The Obelisk of St. Peter's Square has stood in this city for centuries and many popes, kings, queens, emperors, presidents, cardinals, pilgrims and people have passed through over time. It was built of red granite without hieroglyphs by an Egyptian pharaoh in Heliopolis to thank the sun god for restoring his sight. This Egyptian obelisk was brought to Rome at the request of the third Roman Emperor Caligula.