| Cleopatra's Needle (picture by Peter Watts) |  |
Cleopatra's Needle
Photographer Description of Cleopatra's Needle
Taken late in the afternoon, this panorama shows Cleopatra's Needle in Central Park, illuminated by the low sun breaking through an overcast sky. One path to Cleopatra's Needle passes by a small grove of Magnolia trees, in bloom in this picture scattered on the grass like a pink blanket to the right of the obelisk. On the other side of the path is a cherry blossom tree whose dark purple buds are just about to burst open.Cleopatra's Needle - Further Information
The Obelisk is the official name for Cleopatra's Needle in Central Park. It is the oldest monument in New York and, in fact, the whole of the USA. The Obelisk is stands behind the Metropolitan Museum of Art, close to Turtle Pond and Belvedere Castle.Much like the Celopatra's Needle standing by the River Thames in London, and the obelisk in St. Peter's Square in Rome, the Obelisk in Central Park started out life in Egypt and is about 3,500 years old. Erected originally in Heliopolis, the Obelisk was moved to Alexandria in around 12BC by Augustus Caesar, who had bronze supports made in the shape of sea crabs to support the broken base.
In 1879 the Obelisk was shipped to the US. Whether it was a gift of the then Khedive of Egypt or simply taken by William Vanderbilt against the wishes of the Egyptians is not clear. The journey to the present site was a long one, it took 4 months just to cross New York City to the park. As a result of all the effort, Central Park, the largest park in one of the largest cities of the US now possesses the country's oldest monument.
Travel Directions and Getting There:
Subway: 81st Street (West side - A, B, C, D lines ), 77th Street (East side - 4, 5, 6 lines)