Study of the New York Obelisk as a Decayed Boi(lde7\ 123 



III. Alexandria. 



In the year 12 B. C, the New York Obelisk and that of London 

 were conveyed by the Romans to Alexandria, probably on a float 

 through a canal and down the Nile, and re-erected near the seashore 

 on the New Port, to ornament the approach to the Cffisareum or 

 Sebastion. There is little likelihood that they suffered any injury 

 while in the care of the skilful engineers of a nation so experienced 

 in the handling of architectural materials, a care exemplified by the 

 elaborate bronze crabs devised and introduced under each shaft, to 

 ensure its permanent support and safety. 



The substitution, already suggested, of a limestone pedestal for 

 the ruined granite block which probably supported the London 

 Monolith at An, suggests also that the present limestone founda- 

 ti,on of our own Obelisk, with its various enclosures and the sub- 

 stratum of sandstone blocks, may not be of the same age as the 

 pedestal and shaft above, but more likely Roman. Limestone has 

 been the easily quarried, abundant, convenient, and cheap building- 

 stone of Lower Egypt, in all ages ; and the limestone blocks in the 

 three tiers of the foundation retain a suspiciously new look and 

 wonderfull}' sharp arrises, to have passed through the fires and 

 mutilation of An, 



9. Pui^ition of Obelisk at Alexandria. 



On its new site, it was shaken by at least the two recorded earth- 

 quakes of loOl and August 8, 1303, A.D., one of which was suffi- 

 ciently violent to hurl down its companion. Later, it shared with 

 the city, but apparently without harm, its varied experiences in 

 insurrection, siege, and sack, and remained in the same place un- 

 disturbed until the close of 1879. Frequent references are made to 

 it by passing travellers and visitors, such as Abd-El-Latif, Philo, 

 Sandys, etc. 



In 1714, the English traveller, Paul Lucas, found the pedestal 

 completely buried in sand, and even the shaft up to a height of 12 

 feet. But this sand had evidently blown away in part in 1738, 

 when Shaw' states, "the Height of it is found to be fifty (French) 

 Foot, three whereof are buried underground." Again, in 1743, 

 Capt. Norden observed: "This Obelisk of Cleopatra is situated 



' Shaw, idem, 412. 



