THIS OBELISK
PROSTRATE FOR CENTURIES ON THE SANDS OF ALEXANDRIA
WAS PRESENTED TO THE BRITISH NATION A.D. 1819 BY
MAHOMMED ALI VICEROY OF EGYPT
A WORTHY MEMORIAL OF OUR DISTINGUISHED COUNTRYMEN NELSON AND ABERCROMBY

Another plate
THROUGH THE PATRIOTIC ZEAL OF ERASMUS WILSON F.R.S.
THIS OBELISK WAS BROUGHT FROM ALEXANDRIA ENCASED IN AN IRON CYLINDER
IT WAS ABANDONED DURING A STORM IN THE BAY OF BISCAY
RECOVERED AND ERECTED ON THIS SPOT BY JOHN DIXON C.E.
IN THE 42^ND YEAR OF THE REIGN OF QUEEN VICTORIA 1878

Another plate
THIS OBELISK QUARRIED AT SYENE WAS ERECTED AT ON (HELIOPOLIS) BY THE PHARAOH THOTHMES III ABOUT 1500 B.C
LATERAL INSCRIPTIONS WERE ADDED NEARLY TWO CENTURIES LATER BY RAMESES THE GREAT
REMOVED DURING THE CREEK DYNASTY TO ALEXANDRIA THE ROYAL CITY OF CLEOPATRA
IT WAS THERE ERECTED IN THE 18TH YEAR OF AUGUSTUS CAESAR B.C. 12.

Another plate
WILLIAM ASKIN / MICHAEL BURNS / JAMES CARDINER / WILLIAM DONALD / JOSEPH BENBOW / WILLIAM PATAN
PERISHED IN A BOLD ATTEMPT TO SUCCOUR THE CREW OF THE OBELISK SHIP "CLEOPATRA" DURING THE STORM OCTOBER 14^TH- 1877

Another plaque explaining the obelisk
THE INSCRITIONS OF THOTHMES ARE IN THE CENTRE OF EACH FACE. THE ONE ABOVE RECORDS THE ERACTION OF THE OBELISK AT ON AT THE TIME OF HIS THIRD CELEBRATION OF THE SED-FESTIVAL. THE LEFT-HAND FACE AND THE BACK CONTAIN PRAYERS THAT HE MAY CELEBRATE MANY SUCH FESTIVALS AND THAT TUM (THE SETTING SUN) MAY ESTABLISH HIS NAME WITH INCREASED SOVEREIGNTY IN THE GREAT TEMPLE OF ON THE RIGHT-HAND FACE RECORDS HIS OFFERINGS ON THE ALTAR OF THE SPIRITS OF ON. THE INSCRIPTIONS DOWN THE SIDES WERE ADDED BY RAMESES II TO RECORD HIS OWN VICTORIES.

Another plaque notes that the scratches and cracks in the obelisk and sphinxes are from the remains of a bomb dropped on London during World War I.
THE SCARS THAT DISFIGURE THE PEDESTAL OF THE OBELISK. THE BASES OF THE SPHINXES. AND THE RIGHT HAND SPHINX, WERE CAUSED BY FRAGMENTS OF A BOMB DROPPED IN THE ROADWAY CLOSE TO THIS SPOT. IN THE FIRST RAID ON LONDON BY GERMAN AEROPLANES A FEW MINUTES BEFORE MIDNIGHT ON TUESDAY 4TH SEPTEMBER 1917

The obelisk called Cleopatra needle is one of three obelisks (the other two are located in Paris and New York), originally built by Thutmose III in Heliopolis and faced a temple to the sun (Ra). There is actually no connection between them and Cleopatra, a name given to them in the 19th century. The current obelisk was dedicated to the British people on the victory of Admiral Nelson in the Battle of the Nile and Sir Ralph Abercromby in the Battle of Alexandria
The obelisk was moved to London in 1877

The obelisk was photographed that day Click for a larger image Click for a larger image

Below are the other plaques that are on the sides of the obelisk
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Another plaque depicting the obelisk
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Another plaque the damage to the obelisk and sphinxes:
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