it was erected near the center of the amphitheater of the boboli gardens in 1790, along the main axis leading away from the palace. in 1840, the granite basin, originally thought to derive from the terme alessandrine found in the campo martius of rome, was also included in front of the obelisk. the arrangement was designed by pasquale poccianti. the obelisk is surmounted by a gilded orb and the base has four turtles. both these accoutrements were present in rome.