About the Work

Obelisks, originally called tekhenu by ancient Egyptians, were prominent in ancient Egyptian architecture and played a vital role in religion, often placed at the entrance of temples. In Egyptian mythology, the obelisk symbolized the sun god Ra. Around 30 BCE, when Rome seized control of Egypt, they looted various temple complexes, removing the obelisks and shipping them all over the world. Other cultures, including Assyria and Axumite (present-day Ethiopia), also constructed obelisks, and they have also been replicated around the world in modern times.  

Further Reading:

Metropolitan Museum of Art
British Museum