A French Egyptologist, Dr. Jean-Guillaume Olette-Pelletier, claims to have discovered seven secret messages hidden within the hieroglyphic inscriptions on the Luxor Obelisk in Paris’s Place de la Concorde, The Daily Mail reported.
The obelisk, dating back over 3,000 years and carved from red granite during the reign of Pharaoh Ramses II, was transported to the French capital in the 1830s. Since then, it has fascinated scholars, shrouded in mystery and subject to various interpretations of the inscriptions adorning its four sides.
Dr. Pelletier was granted access to the top of the obelisk during the COVID-19 lockdown, when scaffolding was erected for renovations in preparation for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Seizing this opportunity, he conducted meticulous measurements and analyses, leading to the discovery of the hidden messages that had eluded previous researchers.
These messages were intended for the Egyptian elite who could understand these special symbols, considered a sacred language related to the gods, he said.
Dr. Pelletier revealed one enigmatic phrase in the hieroglyphs: “Appeasing a power for Amun,” referring to the ancient Egyptian god of air. He explained, “This message reminds us of the importance of offerings to appease the gods, which was believed to be essential for the continuation of life and vital energy.”
The obelisk in Paris is one of two famous obelisks known as the “Luxor Obelisks,” with the other still standing at its original location in front of the Luxor Temple in Egypt.
Pelletier’s study revealed further details, suggesting that the obelisk in Egypt also likely contains hidden messages that could contribute to a deeper understanding of the history of this archaeological masterpiece.
A detailed research paper on all seven messages found on the Paris obelisk will be published in the ENIM Journal of Egyptology in Montpellier.
