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| Cleopatra's Needle Embankment |
The obelisk was one of two constructed in Heliopolis by Pharaoh Thothmes in 1500 BC. It was moved to Alexandria in 12 BC by the Romans when an earthquake caused them fall over.
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| Cleopatra's Needle Alexandria |
The obelisk was gifted to Great Britain in 1819 in recognition of Nelson's victory in the Battle of the Nile. It was not however till 1877 that funds were raised to transport it to London where it was erected.
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| Cleopatra's Needle Embankment |
The obelisk is flanked either side by two sphinx.
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| Sphinx Cleopatra's Needle Embankment |
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| Sphinx Cleopatra's Needle Embankment |
On the night of 4 / 5 September 1917, the Germans launched their first nigh time air raid on London using aircraft. Eleven Gotha bombers set out to bomb England, five of which dropped bombs on London.
One of the bombs exploded near Cleopatra's Needle as a tram was passing killing the driver and two passenger, injuring nine others.
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1917 Sphinx damage from Gotha Air Raid
Source: Imperial War Museum
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The damage to the base of the obelisk and the right sphinx can still be seen. A plaque records the air raid and the damage it left.
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| 2020 Sphinx damage from Gotha Air Raid |
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| 2020 Sphinx damage from Gotha Air Raid |
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| Plaque recording Sphinx damage from Gotha Air Raid |
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In 1877, the United States secured the second of the pair of obelisks. It was was erected in Central Park, New York City in 1881. Another obelisk, one of another pair, resides in Paris in the Place de Concorde, it's counterpart is still in Egypt, in Luxor.
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London New York Paris
Embankment Central Park Place de Concorde
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