§2. When the Romans transported our obelisk to Alexandria, its base was badly damaged. That it might still be erected without planing off the surface of the stone, they filled up the cavities with lead and put bronze crabs in the corners. The reason why they should have selected the crab or scorpion (
The crabs at present supporting the obelisk are new, and were cast at the Brooklyn Navy Yard. What is left of the old ones is preserved in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in Central Park (cf. page [72]). The following inscriptions were engraved on the eight claws:
First crab, first claw:
| L. Η
ΚΑΙΣΑΡΟΣ ΒΑΡΒΑΡΟΣ ΑΝΕΘΗΚΕ ΑΡΧΙΤΕΚΤΟΝ ΟΥΝΤΟΣ ΠΟΝΤΙΟΥ | ANNO VIII AVGVSTI CAESARIS BARBARVS PRAEF AEGYPTI POSVIT ARCHITECTANTE PONTIO |
[The corrected form and the translation of these inscriptions are given on page [73] and [74].]
First crab, second claw:
| QUARRIED AT SYENE, EGYPT; ERECTED AT HELIOPOLIS, EGYPT, BY THOTHMES III IN THE SIXTEENTH CENTURY B. C. |
Second crab, first claw:
REMOVED TO ALEXANDRIA, EGYPT, AND ERECTED