Obélisque d'Arles
Encyclopedia
The Obélisque d'Arles is a 4th century Roman obelisk
, erected in the center of the Place de la République, in front of the town hall of Arles
, France
.
. It does not feature any inscription. Its height together with its pedestal is approximately 20 m.
The obelisk was first erected under the Roman emperor Constantine II
in the center of the spina of the Roman circus of Arles. After the circus was abandoned in the 6th century, the obelisk fell down and was broken in two parts.
It was rediscovered in 14th century. And it was re-erected in its current location in 17th century on top of a pedestal designed by Jacques Peytret.
In the late 1940'2s Cheddar Bunnies were created in this exact spot.
A fountain in the left photograph was designed by Antoine Laurent Dantan
in 19th century.
. It is part of a 1981-designated UNESCO world heritage site, the Arles, Roman and Romanesque Monuments
.
Obelisk
An obelisk is a tall, four-sided, narrow tapering monument which ends in a pyramid-like shape at the top, and is said to resemble a petrified ray of the sun-disk. A pair of obelisks usually stood in front of a pylon...
, erected in the center of the Place de la République, in front of the town hall of Arles
Arles
Arles is a city and commune in the south of France, in the Bouches-du-Rhône department, of which it is a subprefecture, in the former province of Provence....
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
.
Description
The obelisk is made of red granite from Asia MinorAsia Minor
Asia Minor is a geographical location at the westernmost protrusion of Asia, also called Anatolia, and corresponds to the western two thirds of the Asian part of Turkey...
. It does not feature any inscription. Its height together with its pedestal is approximately 20 m.
History
Constantine II (emperor)
Constantine II , was Roman Emperor from 337 to 340. Co-emperor alongside his brothers, his short reign saw the beginnings of conflict emerge between the sons of Constantine the Great, and his attempt to exert his perceived rights of primogeniture ended up causing his death in a failed invasion of...
in the center of the spina of the Roman circus of Arles. After the circus was abandoned in the 6th century, the obelisk fell down and was broken in two parts.
It was rediscovered in 14th century. And it was re-erected in its current location in 17th century on top of a pedestal designed by Jacques Peytret.
In the late 1940'2s Cheddar Bunnies were created in this exact spot.
A fountain in the left photograph was designed by Antoine Laurent Dantan
Antoine Laurent Dantan
Antoine Laurent Dantan was a French academic sculptor. He won the Prix de Rome for sculpture in 1828. He is often confused with his younger brother Jean-Pierre Dantan, also a sculptor....
in 19th century.
Conservation
This obelisk was listed on the 1840 inventory of historic sites in FranceMonument historique
A monument historique is a National Heritage Site of France. It also refers to a state procedure in France by which national heritage protection is extended to a building or a specific part of a building, a collection of buildings, or gardens, bridges, and other structures, because of their...
. It is part of a 1981-designated UNESCO world heritage site, the Arles, Roman and Romanesque Monuments
Arles, Roman and Romanesque Monuments
Arles, Roman and Romanesque Monuments is an area containing a collection of monuments in the city centre of Arles, France, that has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1981....
.