Cleopatra's Needle, London is an obelisk and pillar in United Kingdom, Europe. Historic England gives its chronology as “Carved c. 1450 BCE; raised in London 1878.” Its listed material is Granite. Listed figures include a height of 21 m and a heaviest stone of 224 tonnes (estimated). Historic England also records: “Temple obelisk.”
An obelisk of Thutmose III towed to London in a purpose-built cylinder vessel.
What makes it extraordinary
Architectural Flourishes and Sphinx Orientation
The obelisk is flanked by two large bronze sphinxes designed by George Vulliamy and cast at the Eccleston Iron Works in 1881. These figures feature hieroglyphic inscriptions honoring Thutmose III. Notably, the sphinxes are positioned facing the obelisk rather than facing outward to guard it, a placement often described as improper or backwards. The surrounding Victoria Embankment features additional Egyptian-themed details, including benches with armrests shaped like winged sphinxes, reflecting the 19th-century fascination with Egyptian aesthetics.
Pharaonic Origins and Material Composition
Cleopatra's Needle is a red granite obelisk originally quarried at Aswan, near the Nile's first cataract, and erected in Heliopolis around 1450 BC by Thutmose III. The monument features a central column of hieroglyphs inscribed by Thutmose III on each face, which were later flanked by two additional columns of text added by Ramesses II approximately 200 years later to commemorate his military victories. The granite structure stands as a significant artifact of the Egyptian New Kingdom, surviving over three millennia of history.
Augustan Relocation and Fortuitous Burial
In 12 BC, during the reign of Augustus, the Romans moved the obelisk to Alexandria to decorate the Caesareum, a temple built by Cleopatra to honor Mark Antony or Julius Caesar. While one of the pair remained standing, this specific obelisk eventually toppled and became buried in the sand for nearly 2,000 years. This accidental burial proved beneficial for archaeology, as the surrounding sand protected the granite faces and preserved the intricate hieroglyphic inscriptions from the destructive effects of weathering and erosion.
The Cleopatra Cylinder Vessel Engineering
To transport the massive monolith, engineer John Dixon designed a specialized iron cylinder vessel named the Cleopatra, measuring 92 feet long and 16 feet in diameter. Built at the Thames Iron Works and shipped to Egypt in pieces, the cylinder was assembled around the obelisk by Waynman Dixon. The unique craft functioned as a floating pontoon equipped with a vertical stem, stern, rudder, bilge keels, a mast for balancing sails, and a deck house, intended to be towed across the sea to England.
Maritime Disaster in the Bay of Biscay
During its transit on October 14, 1877, a severe storm in the Bay of Biscay caused the Cleopatra to roll violently, forcing the towing ship Olga to cut the lines. A rescue boat launched from the Olga capsized, resulting in the deaths of six volunteer sailors. Although Captain Booth eventually rescued the Cleopatra's crew and reported the vessel as sinking, the iron cylinder remained afloat. It drifted for four days before being recovered by Spanish trawlers and towed to Ferrol, Spain, for necessary repairs.
Arrival in London and Final Placement
After a salvage claim was settled in the Admiralty Court, the paddle tug Anglia towed the Cleopatra from Spain to the Thames, arriving in January 1878. The obelisk's final location was a matter of debate; a wooden model was briefly placed outside the Houses of Parliament before that site was rejected. The monument was ultimately erected on the Victoria Embankment in Westminster on September 12, 1878, with the granite foundation work overseen by master stone mason William Henry Gould.
World War I Air Raid Damage
On September 4, 1917, during the first German air raid on London, a bomb landed in the roadway near the obelisk just before midnight. The explosion caused significant damage to the monument's pedestal and the flanking bronze sphinxes. In a deliberate act of commemoration, the shrapnel holes and gouges, particularly visible on the western sphinx, have never been repaired. A bronze plaque on the plinth details the event, serving as a permanent record of the monument's survival through modern conflict.
Diplomatic Gift and Private Sponsorship
Muhammad Ali, the ruler of Egypt, presented the obelisk to the British Prince Regent in 1819 as a diplomatic gift celebrating victories over the French at the Battle of the Nile and the Battle of Alexandria. Despite the gesture, the British government refused to fund the transport costs. The monument remained in Egypt until 1877, when Sir William Wilson, a distinguished dermatologist, personally sponsored the £10,000 relocation effort, collaborating with engineers John Dixon and Mathew William Simpson to finally bring the artifact to London.
Victorian Time Capsule Contents
Upon its 1878 erection, a comprehensive time capsule was concealed within the obelisk's pedestal. The eclectic collection included 12 photographs of contemporary English women, a box of hairpins, cigars, tobacco pipes, a baby's bottle, and children's toys. Scientific and cultural items were also enclosed, such as a set of imperial weights, a hydraulic jack, a 3-foot bronze model of the monument, a map of London, copies of the Bible in multiple languages, and ten daily newspapers, providing a snapshot of Victorian life.