The Probert Encyclopaedia of Architecture

CLEOPATRA'S NEEDLE

Cleopatra's Needle is an Egyptian obelisk that was originally erected by Thothmes III at On (Heliopolis) around 160 BC, and removed to Alexandria by Augustus about 23 BC. It was acquired for Britain by Sir Ralph Abercromby in 1801 or presented to Britain by Mehemet Ali in 1819, there are conflicting accounts. However, the obelisk remained lying next to its still erect sister obelisk in Alexandria. The British government lacked the funds to transport the monument, and it remained lying in the sand. Over the years several individuals pressed the British government to transport the obelisk to Britain, but it wasn't removed to Britain until 1881 when it was loaded onto the Cleopatra - a specially designed cylindrical boat - at the expense of James Erasmus. During its voyage the Cleopatra, accompanied by the Olga hit a violent gale which claimed six lives and the Cleopatra was abandoned. The Cleopatra was later found by a passing steamer, the Fitzmaurice which towed it to Ferrol, whence it was towed by the Anglia arriving in London in January 1878.

The obelisk was erected on the Thames Embankment between Charing Cross and Waterloo bridges on the 12th of September 1878. It is made of granite and stands roughly 21 meters tall and weighs about 180 tons.
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