in Rome, which the inscription informs us was thirty-six years in
cutting.
From Marcellinus (xvii. 4), we get many interesting details of its
voyage and erection:--
"And because the flatterers, who were continually whispering into the
ear of Constantine, kept always affirming that when Augustus
Octavianus had brought two obelisks from Heliopolis, a city of Egypt,
one of which was placed in the Circus Maximus, and the other in the
Campus Martius, he yet did not venture to touch or move this one,
which has just been brought to Rome, being alarmed at the greatness of
such a task,--I would have those who do not know the truth learn that
the ancient emperor, though he moved several obelisks, left this one
untouched because it was especially dedicated to the sun-god, and was
set up within the precincts of his magnificent temple, which it was
impious to profane, and of which it was the most conspicuous ornament.
"But Constantine deeming that a consideration of no importance, had it
torn up from its place, and thinking rightly that he should not be
offering any insult to religion if he removed a splendid work from
some other temple to dedicate it to the gods at Rome, which is the
temple of the whole world, he let it lie on the ground for some time
while arrangements for its removal were being prepared. And when it
had been carried down the Nile, and landed at Alexandria, a ship of
burden hitherto unexampled, requiring three hundred rowers to propel
it, was built to receive it.
"And when these preparations were made, and after the aforenamed
emperor had died, the enterprise began to cool. However, after a time
it was at last put on board ship, and conveyed over sea and up the
stream of the Tiber, which seemed as it were frightened lest its own
winding waters should hardly be equal to conveying a present from the
almost unknown Nile to the walls which itself cherished. At last the
obelisk reached the village of Alexandria, three miles from the city,
and then it was placed in a cradle, and drawn slowly on, and brought
through the Ostia gate and the public fish-market to the Circus
Maximus.
"The only work remaining to be done was to raise it, which was
generally believed to be hardly if at all practicable. And vast beams
having been raised on end in a most dangerous manner, so that they
looked like a grove of machines, long ropes of huge size were fastened
to them, darkening the very sky with their density, as they formed a
web of innumerable threads; and into them the great stone itself,
covered over as it was with elements of writing, was bound, and
gradually raised into the empty air, and long suspended, many
thousands of men turning it round and round like a millstone, till it
was at last placed in the middle of the square. On it was placed a
brazen sphere, made brighter with plates of gold; and as that was
immediately afterwards struck by lightning and destroyed, a brazen
figure like a torch was placed on it, also plated with gold, to look
as if the torch were fully lighted.
"But the writing which is engraven on the old obelisk in the Circus we
have set forth below in Greek characters, following in this the work
of Hermapion:--
ΑΡΧΗΝ ΑΠΟ ΤΟΝ ΝΟΤΙΟΝ ΔΙΕΡΜΗΝΕΥΜΕΝΑ
ΕΧΕΙ
ΣΤΙΧΟΣ ΠΡΩΤΟΣ ΤΑΔΕ.
"The first line, beginning on the south side, bears this
interpretation:--'The Sun to Ramestes the King--I have given to thee
to reign with joy over the whole earth; to thee whom the Sun and
Apollo love; to thee, the mighty truth-loving son of Heron, the
god-born ruler of the habitable earth, whom the Sun has chosen above
all men, the valiant, warlike King Ramestes, under whose power, by
his valour and might, the whole world is placed. The King Ramestes,
the immortal son of the Sun.'
"The second line is:--'The mighty Apollo, who takes his stand upon
truth, the lord of the diadem, he who has honoured Egypt by becoming
its master, adorning Heliopolis, and having created the rest of the
world, and having greatly honoured the gods who have their shrines in
the city of the Sun, whom the Sun loves.'
"The third line:--'The mighty Apollo, the all-brilliant son of the
Sun, whom the Sun chose above all others, and to whom the valiant Mars
gave gifts. Thou whose good fortune abideth for ever; thou whom Ammon
loves; thou who hast filled the temple of the Phœnix with good
things; thou to whom the gods have given long life. Apollo, the mighty
son of Heron; Ramestes, the king of the world, who has defended Egypt,
having subdued the foreign enemy; whom the Sun loves; to whom the gods
have given long life--the master of the world--the immortal Ramestes.'
"Another second line:--'The Sun, the great God, the master of heaven.
I have given unto thee a life free from satiety. Apollo, the mighty
master of the diadem; to whom nothing is comparable; to whom the lord
of Egypt has erected many statues in this kingdom, and has made the
city of Heliopolis as brilliant as the Sun himself, the master of
heaven,--the son of the Sun, the king living for ever, has co-operated
in the completion of this work.'
"A third line:--'I, the Sun, the god, the master of heaven, have given
to Ramestes the king might and authority over all; whom Apollo, the
truth-lover, the master of time, and Vulcan, the father of the gods,
hath chosen above others by reason of his courage; the all-rejoicing
king, the son of the Sun, and beloved by the Sun.'
"The first line looking towards the east:--'The great god of
Heliopolis, the mighty Apollo, who dwelleth in Heaven, the son of
Heron, whom the Sun hath guided, whom the gods have honoured. He who
ruleth over all the earth, whom the Sun hath chosen before all others.
The king, valiant by the favour of Mars, whom Ammon loveth, and the
all-shining god, who hath chosen him as a king for everlasting.'"
_On our right of the obelisk is_