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30Apr

The Unfinished Obelisk of Aswan

The great Unfinished Obelisk of Aswan is considered the largest Obelisk to be built by a man in the world. It was intended to be a 36m tall obelisk that weighs more than 1000 tons. The marvelous story of its building didn’t finish as during its construction and while removing the block of stone from its mother bedrock, a huge crack appeared that made the stone unusable and from this point another story has begun in Aswan called “The Unfinished Obelisk”. Through our article, you will explore all info about the unfinished obelisk of Aswan and here are the guidelines:

The Location of the Unfinished Obelisk


The Unfinished Obelisk lays now in Sheyakhah Oula, Qism Aswan in the Governorate on Aswan along the banks of the channelized LA River at the Bowtie Project.

The History of the Unfinished Obelisk

The Unfinished Obelisk History - Trips in Egypt

Queen Hatshepsut was the one who ordered her men to start in establishing such a great Obelisk and she intended to build it in Karnak and she intended to make it the largest Obelisk to be built by a man during her reign.

This obelisk is actually one third larger than any obelisk in Ancient Egypt. Just imagine that if it was finished, it would have measured around 42 m and would have weighed more than 1,090 metric tons that are approximately a weight equal to about 200 African elephants.

The creators of such an obelisk started in carving it out of the bedrock but the project was abandoned when a crack appeared in its granite. This Unfinished Obelisk is great evidence for the techniques which the Ancients used in their construction procedures as there are still some marks of the tools used by the creators on the Obelisk and they are so clear.

The Purpose of Building Obelisks in Ancient Egypt

Obelisks have been used by the Ancient Egyptians at the entrances of their temples. Surprisingly, they were topped with gold in order to catch the first rays of the morning light and only twenty-eight Egyptian obelisks remain standing, though only six of them are in Egypt.

The rest of the Obelisks are scattered across the globe, either gift from the Egyptian government or plunder by foreign invaders.

The best way to discover the obelisks in Upper Egypt by booking one of Egypt Nile cruise packages which enable you to see the beauty of Egypt while relaxing on the board of the cruise and also offer unforgettable trips to the enchanting temples, tombs, and obelisks of Pharaohs in Luxor & Aswan.

Interesting Facts about the Unfinished Obelisk

The Unfinished Obelisk Facts - Trips in Egypt

  1. The rock which was used in the construction of the Unfinished Obelisk was taken from the southern part of Egypt in Aswan, which was the main area to get rocks from in order to build the Egyptian Obelisks.
  2. Queen Hatshepsut intended to build it in the location of another obelisk that is called today as “The Lateran Obelisk”.
  3. It was probably achieved by chiseling holes into the rock according to the marks on it.
  4. A deep trench at least 2.5 m deep was discovered by the Aswan Office of the Supreme Council of Antiquities as they were preparing the site for tourists.
  5. There had been also a canal connecting the quarry to the Nile.
  6. The base of the obelisk is still attached to the bedrock of this granite quarry in Aswan.
  7. The ancient Egyptians utilized small balls of a mineral, harder than granite, known as dolerite.

Finish What Queen Hatshepsut Started with “Trips in Egypt”

With “Trips in Egypt“, you’ll be able to visit the Unfinished Obelisk with other magnificent attractions in Aswan and the other highly recommended Egyptian cities with our best tour guides to witness the greatness of the Egyptian civilization face to face. Don’t miss the chance and book one of our great Egypt tour packages to achieve your dream and enjoy an extraordinary journey in the land of Pharaohs.

Trips in Egypt Team
About the author

Trips In Egypt Team

Trips In Egypt team is composed of diverse individuals from all over the world who are the guardians of the ancient knowledge, magnificent attractions, and secrets of Egypt. They are travel enthusiasts, Egyptologists, Archaeologists, and history passionates who know every corner about the historical, geographical, geopolitical, and cultural nature of Egypt that trace back to more than 5000 years.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ):

  • What Should I Wear While Being in Egypt?

    You should wear whatever you want. It is advised to wear something light from cotton or linen, comfortable and put on sunblock during your time in Egypt in the summer and wear comfortable footwear like a closed-toe shoe to sustain the sandy terrain.

  • What to Pack for Your Egypt Tour?

    You should bring a brimmed hat and sunglasses if you not used to the Egyptian sun &pack everything you could ever need and put in a small bag so you could move easily between your destinations.

  • Are All Nile Cruises Available at Any Time?

    Yes, it is available all years. as the Nile from Aswan to Luxor takes three to four days of sailing on Monday, Wednesday and Friday for the total cost of 600$ and the Nile cruise from Luxor to Aswan take four to five days in Saturday, Monday and Thursday for the coast of 650$.

  • Why book Trips in Egypt?

    We have experience in vacation planning for more than 10 years & our staff consists of the most professional operators, guides and drivers who dedicate all of their time & effort create the perfect vacation. All of our tours are customized by Travel, Financial & Time advisors to fit your every possible need during your time in egypt. we always keep in mind that your safety & comfort are our main priority until you return home.

  • Is it safe to travel to Egypt?

    Yes, it is absolutely safe to travel to egypt, You will feel secure in Egypt as the current atmosphere of the country is very peaceful after the government took powerful measures like restructuring the entire tourist police to include all the important and tourist attractions in Egypt and construct an entire environment dedicated for ensuring the lives of all tourists.

  • What are Egypt's Visa Requirements?

    They are very simples, If you want to apply for a Visa On Arrival that lasts for 30 days then you should be one of the eligible countries(check the link), have a valid passport with at least 6 months remaining and pay 25$ USD entry fee in cash. As for the E-Visa for 30 days, you should have a valid passport for at least 8 months, complete the online application, pay the e-visa fee then print the e-visa to later be presented to the airport border guard. You could be one of the countries eligible for a free visa for 90 days.

  • What is the Weather is Like?

    The temperature of Egypt ranges from 37c to 14 c, Summer in Egypt is somehow hot and winter is cool and mild but sometimes it becomes cold at night. The average of low temperatures vary from 9.5 °C in the wintertime to 23 °C in the summertime and average high temperatures vary from 17 °C in the wintertime to 32 °C in the summertime while the temperature is moderate all along the coasts.

  • Should I Give Tips in Egypt?

    It is totally up to you, but if you choose to you can tip the servers at your restaurant 5-10% by handing it to them directly and 5 Egyptian Pounds as a general tip of anyone.

  • What is the Best Time of Visit Egypt?

    It is known the best time to travel to Egypt is in the winter from September to April as the climate becomes a bit tropical, a warm atmosphere with a winter breeze. You will also be notified a week before your trip if the weather is unsafe or if any changes have been made.

  • Can I Enter the Pyramids?

    Yes, you can enter the pyramids for the small fee of 20$.

  • How to Enjoy Egypt During Ramadan?

    Ramadan is a special time of year for Muslims that should be celebrated by non-Muslims and feel the essence of the Islamic culture. You can fast with the Muslim or just observe but you are always welcome to join the celebrations and festivals.

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About Trips In EGypt


Trips In Egypt was founded in 2002 when it launched, since then the company specialized in providing trips in Egypt only which includes tour packages, vacations, Nile cruises, day trips, shore excursions, and any kind of trips in Egypt.

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