Ra in Olympia-1 Youth T-Shirt

November 2018 Article by DEENA C. BOUKNIGHT..."Egyptian art in Columbia? Those who have lived or worked in the Mill District of Columbia, where cotton mills Olympia, Whaley, and Granby once thrived, are familiar with the large depiction of Ra, the Egyptian sun god, painted on the remains of an old railroad trestle. While some park-goers may have – at first glance – wondered how an Egyptian artifact found a home in Columbia, closer inspection revealed the fading remains of a 20th century painting. Until recently.

After construction workers demolished an old railroad trestle in the Olympia neighborhood in 1989, a large portion refused to crumble. South Carolina artist and muralist, Richard Lane, decided the weathered sandstone pillar appeared ancient, so he envisioned and then painted an Egyptian scene complete with various symbols and hieroglyphs in 1993. The piece became known locally as the Ra Obelisk.

In 2004, the structure actually became the centerpiece of wha...

Charles Hite is a life-long resident of Lexington County, in South Carolina. His professions have included, the U.S. Army (serving in Germany), licensed professional land surveyor, sales/customer service rep, and right-of-way agent with the SCDOT. In addition to photography, his hobbies include astronomy and landscape gardening. His venture into serious photography began in 2009 at age 60. At the encouragement of family and friends, he began selling his photos in late 2012 at Soda City Market in Columbia, SC. His love of nature in all aspects can be seen in his photos. He enthusiastically enjoys sharing the stories of his photos with others, and listening to their stories. Most of his scenic photos are from SC and the Midlands,...