[Illustration: The Obelisk in Central Park, New York, and as it appeared
in Egypt.]
In later years, specimens were taken to Paris and London, and more
recently one was brought to America, and set up in the Central Park, New
York City.
This one belongs to the largest class, being nearly seventy feet high
and about eight feet square at the base.
The accompanying cut shows the position of this obelisk as it appeared
when standing near the city of Alexandria, Egypt.
The difficulty of transporting one of these huge stone columns is so
great, that for a long time it was thought impossible to remove it from
Egypt to this country.
In their large cities, the Egyptians built massive temples which were
dedicated to religious ceremonies. Some of them, although now in ruins,
are considered to be among the most remarkable productions of the
ancients.
Tourists who nowadays sail up the River Nile and visit the site of the
city of Thebes, the ancient capital of Egypt, are struck with amazement
at the vast ruins surrounding them.
On the eastern side of the Nile lies what is left of the temple of
Karnak.
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