atshepsôwet, mentioned by
utiy (section [3]), does indeed apply to one and not to the two placed butt to butt on the boat shewn in the Dêr el-Ba
ari sculpture, then, if the proportions are about the same as the Aswân obelisk, the stress set up when supported at its centre of gravity (see section [40]) would be in the nature of 56.70 × 1001/41.75 = 1360 pounds per square inch, which is perilously near the breaking stress of 1500 pounds per square inch.
It will be clearly seen that the obelisk, part of which is at Constantinople, cannot have been part of the 108‐cubit obelisk, as it would be much thinner than the one at Aswân and would certainly not support its own weight either at the centre of gravity or at its ends. When worked out, the internal stress set up in such an obelisk more than doubles the ultimate strength of granite.
CHAPTER VII. MISCELLANEOUS OBJECTS AND CONCLUSION.
Fig. 9.
Pot from obelisk trench.
Scale ¼.