Unfinished Obelisk in Egypt

Located in a quarry to the south of the city, the Unfinished Obelisk is the world’s largest known ancient obelisk. Carving these vast monoliths out of the bedrock of the stone quarries of the Nile Valley was all the rage in Ancient Egypt, and impressive obelisks can be seen at some of the most renowned temples in the country, including Karnak and Abu Simbel. This one would have dwarfed them all, had faults not become apparent in the granite during the construction process. Estimates suggest that it would have towered close to a staggering 50 metres in height and weighed over 1,000 tonnes! The scale of this endeavour is apparent today, even when viewing the obelisk lying horizontal in its quarry. Classed as an open air museum with protected status, the obelisk is often combined with visits to the Temple of Philae and the Aswan High Dam.