The Egyptian Obelisk (Theodosius Obelisk) is an ancient monument that was originally built in Egypt by Pharaoh Thutmose III around 1450 BC. It was later moved to Constantinople (now Istanbul, Turkey) by Emperor Theodosius I in the 4th century AD. It stands in the Sultanahmet Square, formerly the Hippodrome, where it was used as a decoration and a symbol of imperial power.

The Egyptian Obelisk (Theodosius Obelisk) is made of red granite and has four sides with hieroglyphic inscriptions that celebrate Thutmose III’s military victories over the Mitanni, a rival kingdom in the Near East. The obelisk was originally 30 meters tall, but the lower part was damaged during its transportation or re-erection, so it is now only 18.54 meters high, or 25.6 meters if the base is included.

The base of The Egyptian Obelisk (Theodosius Obelisk) is a marble pedestal that has bas-reliefs dating to the time of Theodosius I. The reliefs depict scenes of the emperor and his court, the chariot races in the Hippodrome, and the submission of the barbarians to the Roman authority. The pedestal also has four bronze cubes that were used to lift and place the obelisk on its base.

The Egyptian Obelisk (Theodosius Obelisk) is a remarkable example of ancient Egyptian art and engineering, as well as a testimony of the cultural and political interactions between Egypt, Rome, and Byzantium. It is one of the oldest and best-preserved monuments in Istanbul, and a popular tourist attraction.