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CLEOPATRA'S NEEDLE
There is an unusual monument in London. It is in the centre of London on the bank of the Thames, not far from Trafalgar Square, and it is called Cleopatra's Needle. It is an obelisk made of red granite Its height is 20.87 metres and it weighs about 187 tons. The obelisk is covered with hieroglyphs that tell us about the war victories of the pharaohs of Ancient Egypt. But how did the obelisk that has the name of a beautiful queen appear in London? Is it possible that Cleopatra herself ever visited the misty banks of the Thames?
The obelisk was cut from granite in Egypt in the 15th century BC. There were only several obelisks of that kind in Heliopolis. A thousand years later, two of them were transported to Alexandria. After a couple of centuries, one of the two fell in an earthquake. Much later, in 1819, the last one was given as a present to the British nation by Mahommed Ali, the ruler of Egypt. It was not easy to transport it from Egypt to England. A special metal container was made. The Needle was put into it and then taken aboard a ship. It was a dangerous and tragic voyage. Six sailors died, and the obelisk was nearly lost at sea. In spite of all the problems, it arrived in London and in 1879 was put on the pedestal near the Thames.
There is one more curious thing about the obelisk. Perhaps it could be called a present for archaeologists of the future because under the obelisk there are some objects from today's world. They can give unique information about our time. The scientists of the future will find Bibles in various languages, British Empire coins, a railway guide, daily newspapers, and twelve photographs of the most beautiful British women.