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Ancient Egyptian Secrets Unearthed on Paris’ Luxor Obelisk
For nearly two centuries, the heart of Paris has been home to an extraordinary artifact from ancient Egypt: the Luxor Obelisk. This remarkable monument, located at the Place de la Concorde, has captivated visitors with its stunning presence.
The obelisk, situated in the city’s eighth arrondissement, was crafted by the Egyptians over 3,000 years ago. Carved from red granite around 1250 BC under the reign of pharaoh Ramses II, it was presented to France in the 19th century. Now, new research suggests that this ancient structure still holds secrets yet to be fully understood.
A Fresh Perspective on Hieroglyphs
Previously, scholars believed they had fully deciphered the hieroglyphs adorning the entirety of the monument, crowned with a gold-leafed pyramid cap added by the French in the 1990s. However, according to a recent study, the obelisk continues to yield hidden Egyptian meanings.
Hidden Messages Discovered
Dr. Jean-Guillaume Olette-Pelletier, an Egyptologist from Paris-Sorbonne University, asserts that he has identified seven previously unnoticed messages on the obelisk.
- One of these cryptic phrases translates to “Appease the ka-force of Amun,” referencing the ancient Egyptian deity of the air.
- According to Dr. Olette-Pelletier, “This phrase is there to remind us that men must constantly make offerings to the divinities in order to appease their sometimes destructive vital force.”
The Paris obelisk is one of two known as the Obélisques de Louxor, each sculpted from a single block of red granite more than three millennia ago.
While one remains in its original location outside the Luxor Temple in Egypt, the other was transported to Paris on a specially designed vessel in the early 1830s.
In 1836, King Louis-Phillipe erected it in the center of Place de la Concorde, a location historically significant as the site of executions during the French Revolution in the 18th century.
Both Luxor Obelisks are adorned with hieroglyphic inscriptions carved in sunken relief on all four sides, stretching along their impressive height.
French Egyptologist François Chabas created a comprehensive translation of the Paris obelisk in the 19th century. However, Dr. Olette-Pelletier’s recent investigation has shed light on seven concealed messages that have eluded recognition by modern scholars until now.
During COVID-19 lockdowns, he gained unprecedented access to the top of the Paris obelisk since its installation at Place de la Concorde in 1836.
He was also granted permission to utilize scaffolding erected for renovations preceding the 2024 Paris Olympics, enabling extensive study of the structure.
Unlocking Crypto-Hieroglyphs
Over several days, he meticulously gathered measurements and performed in-depth assessments of the intricate artistic designs. Dr. Olette-Pelletier is among a select few worldwide capable of deciphering ‘crypto-hieroglyphs’ – secret texts integrated within the hieroglyphic inscriptions, historically accessible only to a chosen group.
“I understood that the obelisk contained multiple hieroglyphic cryptography,” he told French magazine Sciences et Avenir.
“While some Egyptians could read hieroglyphs, only a certain elite were capable of understanding the hidden messages they could contain, considered a language of the gods.”
The west face of the obelisk was specifically oriented to be viewed solely by nobles arriving via boats on the Nile River during its time in Egypt.
A scene depicting Ramses presenting an offering to the god Amun embodies “a true propaganda message of Ramses’ absolute sovereignty.”
Conversely, the east face, which originally faced the desert, features subtle bull horns within a headdress worn by Ramses II.
“From a hieroglyphic point of view, the bull horns form the word ‘ka’, which designates the vital force of the divinity,” the expert explained.
Sciences et Avenir reports that Dr. Olette-Pelletier’s discoveries were “beyond the grasp of any Egyptologist who knew how to read hieroglyphs”.
Intriguingly, the matching obelisk in Egypt is not perfectly identical, potentially revealing additional hidden messages along its slightly taller structure.
It remains uncertain whether Dr. Olette-Pelletier’s research encompassed this obelisk as well; enquiries have been made for additional details.
Full analysis of all seven messages found on the Paris obelisk will be released in a forthcoming paper detailed in the Montpellier Egyptology journal ENIM.