Obelisk

(ob'e-lisk.) [Gr. obelisk os, dim. of obe los, any pointed instrument.] (Arch.) A high quadrangular pillar,diminishing as it ascends, and terminating, not in a flat surface, but in a small pyramid (Fig. 502). Obelisks are of Egyptian origin, and, according to Hero dot us, were first erected in honor of the sun. Diodorus mentions two O. of Sesostris, placed before a Theban temple, which were 120 cubits high, one of which was erected before a temple at Sais, and the other before the Temple of the Sun at Helio polis. In the plenitude of their power the Romans removed many of these relics, of times then ancient, from their original situations into Italy, and re-erected them there. One of these O., now standing at Rome that of St. John of Later an is 105 feet in height without the pedestal, and weighs 440 tons. The O. next in size was, on being brought from Egypt, placed in the Vatican Circus by Caligula; but it now stands in the piazza of St. Peter's, and, including the pedestal, is 132 feet in height. The O. of Luxor, now at Paris, is 76 feet high. The ancient Egyptians must have had an extraordinary knowledge of mechanics, to have been able to bring these and similar ma es from the quarries, and elevate them to their respective positions; even in modern times, to do this is considered a wonderful feat of engineering.-(Print.) In typography, a mark of reference written thus (†): it is used in reference to a note in the margin or at the foot of the page. 000 000 Fig. 502. OBELISKS IN FRONT OF A TEMPLE. [s. 656]