The standing, northern obelisk of Hatshepsutt must be considered one of the most famous single monuments within the whole of the Karnak complex. Originally, she erected four obelisks at Karnak, but only this one remains. However, at approximately 29.56 meters tall, it is the largest standing obelisk in Egypt. Built of red granite, it weighs some 323 tons (note that various figures are given by different sources for the obelisk's height and weight). The bottom part of the obelisk has a slightly different tint than the top, because it had been walled up by her successor, Tuthmosis III.
On its base are thirty-two horizontal lines of hieroglyphs, eight lines to each side, that describe why she had constructed this obelisk. The inscription reads in part:
"I was sitting in the palace and I
remembered the One who created me; my heart directed me to make for him
two obelisks of electrum [a natural alloy of gold
and silver], that their pyramidions might mingle with the sky amid the
august pillared hall between the great pylons of [Tuthmosis I].... My
Majesty began to work on them in the year 15, the second month of
Winter, 1st day, continuing until Year 16, fourth month of Summer, 30th
day, spending 7 months in cutting it from the
mountain.... I acted for him with a straightforward heart, as a king
does for any god... Let not anyone who hears this say it is boasting
which I have said, but rather say, 'How like her it
is, she who is truthful to her father.' The god knows it in me [namely]
Amun, Lord of the Thrones of the Two Lands.... I am his daughter in very
truth, who glorifies him."
All four sides of the obelisk are carved with a central column of inscriptions and, on the upper half, eight tableaux on which the king (in Egypt, the female ruler was not termed a queen, but a king), is directed toward Amun going from the northwest corner towards the southeast corner. On the north face, the central inscription begins with Hatshepsut's titles, including the Horus, the Two Goddesses and the Golden Horus names:
"Horus 'Powerful of Kas', the Two
Ladies 'Flourishing of Years', Golden Horus 'Divine
of Appearances', King of Upper and Lower Egypt and Lord of the Two Lands
'Maat-Ka-Ra'. Her father Amun had established her
great name 'Maat-Ka-Ra' on the Ished tree, her
annals are million of years, duration and power, son of Ra
'Hatshepsut, unified with Amun', beloved of Amun-Ra, King of the
Gods, as [reward for this good, enduring and excellent monument], that
she had donated to him (at the occasion) of the first royal jubilee
( sed festival). May she live forever."
On the west side, after the same title, the text reads:
"Horus 'Powerful of Kas', the Two
Ladies 'Flourishing of Years', Golden Horus 'Divine
of Appearances', King of Upper and Lower Egypt and Lord of the Two Lands
'Maat-Ka-Ra'. She made (it) as her monument for her
father Amun, Lord of the Throne of the Two Lands, erecting for him two
large obelisks at the great gate
[Pylon) 'Amun is Great in-Terror', wrought with very much
electrum, which illuminates the Two Lands like the sun. Never was
the like made on earth since the beginning. It was done for him
(Amun) by the sun of Ra 'Hatshepsut, unified with Amun',
may she live forever like Ra.
Hence, Hatshepsut specifies that these obelisks
were intended to be erected in front of the fifth
pylon. On the east facade of the obelisk, her title
includes only the Horus name and she affirms that the
building of these obelisks was for her father:
"Horus 'Powerful of Kas', King of
Upper and Lower Egypt 'Maat-Ka-Ra', beloved of
Amun-Ra. Her majesty has made the name of her father established on this
enduring monument, so that the King of Upper and Lower Egypt and Lord
of the Two Lands 'Aa-kheper-ka-Ra' ( Thutmosis I)
will be praised by the majesty of this god, when the two great
obelisks were erected by her majesty on the first time
( of her royal jubilee). The King of Gods (Amun) said:
'Your (fem.) father, the King of Upper and Lower Egypt
"Aa-kheper-ka-Ra' had given the command to erect obelisks. Your
(fem.) majesty will repeat the monuments. (So that) you may live
forever."
The Southern facade likewise provides only Hatshepsut Horus' name as well, and reads:
"Horus 'Powerful of Kas', King of
Upper and Lower Egypt 'Maat-Ka-Ra', brilliant
emanation of Amun, whom he has caused to appear as king upon the throne
of Horus 'Holy of Holiest' of the Great House, whom
the ennead of gods have brought up to be mistress of the circuit of the
sun. They have united her with life, power and joy of the heart, the
First of the Livings, son of Ra 'Hatshepsut, unified
with Amun', beloved of Amun-Ra, King of the Gods, may he
(Hatshepsut) live forever like Ra."
On the west side of the base, the queen affirms that she has acted under the command and supervision of Amun, recognizing his divinity. Hatshepsut implies that she has conceived of nothing without following his laws (of proportion) because her "heart was in sia (wisdom)". She affirms that "Karnak is the horizon on earth [the first appearance], the August Ascent of the beginning, the sacred eye of the All-Lord, the place of his heart". On the north side of the base, after a long oath of faith where the queen affirms that her power over the earth is due to divine kindness and that she will descend into the amenti and exist "in eternity as an "Undying One", she specifies that these two obelisks were extracted from the mountains and erected in seven months, during the fifteenth year of her reign.
On the east side of the base, the queen recounts how, following her desire to embellish the obelisk, she measured the best electrum by the "hekat, more than the entire Two Lands had (ever) seen. The ignorant, like the wise, knoweth it".
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