Study of the New York Obelisk as a Decayed Boulder. 109 



rounding of angles and edges. The predominance of these rounded 

 forms in loosened and isolated blocks, and in the projecting tops of 

 columns, probably signifies the efficient help of the heat of the sun 

 and of alternations of temperature. 



(5). As to the amount of degradation of the surface, we may 

 probably get some estimate through the observations of Stuart on 

 the effacement of the older hieroglyphs on the island of Schael. 

 Since the ordinary depth of such carvings is from 2 to 4 centi- 

 meters, we may infer that the granite has decayed in these places, 

 during the period which has elapsed since their execution, from 40 

 to 50 centuries, to the depth of at least 1 centimeter and perhaps 

 over 2 centimeters. 



It must always be a subject of regret that Commander Gorringe, 

 during his stay at Alexandria for the removal of our Obelisk, was 

 not able to visit this region and to become impressed with the uni- 

 versal and deep decay prevailing throughout this durable rock of 

 Syene. In that case, it is probable that he would not have replied, 

 as in 1880, to a suggestion of the need of the New York Obelisk of 

 protection from the weather by some preservative: "It has lasted 

 nearly 4000 years and will probably last 4000 more. I think we 

 need not trouble ourselves about it."^ It was but a repetition of 

 the mistake of his predecessor, Rameses II, who, in his invocation 

 to the gods, recorded in the poem of Pen-ta-our, alludes to the 

 " eternal stones" which he has erected in his temples to their honor. 



II. An. 



The next step in the history of our Obelisk was its conveyance 

 from Syene to the ancient city of An (or Heliopolis, as the Greeks 

 called it), near the site of the present Arab village of Mataria, about 

 6 miles X.E. of Cairo. 



6. Position of our Obelisk at An. 



This city of An was built upon a somewhat raised, artificial plat- 

 form, extending over an area (according to Mariette-Bey) of about 

 4560 by 3450 feet. Here our Obelisk, together with its companion, 

 now in London, was raised before the Temple of the Sun by Thoth- 

 meses III of the XlXth dynasty, about the year 1600 B. C. As 



1 Report on Condition of Obelisk, 4. 



