Empires have always plundered obelisks.
At one point, there were over 100 obelisks throughout the whole of Egypt. These massive stone pillars, symbolizing the sun god and the authority of the Pharaoh, were often placed in pairs at the entrances of temples. Obelisks, many of which are more than 3,000 years old, were seen, alongside pyramids, as quintessential architectural symbols of Egypt. However, only 6 of these obelisks remain in Egypt today. Many were lost over time due to erosion or were destroyed in wars, but a significant number were taken by Western powers.