e, which is the temple of
the whole world, let it lie on the ground for some time while
arrangements for its removal were being prepared. And when it had been
carried down the Nile, and landed at Alexandria, a ship of a burden
hitherto unexampled, requiring three hundred rowers to propel it, was
built to receive it.

14. And when these preparations were made, and after the aforenamed
emperor had died, the enterprise began to cool. However, after a time it
was at last put on board ship, and conveyed over sea, and up the stream
of the Tiber, which seemed as it were frightened, lest its own winding
waters should hardly be equal to conveying a present from the almost
unknown Nile to the walls which itself cherished. At last the obelisk
reached the village of Alexandria, three miles from the city; and then
it was placed in a cradle, and drawn slowly on, and brought through the
Ostran gate and the public fish-market to the Circus Maximus.

15. The only work remaining to be done was to raise it, which was
generally believed to be hardly, if at all, practicable. And vast beams
having been raised on end in a most dangerous manner, so that they
looked like a grove of machines, long ropes of huge size were fastened
to them, darkening the very sky with their density, as they formed a web
of innumerable threads; and into them the great stone itself, covered
over as it was with elements of writing, was bound, and gradually raised
into the empty air, and long suspended, many thousands of men turning it
round and round like a millstone, till it was at last placed in the
middle of the square; and on it was placed a brazen sphere, made
brighter with plates of gold: and as that was immediately afterwards
struck by lightning, and destroyed, a brazen figure like a torch was
placed on it, also plated with gold--to look as if the torch were fully
alight.

16. Subsequent ages also removed other obelisks; one of which is in the
Vatican, a second in the garden of Sallust; and two in the monument of
Augustus.

17. But the writing which is engraven on the old obelisk in the Circus,
we have set forth below in Greek characters, following in this the work
of Hermapion:--

+ARCHEN APO TON NOTION DIERMENEUMENA
ECHEI
STICHOS PROTOS TADE.+

18. The first line, beginning on the south side, bears this
interpretation--"The Sun to Ramestes the king--I have given to thee to
reign with joy over the whole earth; to thee whom the Sun and Apollo
l