May
03
/ 2024
Nestled amidst the lush greenery of Central Park lies the oldest outdoor monument in New York City: Cleopatra's Needle. The tale of how this imposing ancient Egyptian obelisk got there, as well as how it got its name, could easily be the subject of a Hollywood blockbuster. The Ancient History of Cleopatra’s Needle Hewn from red granite and crafted in Heliopolis, an ancient city northeast of present-day Cairo in Egypt, Cleopatra’s Needle stands at a towering height of 68 feet (20.7 m) and weighs approximately 224 tons (203 metric tonnes). Understanding its storied history is crucial to comprehend how it made its way to New York. Despite its name, the 3,500-year-old obelisk was actually one of a pair, crafted during
