Posted 13 years ago
mechanoboy57
(1 item)
This is a monument dedicated to the fallen in the two world wars and this example in Southport UK is typical of numerous of it's type found in UK and many other countries . I'd like to ask the question :- Why are these 'Pointing and Tall' structures as this one chosen to honour the fallen and was this influenced by the C of E clergy of the day or were there other connotations or influences in the design ?
Exit, stage right but waiting to hear responses!
Well, I have a pretty good idea as to why, until someone comes up with better:
Obelisks like this seem to be copies of “Cleopatra’s Needle.” There are actually three Cleopatra’s needles, all antiquities taken from Egypt in the 19th century, and none really having anything to do with Cleopatra. One is in London, one is in Paris and one is in New York.
Why copy an Egyptian obelisk? Well, due to French and later British expeditions in Egypt, there was a huge interest during the 19th century in Egyptian antiquities which developed into an architectural style called “Egyptian Revival.” Here in the States, probably one of the most well-known examples is the Washington Monument.
Then in the early 1920s with the discovery and opening of King Tut’s tomb, Egyptian Revival became popular all over again as part of the Art Deco movement. Hence, once again you see this type of obelisk honoring WWI and sometimes WWII fallen.