Cleopatra's Needle is the name given to an
ancient Egyptian
obelisk
located on the north
embankment of the
river Thames in central
London.
Although it has nothing to do with
Cleopatra herself, its story is still a
fascinating one.
Standing about 70 feet (22 metres)
high, the obelisk was first erected in Egypt for the Pharoah
Thothmes III in about 1500 BC. It was one of a pair which were found by
western archaeologists during the 18th century and they were originally
used to flank the Great Temple at Heliopolis. About 1500 years later they
were moved to Alexandria which is probably where they picked up their
association with Cleopatra.
In 1819 one of them was
presented to Britain in recognition of
Nelson's victory over the
French fleet during the battle of the Nile -- the other ended up in
the United States several years later and now stands in Central Park in
New York City (more information about that one).
London's needle is flanked by two enormous bronze sphinxes and even the
benches on the streets and the street lights in the area have been given an
Egyptian motif. Hieroglyphics inscribed into it tell of the glories of the
Pharoah who ordered it built, as well as later tales added by Rameses II to
praise and celebrate his military successes. Slightly easier to read are the
four plaques around the base of the needle which give a brief history of its
origins and also comemmorate the sailors who drowned when the ship
bringing the obelisk to Britain was wrecked during a storm.