As of 2026, there are approximately eight major ancient obelisks remaining in their original upright positions within Egypt, primarily located in the temple complexes of Luxor and Karnak, as well as one in Heliopolis. However, if you count fragments, fallen monoliths, and newly unearthed pieces, the number is higher. It is a historical irony that more Egyptian obelisks stand in foreign cities than in Egypt itself; there are 13 in Rome alone, and others in London, Paris, and New York. In recent years, the Egyptian government has moved some obelisks to decorate new landmarks, such as the New Administrative Capital and Tahrir Square in Cairo. These monolithic structures, carved typically from single blocks of red granite, were intended to represent a ray of the sun. The most famous remains the "Unfinished Obelisk" in Aswan, which, had it been completed, would have been the largest ever built. Exploring these sites in 2026 offers a glimpse into the incredible engineering of the Pharaonic era, though much of its monumental legacy now resides across the Mediterranean.