Sallustian Obelisk

The origins of the Sallustian Obelisk date back to the distant period of the pharaoh Thutmose III, in the 14th century BC, when it was erected in the Temple of the Sun in Heliopolis, dedicated to the sun god Ra. Here, surrounded by the mystery and spirituality of the ancient Egyptian pantheon, the obelisk remained for centuries, a silent witness to the grand religious ceremonies and political importance of the region. However, it was only during the Roman era that the obelisk found its way to Rome, brought by Emperor Aurelian in the 3rd century AD to adorn the Mausoleum of Augustus, one of the most significant monuments of the ancient imperial capital. Here, among the ancient remains of the Roman Empire, the obelisk spent centuries, undergoing transformations and additions that marked its history. It was only in the 16th century that the obelisk found its final position in the Piazza Trinità dei Monti, under the papacy of Pope Sixtus V. The erection of the obelisk was a titanic feat, led by the architect Domenico Fontana, who used an ingenious system of pulleys and ropes to lift and position the monument over 13 meters high. The base of the obelisk, decorated with Latin inscriptions and the symbol of the lion, celebrates the feat and the importance of the Christian faith in ancient Rome.