Who erected the earliest known obelisk at Heliopolis?

Who erected the earliest known obelisk at Heliopolis?

• A. Senusret I
• B. Amenhotep III
• C. Sneferu
• D. Khafre

Answer: (A)

Obelisks were solar markers placed in temple precincts to honor the sun god Ra, and their erection marks advances in royal monumental building. The earliest known obelisk at Heliopolis comes from the Middle Kingdom, when pharaohs began commissioning these tall, four-sided stones with a pyramidion on top. That earliest Heliopolitan obelisk is attributed to Senusret I of the 12th Dynasty, around the mid-2nd millennium BCE, making him the most likely builder of the first such monument at the site. The other rulers listed belong to different dynasties and periods: Sneferu and Khafre are from the Old Kingdom and are best known for pyramid construction, while Amenhotep III is a New Kingdom ruler famous for large-scale sculptures and monuments at other sites. Their projects are not tied to the earliest Heliopolitan obelisk, which is why Senusret I is the best answer.

Obelisks were solar markers placed in temple precincts to honor the sun god Ra, and their erection marks advances in royal monumental building. The earliest known obelisk at Heliopolis comes from the Middle Kingdom, when pharaohs began commissioning these tall, four-sided stones with a pyramidion on top. That earliest Heliopolitan obelisk is attributed to Senusret I of the 12th Dynasty, around the mid-2nd millennium BCE, making him the most likely builder of the first such monument at the site. The other rulers listed belong to different dynasties and periods: Sneferu and Khafre are from the Old Kingdom and are best known for pyramid construction, while Amenhotep III is a New Kingdom ruler famous for large-scale sculptures and monuments at other sites. Their projects are not tied to the earliest Heliopolitan obelisk, which is why Senusret I is the best answer.