Researcher Unearths Seven Cryptic Inscriptions on Paris’ Ancient Egyptian Obelisk
Paris’ 3,000-Year-Old Luxor Obelisk Reveals Hidden Messages
For nearly two centuries, Paris’ Place de la Concorde has showcased a stunning relic of ancient Egypt: the 75-foot-tall Luxor Obelisk. Carved from red granite over 3,000 years ago under Pharaoh Ramses II, this monument was gifted to France in the 1830s and erected in 1836. Once part of a pair at Luxor Temple, its twin remains in Egypt, while Paris’ version now stands where Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette were executed during the French Revolution.
The 75-ft-tall Luxor Obelisk in Paris, transported from Egypt in the 1830s.
Secrets in Stone
Though hieroglyphs covering the obelisk were translated in the 19th century, Dr. Jean-Guillaume Olette-Pelletier, an Egyptologist at Paris-Sorbonne University, recently uncovered seven hidden messages. During COVID lockdowns, he accessed the monument’s upper sections using scaffolding installed for 2024 Olympics renovations. His findings include cryptic phrases like “Appease the ka-force of Amun,” referencing the Egyptian god of air. “This reminds us to honor deities to calm their potentially destructive energy,” he explained.
Ramses II (left) offering to Amun—a scene originally visible only to Nile boat travelers.
Crypto-Hieroglyphs Decoded
Dr. Olette-Pelletier is among six experts worldwide skilled in reading “crypto-hieroglyphs”—symbols hidden within inscriptions, meant only for elite priests. “These messages were a divine language,” he told Sciences et Avenir. The west face, once facing the Nile, depicts Ramses’ sovereignty propaganda. The east face, turned toward the desert, hides bull horns in Ramses’ headdress, symbolizing the godly ka (vital force).
Subtle bull horns on the obelisk’s east face, representing divine energy.
A Monumental Journey
The obelisk’s 1830s transport to Paris was a feat. A custom ship carried the 250-ton monument from Luxor, while its twin stayed behind. Both feature sunken relief hieroglyphs, but Dr. Olette-Pelletier’s analysis suggests the Egyptian twin may hold more secrets. His full findings will publish in the journal ENIM.
