Obelisk Monuments: Meaning and History

Tall, tapering obelisks tower over many 19th-century cemeteries. Their meaning goes back to ancient Egypt.

What it means

History

Ancient Egyptians raised obelisks to the sun god. The Egyptian Revival of the 1800s made them hugely popular in garden cemeteries, often as family monuments with names on each side.

Using it on a new headstone

• Obelisks suit family plots with names on four sides.
• Check height limits in cemetery by-laws.
• See draped urn and broken column.

Modern obelisks

Obelisks aren't only Victorian. Modern versions include:

• Shorter obelisks (3–5 feet) that fit more cemetery height limits.
• Polished black obelisks with laser-etched portraits on one face.
• Family obelisks with each branch of the family on a different side.
• Veterans' obelisks in community memorial gardens.

Because obelisks are tall and narrow, they need a wide base and pinning to stay stable. Check the cemetery's height and base rules first. See headstone thickness.

Reading names on historic obelisks

Historic family obelisks often carry names on all four sides. When researching:

• Walk around the whole monument — later burials are often on side faces.
• Look at the base for the family name or plot owner.
• Check for small footstones nearby that match each name.
• Photograph each face in raking light.

The order of names often follows deaths over decades, telling the family's story in stone.

Key Takeaways

• Obelisks mean eternal life.
• Popular Victorian family monuments.
• Check cemetery height limits.

Next Step

Explore more in our headstone symbols guide, or add a symbol in the Design Studio.