The Egyptian Obelisk

The Egyptian Obelisk in St. Peter’s Square is a single monolithic column of red granite. It is the only obelisk in Rome that has survived intact from antiquity, and notably, it bears no Egyptian hieroglyphs.

Originally erected around the 13th century BCE in Heliopolis, Egypt, during the time of the Pharaohs, the obelisk was later transported to Rome by the Roman Emperor Caligula to decorate the Circus of the Vatican, also known as the Circus of Nero. For centuries, it stood beside this arena as a silent witness to the persecution of early Christians. In 1586, the massive stone was moved to its present position at the center of St. Peter’s Square.

At the top of the obelisk, Pope Sixtus V placed a bronze cross containing a relic of the True Cross of Christ, transforming a pagan monument into a sacred Christian symbol. At its base, an inscription was added that reads:

“Ecce Crux Domini, fugite partes adversae” — “Behold the Cross of the Lord; flee, all adversaries.”