Queen Hatshepsut boasts that her obelisks were quarried, shaped, transported, and erected in seven months; and we have no reason to doubt the truth of her statement.[23] [Illustration: Fig.

109 .-- Obelisk of Usertesen I., Begig, Fayum.] Obelisks were almost always square, with the faces slightly convex, and a slight slope from top to bottom.

The pedestal was formed of a single square block adorned with inscriptions, or with cynocephali in high relief, adoring the sun.

The point was cut as a pyramidion, and sometimes covered with bronze or gilt copper.

Scenes of offerings to Ra Harmakhis, Hor, Tum, or Amen are engraved on the sides of the pyramidion and on the upper part of the prism.