Obelisk of Theodosius (Egyptian Obelisk), Istanbul

Meet one of Sultanahmet’s oldest landmarks — the Obelisk of Theodosius (though technically it’s far more Egyptian than Constantinopolitan). This stone needle was commissioned by Pharaoh Thutmose III back in the 15th century BC to brag about a victory over the Mitanni near the Euphrates. Imagine ancient political propaganda — but carved in granite and meant to last longer than any press release ever could...

Now, before you admire its height, here’s the twist: you’re only looking at the top third of the original monument. The whole thing once stood in the grand temple of Karnak, until the Romans decided they wanted a piece of it — quite literally. So, they chopped it up, floated it down the Nile to Alexandria in 390 AD, and then shipped it off again to Constantinople, where Emperor Theodosius set it up as his own imperial victory souvenir. Indeed, there's nothing like redecorating an empire to celebrate your 20th anniversary on the throne...

Take a good look at the pedestal holding it up. You’ll see the scenes of Theodosius sitting in the Hippodrome’s imperial box — the Kathisma — handing out victory wreaths as if he invented winning as such. Meanwhile, the obelisk itself, despite its age of nearly 3,500 years, still looks as good as new.

So, if you’re wandering through Sultanahmet Square, don’t just rush between the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia. Stop by and say hello to this time-traveling monument. It’s tall, it’s ancient, and it has more drama in its backstory than most streaming series.