Cleopatra’s Needle

Posted in Anniversary, Architecture, History on Wednesday, 1 September 2010

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picture, Cleopatra's Needle

Cleopatra’s Needle, on the Thames Embankment

12 September marks the anniversary of the erecting of Cleopatra’s Needle on the Thames Embankment in London in 1878. The monument, actually the Obelisk of Thuthmose III and lacking any connection to Cleopatra, was originally erected in the Egyptian city of Heliopolis around 1450BC.  The Needle was presented to the UK in 1801 by the rulers of Egypt in commemoration of British victories at the Battle of the Nile and Battle of Alexandria.

The transportation had to be privately sponsored and it wasn’t until 1878 that the obelisk arrived in England.

picture, The history of Cleopatra's Needle

The history of Cleopatra’s Needle. Illustration by Pat Nicolle

More pictures relating to Cleopatra’s Needle can be found here. Many more illustrations relating to the history of Egypt can be found at the Look and Learn picture library.

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