Located to the south of the ancient Roman forum, the Place de la République has marked the true heart of the city of Arles since the construction of the town hall in the 17th century, when it was still called Place Royale. On this square, in front of the new town hall, the consuls decided to erect an obelisk to the glory of King Louis XIV. The monument, 50 ft (15.26 m) high and 5.5 ft (1.70 m) wide at the base, was carved out of granite from a Roman quarry in Asia Minor in the 4th century. Rediscovered in ancient ruins in the 14th century, it rests on a 14.9 ft (4.55 m) high pedestal.