CLEOPATRA'S NEEDLE
First erected in
Egypt, by Pharaoh Thotmes III around 1500BC, Cleopatra's Needle was given as a gift to the British people
in 1819, in recognition of Admiral Nelson's victory over the French fleet, at the Battle of the Nile
in 1798.
Opposite the Victoria
Embankment Gardens, on the river front, Cleopatra's Needle is flanked by
magnificent bronze lions. The 68 1/2 ft. monolith sits on a pedestal containing
various momentous objects including: standard foot and pound, a full set of
British Empire coins,Bibles in various languages, a railway guide, an almanac,
and copies of contemporary
newspapers
"Cleopatra's
Needles" is the name given to two Egyptian obelisks, formerly at
Alexandria. One of these obelisks now lies in New York, the other in
London. They are made of the rose red granite of Syene, and were originally
erected in front of the great temple of Heliopolis, where Moses was born.
The obelisks were
taken to Alexandria shortly before the commencement of the Christian era after
the death of Cleopatra, but possibly in pursuance of a design originated by
her. The New York obelisk was presented to America by the Rhedive of Egypt, and
was set up in Central Park in 1881.
Temple of Heliopolis
At the Het-Benben
