4 B.C. Obelisk
St. Peter's Square - Vatican City
This red granite Egyptian obelisk was made by Pharaoh Mencares in 1935 B.C. at Eliopoli.
It was brought to Rome in 37 A.D. by Emperor Caligula and placed in his Circus, which was
originally to the left of the present Basilica.  It is 83 feet high and 27 feet wide.  It was first erected
in the center of Caligula/Nero Circus and was moved to its current position on October 9, 1586.  It
took 900 men, 150 horses, and 44 wenches to move the gigantic obelisk from the circus to the center
of the square and the operation took 95 days to complete.  A sliver from the True Cross is
contained under the base of the cross that tops the obelisk.

Photo:  Stuardt-Mikhail Clarke