Rome: The "City of Obelisks"

During a holiday to Rome in July 2011 I managed to squeeze in some Egyptology-related sightseeing, namely following the trail of obelisks around the city which Labib Habachi dubbed the "City of Obelisks". There are 13 obelisks standing in the city today, more even than in Egypt, and although I didn't have the time to see every one (I only managed to get to 8), I'd like to share some of my holiday snaps of the obelisks that I did see, some of which were inscribed in Egypt then brought to Rome, and others were brought uninscribed from Egypt and subsequently decorated in Rome. 

Piazza Della Rotunda

Red granite, 6.34m, 19th Dynasty

Originally erected by Ramesses II at Heliopolis

Now outside the Pantheon of Hadrian

Piazza dell' Esquilino

Red granite, 14.75m, Unknown date

Originally erected on the western flank of the Mausoleum of Augustus

Now outside the church of Santa Maria Maggiore

Monte Citorio

Red granite, 21.79m, 26th Dynasty

Originally erected by Psamtek II at Heliopolis

Now outside the Italian Chamber of Deputies building

Piazza San Giovanni in Laterano - "Lateran Obelisk"

Red granite, 32.18m, 18th Dynasty

Undoubtedly quarried in Aswan

Originally erected by Tuthmosis III at the Temple of Amun, Karnak

Now outside the Lateran Palace
Largest obelisk in Rome

Piazza Navona

Red granite, 16.54m, inscribed in Rome

Originally erected by Domitian near the Iseum

Now in the Piazza Navona

Piazza San Pietro
Red granite,23.37m, uninscribed
Originally erected in the Julian Forum in Alexandria by Augustus
Now in front of St. Peters Cathedral

Trinita dei Monti

Red granite, 13.92m, inscribed in Rome with a copy

of the Popolo inscription of Seti I and Ramesses II (below)

Originally erected in a private residence (Horti Sallustiani)

Now in front of the church of Trinita del Monti (Spanish Steps)

Piazza del Popolo

Red granite, 32.77m, 19th Dynasty

Originally erected by Ramesses II at Heliopolis (inscribed by Seti I and Ramesses II)

Now in the Piazza del Popolo

(note the man in Egyptian costume in front of the obelisk!)

The remaining obelisks that I didn't see are:

- Monte Pincio (Red granite, 9.25m; inscribed by Hadrian)

- Villa Celimontana (Red granite, 2.68m; originally erected by Ramesses II at Heliopolis, smallest obelisk in Rome)

- Piazza della Minerva (Red granite, 5.47m; originally erected in Sais by Psamtek II)

- Piazza del Quirinale (Red granite, 14.64m; originally erected on the eastern flank of the Mausoleum of Augustus)

- Vialle delle Terme di Diocleziano (Red granite, 9.25m; originally erected in Heliopolis by Ramesses II)

I also managed to find a couple of other Egyptianizing monuments whilst in Rome, I'll be sure to put up those images in a second blog post. 

All information after Habachi, L., (1977), The Obelisks of Egypt: Skyscrapers of the Past, London: Biddles Ltd, where you can also find more information about the obelisks I missed on my visit.