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London Attractions |
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CLEOPATRA'S NEEDLE
ADDRESS:
VICTORIA EMBANKMENT (OPPOSITE VICTORIA EMBANKMENT GARDENS)
LONDON
WC2N 6
PHONE: 020 7405 2107
nearest train station:
Embankment 0.4 miles (0.6 km)
Waterloo East 0.6 miles (0.9 km) |
Cleopatras Needle is an original Egyptian obelisk made in Egypt for the Pharaoh Thotmes III in 1460 BC and was brought to London from Alexandria, the royal city of Cleopatra. Britain decided to pay £15,000 for the obelisk
IN 1819 to either commemorate the British victory over Napoleon or after the French were defeated at the Battle of Alexandria in 1801, historians are undecided. The journey from Egypt is a story in itself with the obelisk nearly sinking
in the Bay of Biscay. However it finally made it ashore in 1878. Two large bronze Sphinxes are placed on each side of the Cleopatras Needle. These are Victorian versions of the traditional Egyptian original. The obelisk is 69 feet tall (20.78
metres), is made of red granite and weighs 187 tons.
website:
www.historic-uk.com
This landmark/attraction is permanently publicly viewable. |
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Underground Station
Overground Station
Docklands Light Railway