Cleopatra's Needle

The most striking monuments of ancient Alexandria are the well known Obelisks and Pompey's Pillar. ....These Obelisks stood originally at Heliopolis, and were brought to Alexandria by one of the Caesars, perhaps Julius, since tradition has attached to them the title of Cleopatra's Needles. They are of red granite of Syene.... the standing Obelisk is about seventy-five feet high, and seven feet seven inches square at its base.

Last modified on 11 April 2005