The Unfinished Obelisk in Aswan

A colossal mistake or a rare glimpse into ancient engineering?

Located just outside Aswan lies a remarkable piece of ancient history: the Unfinished Obelisk. Though never completed, this massive structure offers something most finished monuments can’t—a peek behind the scenes of how these wonders were made.

Believed to have been commissioned by Queen Hatshepsut during the 18th Dynasty, this obelisk would have been the largest ever erected in ancient Egypt, standing over 40 meters tall and weighing more than 1,200 tons. That’s nearly the height of a 10-story building and heavier than two jumbo jets.

But a deep crack formed in the granite during construction—and just like that, the project was abandoned.

Why It’s Worth Visiting

At first glance, it may just look like a giant piece of rock. But once you’re standing beside it, you begin to realize the scale of the task ancient Egyptians undertook.

The monument shows ancient construction techniques—you can see the chisel marks and trenches workers used to carve it directly from the bedrock.

It tells a story of failure, which is rare in a country filled with completed monuments.

It’s incredibly photogenic, especially in the golden afternoon light.

The Quarry and the Granite

The granite quarries of Aswan were vital to ancient Egyptian architecture. They supplied stone for many of the obelisks, temples, and statues that still stand today—like those at Karnak and Luxor.

The Unfinished Obelisk gives us clues about how ancient Egyptians worked:

Workers used dolorite balls (a hard stone) to pound the granite into shape.
The grooves and cuts around the obelisk show how it was being freed from the ground.
Some archaeologists believe they used wooden wedges soaked in water to help break the granite from the bedrock.

Location

Hours

Everyday 7:00 am – 4:00 pm

Entrance Fee

$4.43

Wondering what to wear or when to go? Check our Egypt guide to discover more!

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Are you ready to start discovering Egypt?

I decided to book a couple tours when I went to Egypt and had a blast! I’m leaving the link to the tour below in case you are interested!

Are you ready to start discovering Egypt?

I decided to book a couple tours when I went to Egypt and had a blast! I’m leaving the link to the tour below in case you are interested!

The Unfinished Obelisk in Aswan

A colossal mistake or a rare glimpse into ancient engineering?

Why It’s Worth Visiting

The Quarry and the Granite

Location

Hours

Entrance Fee

Wondering what to wear or when to go? Check our Egypt guide to discover more!

Are you ready to start discovering Egypt?

Are you ready to start discovering Egypt?

More things to see in Egypt