Luxor Obelisks, Paris

The Luxor Obelisk is an ancient Egyptian monument that graces the Place de la Concorde in the heart of Paris, France. Standing at 23 meters tall, this granite obelisk, which is over 3,000 years old, was originally situated at the entrance to the Luxor Temple in Egypt.

In a gesture of diplomacy, the obelisk was gifted to France in 1833 by Muhammad Ali Pasha, the ruler of Ottoman Egypt. The transportation and installation of the obelisk in Paris were monumental feats of engineering that took place in 1836. It now stands where the guillotine once loomed during the French Revolution, a stark contrast to its current role as a symbol of Franco-Egyptian friendship.

The Luxor Obelisk is inscribed with hieroglyphs exalting the reign of the pharaoh Ramesses II. Its golden-encased pyramidion on the top, added in 1998, shines brightly under the Parisian sun, echoing the ancient practice of capping obelisks with gold to allow them to catch the first and last rays of the sun.

This obelisk is one of a pair—the other remains in Egypt. The Parisian obelisk is flanked by two ornate fountains and is a central piece in the Place de la Concorde, which is the largest public square in the city. The site is a bridge between Paris's past and present, being surrounded by historical landmarks, including the Tuileries Garden, the Champs-Elysées, and the National Assembly.