Renaissance · Europe · Culture

1588

Rome's Obelisk Raised

1588

Pope Sixtus V's architect Domenico Fontana, using eight hundred men, one hundred forty horses, and an elaborate system of capstans, erected an ancient Egyptian obelisk in the middle of Saint Peter's Square. A crowd of forty thousand watched in absolute silence as the stone slid into position, and the pope crowned it with a bronze cross.

More from 1588 Renaissance

In context

Also in 1588 (3 other events on record)

Spanish Armada Sails · Europe · War
Battle of Gravelines · Europe · War
Hideyoshi's Sword Hunt · East Asia · Politics

Before and after in Europe

Before: April 19, 1587: Drake Singes the King's Beard
After: April 1, 1589: Drake and Norris Attack Lisbon

Before and after in Culture

Before: 1586: El Greco Paints the Burial of Count Orgaz
After: 1590: Spenser Publishes the Faerie Queene

Era

Renaissance (1501–1650), one of 715 events from that era on Saeculum.