qa nekht Mâ mer

The heavenly Horus · bull · powerful · Mâ · beloved ·

Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks

suten-kaut? User-Mâ-Râ-sotep-en-Râ neb

king of Upper and Lower Egypt · Ramses II. · lord of ·

Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks

ḥebu mȧ tef· f Ptaḥ sa Râ

festivals · like · father · his · Ptah · son of Râ ·

Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks

Ȧmen-mer-Râ-meses-su meses en Râ er

Ramses II. · begotten · by · Râ · in order to ·

Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks

s·ḥeb Ȧn er s·zef

cause to be glad · Heliopolis · in order to · cause to be filled ·

Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks

peru meses su neb taui

the sanctuaries · begetting · himself · lord of · the two countries ·

Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks

User-Mâ-Râ-sotep-en-Râ sa Râ Ȧmen-mer-Râ-meses-su

Ramses II. · the son of Râ · Ramses II. ·

Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks

du ânkh neb ma Râ

giving · life · all · to-day (literally: like Râ).

i. e. Behold Pharaoh! He is the heavenly Horus, the powerful bull, beloved of Mā [Truth]. He is Ramses II., the king of Upper and Lower Egypt, the lord of the festivals like his father Ptah. He is the Sun's offspring, Ramses II., whom Rā has begotten in order to gladden Heliopolis and fill her sanctuaries with treasures. It is he who brought forth himself as lord of the two countries [Egypt], Ramses II., the Sun's offspring, Ramses II., who gives all life now and forever.

North Face [WESTERN COLUMN].

Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks

Ḥor-pet qa nekht Râ sa suten-kaut?

The heavenly Horus · bull · powerful · Râ's · son · king of Upper and Lower Egypt ·

Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks

User-Mâ-Râ-sotep-en-Râ neb mut or sheta neb ârâ or meḥen·t

Ramses II. · lord of the Vulture diadem · lord of the Uræus-snake diadem ·

Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks

mâk Qem·t uâf men·tu? sa Râ Ȧmen-mer-Râ-meses-su

protector of · Egypt · smiter of · the countries · son of Râ · Ramses II. ·

Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks

suten qen ȧr em dedui· f khatf ḥer ta neb

king · triumph · made · at · the two hands · his · in · the face of · the land · all ·

Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks

dem neb taui User-Mâ-Râ-sotep-en-Râ sa Râ Ȧmen-mer-Râ-meses-su

entire · lord of the two countries · Ramses II. · son of Ra · Ramses II. ·

Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks

du ânkh neb ma Râ

giving · life · all · to-day (literally: like Râ).

Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks

Ḥor-pet qa nekht Râ sa

The heavenly Horus · bull · powerful · Râ's · son ·

Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks

suten-kaut? User-Mâ-Râ-sotep-en-Râ

king of Upper and Lower Egypt · Ramses II. ·

Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks

neb mut or sheta neb ârâ or meḥen·t mâk

lord of the Vulture diadem · lord of the Uræus-snake diadem · protector of ·

Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks

Qem·t uâf men·tu? sa Râ

Egypt · smiter of · the countries · son of Râ ·

Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks

Ȧmen-mer-Râ-meses-su suten qen ȧr em

Ramses II. · king · triumph · made · at ·

Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks

dedui· f khatf ḥer ta neb

the two hands · his · in · the face of · the land · all ·

Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks

dem neb taui User-Mâ-Râ-sotep-en-Râ sa Râ

entire · lord of the two countries · Ramses II. · son of Ra ·

Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks

Ȧmen-mer-Râ-meses-su du ânkh neb ma Râ

Ramses II. · giving · life · all · to-day (literally: like Râ).

i. e. Behold Pharaoh! He is the heavenly Horus, the powerful bull, the son of Rā. He is Ramses II., the king of Upper and Lower Egypt, the lord of the Vulture and Uræus diadems, who protects Egypt and smites the foreign nations. He is the Sun's offspring, Ramses II., a king whose hands have done warlike deeds in full view of the entire world. He is the lord of the two countries [Egypt], Ramses II., the Sun's offspring, Ramses II., who gives all life now and forever.

The Base [EAST, SOUTH, WEST, NORTH].

At the bottom of each of the four faces of the obelisk are two horizontal lines of almost totally destroyed hieroglyphs. They bear the cartouches of Ramses II., and are so written as to read from the centre each way. The inscription is

Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks

Râ-en-sotep-Râ-Mâ-User nefer nuter ânkh nuter nefer Ȧmen-mer-Râ-meses-su

Râ-en-sotep-Râ-Mâ-User nefer nuter ânkh nuter nefer Ȧmen-mer-Râ-meses-su

Ramses II. · gracious · god · life · god · gracious · Ramses II.

Ramses II. · gracious · god · life · god · gracious · Ramses II.

Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks

Râ-en-sotep-Râ-Mâ-User nefer nuter ânkh nuter nefer Ȧmen-mer-Râ-meses-su

Râ-en-sotep-Râ-Mâ-User nefer nuter ânkh nuter nefer Ȧmen-mer-Râ-meses-su

Ramses II. · gracious · god · life · god · gracious · Ramses II.

Ramses II. · gracious · god · life · god · gracious · Ramses II.

i. e. Long life to the gracious god, Ramses II.! i. e. Long life to the gracious god, Ramses II.! i. e. Long life to the gracious god, Ramses II.! i. e. Long life to the gracious god, Ramses II.!

III. Inscriptions of Osarkon I.

Besides the three columns of hieroglyphs on each face of our obelisk, all chiseled in large and bold characters, we find at the lower end of each face near each edge inscriptions by a later king. The hieroglyphs of these inscriptions are so minute and so mutilated as to be scarcely legible. They seem to have started at the first of the lower cartouches and to have extended to the two horizontal lines at the bottom of the obelisk. As each face has two of these columns, there are eight of these inscriptions on the obelisk. The last half of the inscriptions is destroyed in each case and may have been different on every column. The eastern column on the south face is the most legible one and presumably reads thus

Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks

suten-kaut? kherp-kheper-Râ-sotep-en-Râ sa Râ

The king of Upper and Lower Egypt · Osarkon I. · the son of Râ ·

Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks

Ȧmen-mer-Ûsarken ..........

Osarkon I. · ..........illegible!..........

i. e. The king of Upper and Lower Egypt, Osarkon I., the Sun's offspring, Osarkon I., ..........

IV. Inscriptions of Augustus.

There is no name of any other Egyptian ruler, except the three mentioned above, inscribed on our obelisk. When the emperor Augustus, however, had the London and New York Obelisks transported to Alexandria in 12 B. C., he caused his name to be engraved on the crabs which supported them. Only two of these crabs have come down to us and are preserved in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in Central Park. On the only remaining claw of one of the crabs are two inscriptions; on the one side in Greek and on the other in Latin, which give the names of the emperor, prefect or governor, and architect. Prof. Augustus Merriam of Columbia College has devoted some time to the study of these inscriptions and has made some very remarkable discoveries, which fix the eighteenth year of the reign of Augustus as the time of the reërection of the London and New York Obelisks in Alexandria. The inscriptions are herewith given in fac-simile.

The Greek inscription reads

Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks

which looks like this in regular Greek types:

L ΙΗ ΚΑΙΣΑΡΟΣ ΒΑΡΒΑΡΟΣ ΑΝΕΘΗΚΕ ΑΡΧΙΤΕΚΤΟΝΟΥΝΤΟΣ ΠΟΝΤΙΟΥ In the year · 18 · of Cæsar Barbarus · erected (it). The architect being Pontius.

i. e. The governor Barbarus erected this obelisk in the eighteenth year of the reign of the emperor Augustus (12 B. C.). Pontius was the architect.

The Latin inscription reads

Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks

which is in regular Latin types:

ANNO XVIII CÆSARIS BARBARVS PRÆF ÆGYPTI POSVIT ARCHITECTANTE PONTIO In the year · 18 · of Cæsar Barbarus · the prefect of Egypt · erected (it). The architect being · Pontius.

i. e. Barbarus, governor of Egypt, erected this obelisk in the eighteenth year of the reign of the emperor Augustus (12 B. C.). Pontius was the architect.

The Greek letter Psi (Ψ) in the first line of the Latin text seems to have been the initial of the engraver's name, who must have been a Greek, if we can draw this inference from the beautiful Greek and the poor Latin form of the letters in the inscriptions.

The full translation of the obelisk.

As a recapitulation of the translation of the Egyptian inscriptions on our obelisk, which has been given in the preceding pages, we now place the complete translation of each face of the obelisk in a very compact and simple form before our readers. The English translation will be found to correspond to the hieroglyphs, and each word can be easily picked out on the three columns of the original. All the words in Italics are to be found in the Egyptian text, while those in common Roman types are supplied so as to render the inscriptions intelligible to the reader.

Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
Illustration from The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle With a Preliminary Sketch of the History, Erection, Uses, and Signification of Obelisks
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