CAIRO: Egypt’s most renowned archaeologist has announced the discovery of dozens of new finds, including two ancient tombs, at a Pharaonic necropolis just outside Cairo. Zahi Hawass, a former government minister and director of the excavation, said the finds in Saqqara, close to the pyramids of Giza, dated back to the Fifth and Sixth Dynasties of the Old Kingdom, which ran
The Washington Monument in Washington, D.C., at 555 feet tall, holds the title of world s tallest obelisk. Al Drago/Getty Images
When it comes to astonishing architectural achievements of ancient Egypt, one clear example comes to mind: the pyramids. But these historic structures aren t the only majestic geometric feats to originate near the Nile. In fact, their rectangular cousin, the obelisk, can be found in countries throughout the world, from Washington, D.C., to Paris, France. But the iconic monuments are still shrouded in a fair amount of mystery. Obelisks originated in ancient Egypt, historian Pamela O. Long says via email. They were spectacular monuments, often dedicated to the solar gods of Egypt, but also representing the power of the pharaoh. They were monuments to the fusion of earthly and divine power.