A French researcher claims to have found possible encoded messages on a 3,300-year-old ancient Egyptian obelisk now located in Paris. Weighing in at 224 tons, the 75-foot ram-headed obelisk was erected by Pharaoh Ramesses II and originally adorned the Luxor Temple in Egypt. As Egyptologist Jean-Guillaume Olette-Pelletier explains, these inscriptions were purposefully designed to appeal directly to Egypt’s elite. These date back to the reign of Ramesses II, which spanned from about 1279 to 1213 B.C.
Ramesses II, called Ramesses the Great, didn’t waste time early in his reign. He commissioned the building of this massive, monumental, four-sided obelisk. Even so, it is no accident that it was designed to be a glorious testament to his power and God’s divine favoritism. In 1830, the obelisk was a gift from the sultan of the Ottoman Empire to France. Today, it graces the Place de la Concorde in Paris with appropriate pride.
Tanya Olette-Pelletier’s recent research at the University of Calgary is telling us something very different. The hieroglyphic inscriptions on the obelisk served as propaganda directed at the intellectual elite of ancient Egypt. Specifically, he unpacks how this propaganda lauds Ramesses II. They further state that he was “selected by the gods,” “of godly nature,” and therefore had the divine right to rule over Egypt.
The obelisk features dozens of inscriptions and elaborate symbolism around its apex. Travelers on the Nile River would have had no trouble noticing these striking characteristics. As a result, the obelisk’s western side originally faced the river. This strategic positioning enabled boaters to appreciate the full scale of its splendor as they reconnoitered near the approach. One striking scene shows the great Ramesses II making offerings to the all-powerful god Amun. Today’s coincidental timing underscores the significance of this major ancient Egyptian deity.
The inscriptions on the obelisk are especially fascinating, because they’re twofold. Olette-Pelletier notes that even more surprisingly, the two rows of hieroglyphs can convey opposite messages. This is true only if you read them from left to right. This complexity further deepens the obelisk’s intricacy of construction and intent.
“It was propaganda aimed at the very high intellectual elite,” stated Olette-Pelletier. He emphasizes that no more than a few people with the most prodigious literacy skills would have comprehended what these messages even meant. That really shows how secretive the information is.
Olette-Pelletier is currently writing a report for T4A that fleshes out all his findings. His goal is to ultimately publish his research in the journal Égypte Nilotique et Méditerranéenne. His research aims to shed light on this complex interplay of ancient inscriptions. These structures not only served strictly religious purposes but doubled as potent political propaganda tools during the reign of Ramesses II.
Finding these possible secret communications really intrigues us. In its own right, it deepens our understanding of ancient Egyptian culture and politics. It’s a wonderful example of how even the most monumental architecture—like this incredible obelisk—wasn’t just about being pretty, but rather much more about creating great communicative functions.
