ASWANMonument
Unfinished Obelisk
24.0769, 32.8954
In an ancient granite quarry on the edge of Aswan lies the largest obelisk the Egyptians ever attempted — a single shaft nearly 42 metres long, still attached to the bedrock. Had it been finished and raised, it would have dwarfed every other obelisk ever erected. A crack appeared in the stone during carving, and the whole project was abandoned where it lay.
That failure is a gift to visitors: the unfinished obelisk reveals ancient stone-working in mid-process, with tool marks and dolerite pounding still visible, showing exactly how these giants were shaped from living rock. It is an open-air masterclass in pharaonic engineering.
Central and quick to see, it makes an ideal first or last stop on an Aswan itinerary.
Know before you go
The quarry is open and exposed with little shade, so visit early or late and wear a hat, as you'll be walking on and around bare granite.