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THE NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC MAGAZINE 



© Kadel and Herbert 

 BEAUTIFUL ROME PHOTOGRAPHED FROM THE AIR: ROOKING DOWN ON THE FAMOUS 

 OBEUSK IN THE CENTER OF THE piazza OF ST. PETER'S 



Tradition tells us that when the obelisk was being erected on the present site, in 1586, the 

 engineer, Montana, failed to take into consideration the tension which would result from the 

 great weight (320 tons) on the elevating ropes. As a consequence, the monolith just failed 

 of being raised to a vertical position. At this critical moment, although silence had been 

 imposed upon the bystanders under pain of death, one of the workmen. Brcsca, a sailor, cried, 

 "Wet the ropes!" This was done, causing a shrinkage and thus preventing a catastrophe. 



