Nilometer on Nile Cruise on Egypt Tours with Key of Life

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         
The only granite quarry in Egypt is in Aswan. The closer to the Nile River, the easier it was to float                                                                                                                                                        
the stones downstream (to Karnak/Luxor and Memphis/Cairo). This is the largest obelisk discovered, but                                                                                                                                                        
it was never finished for unknown reasons. Had it been completed, the weight of this obelisk is estimated                                                                                                                                                     
to be at 1200 tons (the next largest obelisk weighs 300 tons). In order to transport the obelisks, four                                                                                                                                                       
boats were strapped together, and three obelisks were laid crosswise. The Egyptians then waited for the                                                                                                                                                       
flooding waters to carry the boats away. Hatshepsut recorded that work on one of her obelisks took 7 months.                                                                                                                                                  

Other Resources