The city of Memphis was named after the ancient capital city of Egypt. And while it is hard not to see the huge pyramid whilst in downtown Memphis, if one looks harder, they may find various other motifs and imagery reflecting the style of ancient Egypt.
Shortly after the discovery of King Tut in 1922, Memphis was in the midst of going through an architectural style known as the Egyptian Revival. This art deco fad brought elements of Egyptian aesthetics from ancient monuments into the modern architecture of the time.
At GZ, you will find a perfect example of “Egyptomania,” the Obelisk Flour building. Added to the National Register 1999, it is one of the few surviving examples of Egyptian Revival architecture in Tennessee. Built 70 years prior to our modern pyramid, there is no mistaking the Egyptian imagery shown throughout the building’s exterior.
Please take the time to gander at this marvelous site; perhaps a picture of yourself “walking like an Egyptian” would be appropriate. I was personally curious about the meaning of the hieroglyphics, and discovered that according to the experts from the distinguished institute for Egyptian studies at the University of Memphis, the message of these hieroglyphs is completely nonsense. One other side note, if one takes the time to use satellite imagery to look at the building, there is a special message for all those who visit and live in Memphis that can only see seen from a bird’s eye view. Don’t forget to bring a writing utensil, and may peace be with you on your hunt for my cache.