Obelisk of Theodosius

The Theodosius Obelisk in Istanbul .

The obelisk of Theodosius is an ancient Egyptian obelisk that was brought to Constantinople under Emperor Theodosius I and erected there in the Hippodrome in 390 AD .

The obelisk

The ancient Egyptian obelisk of Pharaoh Thutmose III. consists of pink granite, was originally around 30 m high like the Lateran Obelisk , but it already broke in antiquity. The upper part is preserved.

The transport of the obelisk is shown on the pedestal. Inscriptions in Greek and Latin indicate that the obelisk was erected in 32 days under the prefect of Constantinople, Proculus .

The base

The marble base is an important monument of Theodosian times. On all four sides it has a relief decoration with different situations of imperial self-portrayal.

On the north side there is an image of the emperor in his box with the court, the soldiers of the bodyguard are armed with shields and lances, some of the soldiers wear neck rings, torques , which were also awarded as military decorations in late antiquity . The transport of the obelisk is shown in a separate zone below. The east side shows the emperor holding a victory wreath as a prize (for the chariot races). In the south there is another representation of the emperor in the box, below (again in a separate zone) a chariot race in the circus. On the west side beneath the imperial box, bearded barbarians dressed in fur coats offer tributes on their knees.