Items related to Obelisk – A History
Synopsis
The many meanings of obelisks across nearly forty centuries, from Ancient Egypt (which invented them) to twentieth-century America (which put them in Hollywood epics).
Nearly every empire worthy of the name―from ancient Rome to the United States―has sought an Egyptian obelisk to place in the center of a ceremonial space. Obelisks―giant standing stones, invented in Ancient Egypt as sacred objects―serve no practical purpose. For much of their history their inscriptions, in Egyptian hieroglyphics, were completely inscrutable. Yet over the centuries dozens of obelisks have made the voyage from Egypt to Rome, Constantinople, and Florence; to Paris, London, and New York. New obelisks and even obelisk-shaped buildings rose as well―the Washington Monument being a noted example. Obelisks, everyone seems to sense, connote some very special sort of power. This beautifully illustrated book traces the fate and many meanings of obelisks across nearly forty centuries―what they meant to the Egyptians, and how other cultures have borrowed, interpreted, understood, and misunderstood them through the years. In each culture obelisks have taken on new meanings and associations. To the Egyptians, the obelisk was the symbol of a pharaoh's right to rule and connection to the divine. In ancient Rome, obelisks were the embodiment of Rome's coming of age as an empire. To nineteenth-century New Yorkers, the obelisk in Central Park stood for their country's rejection of the trappings of empire just as it was itself beginning to acquire imperial power. And to a twentieth-century reader of Freud, the obelisk had anatomical and psychological connotations. The history of obelisks is a story of technical achievement, imperial conquest, Christian piety and triumphalism, egotism, scholarly brilliance, political hubris, bigoted nationalism, democratic self-assurance, Modernist austerity, and Hollywood kitsch―in short, the story of Western civilization.
"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.
About the Authors
Brian A. Curran is Associate Professor of Art History at the Pennsylvania State University.
Anthony Grafton is Henry Putnam University Professor of History at Princeton University.
Pamela O. Long is an independent historian who has published widely in medieval and Renaissance history of science and technology.
Benjamin Weiss is Manager of Adult Learning Resources at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.
"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.
Search results for Obelisk – A History
Seller Image
Obelisk: A History (Publications of the Burndy Library)
Seller: -OnTimeBooks-, Phoenix, AZ, U.S.A.
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Condition: good. A copy that has been read, remains in good condition. All pages are intact, and the cover is intact. The spine and cover show signs of wear. Pages can include notes and highlighting and show signs of wear, and the copy can include "From the library of" labels or previous owner inscriptions. 100% GUARANTEE! Shipped with delivery confirmation, if youâre not satisfied with purchase please return item for full refund. Ships via media mail. Seller Inventory # OTV.026251270X.G
Quantity: 1 available
Seller Image
Obelisk: A History (Publications of the Burndy Library)
Seller: Zoom Books East, Glendale Heights, IL, U.S.A.
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Condition: good. Book is in good condition and may include underlining highlighting and minimal wear. The book can also include "From the library of" labels. May not contain miscellaneous items toys, dvds, etc. . We offer 100% money back guarantee and 24 7 customer service. Seller Inventory # ZEV.026251270X.G
Quantity: 1 available
Stock Image
Obelisk: A History (Publications of the Burndy Library)
Seller: Off The Shelf, Antonia, MO, U.S.A.
Seller rating 4 out of 5 stars
Condition: Good. The item shows wear from consistent use, but it remains in good condition and works perfectly. All pages and cover are intact (including the dust cover, if applicable). Spine may show signs of wear. Pages may include limited notes and highlighting. May NOT include discs, access code or other supplemental materials. Seller Inventory # 4WILKM00OVQU
Quantity: 1 available
Seller Image
Obelisk: A History (Publications of the Burndy Library)
Seller: Gate City Books, GREENSBORO, NC, U.S.A.
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Condition: good. USED book in GOOD condition. Great binding, pages and cover show normal signs of wear from use. Seller Inventory # GCM.2MNL
Quantity: 1 available
Stock Image
Obelisk: A History
Published by
The Burndy Library, Cambridge, Mass, 2009
ISBN 10: 026251270X
ISBN 13: 9780262512701
Used
Softcover
Seller: Mullen Books, ABAA, Marietta, PA, U.S.A.
Seller rating 4 out of 5 stars
Softcover. Yellow and gray illus. wraps, French flaps, 383 pp., many BW illus. "Ths history of obelisks is a story of technical achievement, imperial conquest, Christian piety and triumphalism, egotism, scholarly brilliance, political hubris, bigoted nationalism, democratic self-assurance, Modernist austerity, and Hollywood kitsch -- in short, the story of Western civilization." (flap). VG- (Page edges slightly soiled in spots; otherwise quite nice.). Seller Inventory # 136910
Quantity: 1 available
Stock Image
Obelisk: A History
Published by
MIT Press Cambridge MA 2009, 2009
ISBN 10: 026251270X
ISBN 13: 9780262512701
Used
Softcover
Seller: THE CROSS Art + Books, Sydney, NSW, Australia
Seller rating 2 out of 5 stars
24.0 x 19.0cms 384pp b/w illusts very good paperback with French flaps. The chapters are: the obelisks of ancient Egypt; the obelisks of Rome; Middle Ages to Renaissance; the High Renaissance; moving the Vatican obelisk; Egyptology antiquarianism & magic; Baroque readings Athanasius Kircher & obelisks; grandeur real & delusional; the 18th century new perpectives; Napoleon Champollion & Egypt; Cleopatra''s needles London & New York; the 20th century & beyond. Seller Inventory # 20863500
Quantity: 1 available
Stock Image
Obelisk
Seller: Books Puddle, New York, NY, U.S.A.
Seller rating 4 out of 5 stars
Condition: New. pp. 384. Seller Inventory # 26692704
Quantity: 1 available
Stock Image
Obelisk
Seller: Majestic Books, Hounslow, United Kingdom
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Condition: New. pp. 384 Illus. Seller Inventory # 8203839
Quantity: 1 available
Stock Image
Obelisk
Seller: Biblios, Frankfurt am main, HESSE, Germany
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Condition: New. Seller Inventory # 18692714
Quantity: 1 available
Stock Image
Obelisk - a History
Published by
The Burndy Library & MIT, Cambridge MA & London, 2009
ISBN 10: 026251270X
ISBN 13: 9780262512701
Used
Soft cover
First Edition
Seller: Edinburgh Books, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Soft cover. Condition: Fine. First Edition. 2009. 384pp. B&W illustrations. "Nearly every empire worthy of the name - from ancient Rome to the United States - has sought an Egyptian obelisk to place in the center of a ceremonial space. Obelisks - giant standing stones, invented in Ancient Egypt as sacred objects - serve no practical purpose. For much of their history their inscriptions, in Egyptian hieroglyphics, were completely inscrutable. Yet over the centuries dozens of obelisks have made the voyage from Egypt to Rome, Constantinople, and Florence; to Paris, London, and New York. New obelisks and even obelisk-shaped buildings rose as well - the Washington Monument being a noted example. Obelisks, everyone seems to sense, connote some very special sort of power. This beautifully illustrated book traces the fate and many meanings of obelisks across nearly forty centuries - what they meant to the Egyptians, and how other cultures have borrowed, interpreted, understood, and misunderstood them through the years. In each culture obelisks have taken on new meanings and associations. To the Egyptians, the obelisk was the symbol of a pharaoh's right to rule and connection to the divine. In ancient Rome, obelisks were the embodiment of Rome's coming of age as an empire. To nineteenth-century New Yorkers, the obelisk in Central Park stood for their country's rejection of the trappings of empire just as it was itself beginning to acquire imperial power. And to a twentieth-century reader of Freud, the obelisk had anatomical and psychological connotations. The history of obelisks is a story of technical achievement, imperial conquest, Christian piety and triumphalism, egotism, scholarly brilliance, political hubris, bigoted nationalism, democratic self-assurance, Modernist austerity, and Hollywood kitsch - in short, the story of Western civilization." Fine condition - we took the book out of it's cellophane covers. PLEASE NOTE: Heavyish Book - extra postage may be needed for non-UK customers. Seller Inventory # hAncientHist16
Quantity: 1 available