Cleopatra’s needle: from the Egyptian desert to New York’s Central Park

Cleopatra’s Needle (English: Cleopatra’s Needle) in New York is one of two obelisks of that name from Egypt that were relocated to Europe and America in the 19th century. Originally erected in Egypt around the 15th century BC, this ancient monument is now located in Central Park, near the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Despite its long history of 3,500 years and the challenges of transportation, the obelisk has become one of the most important symbols of New York City.

Cleopatra’s Needle was created from red granite in the ancient Egyptian city of Heliopolis at the behest of Pharaoh Thebes III around 1475 BC. At first, it was meant to symbolise the power of the pharaoh, and the hieroglyphs engraved on it told of his achievements. Two centuries later, Ramses II added further inscriptions, thus commemorating his military victories. In Roman times, in 13/12 BC, the obelisk was moved to Alexandria, where it stood in a temple built by Cleopatra for Julius Caesar, from where, according to one theory, it took its name.

Obelisk in Alexandria, 19th century. Photo: Wikimedia Commons

The idea to bring the obelisk to New York originated in 1877, when the US Consul General in Cairo, Elbert E. Farman, received the monument as a gift from the ruler of Egypt, Kedid Isma’il Pasha. It was a gesture of gratitude for the neutral stance of the United States in the conflict between France and Britain, who were vying for influence in Egypt.

Transporting Cleopatra’s Needle from Egypt to New York was a huge challenge. The work of transporting the obelisk was started by Henry Honychurch Gorringe, a US Navy officer who organised the whole process. The stone, weighing around 200 tonnes, was transported overseas on the steamer SS Dessoug. After reaching the banks of the East River in 1880, the obelisk was transported to Central Park, a process that took 112 days.

The ceremonial setting of Cleopatra’s Needle took place on 22 January 1881. The ceremony drew crowds of city residents, and the special site chosen for the monument was just behind the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The obelisk was mounted on a stone pedestal and is supported by four metal crab sculptures made in Roman times. Interestingly, a time capsule was buried beneath the monument, which contained, among other things, the Bible, the works of Shakespeare, a guidebook to Egypt and a copy of the United States Declaration of Independence.

Although the obelisk survived for millennia in the dry climate of Egypt, its condition began to deteriorate rapidly in the humid and polluted environment of New York. Acid rain and contaminated air gouged the surface of the stone, making hieroglyphics that were once legible difficult to decipher.

In 2010, renowned Egyptologist Zahi Hawass appealed to New York authorities for better conservation efforts, even threatening to return the obelisk to Egypt if appropriate steps were not taken. A year later, conservationists took extensive measures to protect the priceless monument. Today, Cleopatra’s Needle in New York, like its twin stele in London, is an original and unique symbol of the city, visited annually by hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers and visitors eager to see this remarkable work of ancient Egyptian art.

Source: centralparknyc.org, en.wikipedia.org

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