Cleopatra’s Needle

In the midst of three of the West’s greatest cities reside towering Ancient Egyptian obelisks that date back over 3,000 years. So how exactly did 60+ feet tall obelisks go from Alexandria to London, New York City, and Paris, and what do these obelisks’ hieroglyphics say? 

Each one of the obelisks, dubbed Cleopatra’s Needle, has its own travel story, and James King tells of the spire that made its way to London. As fate would have it, the story would be a deadly one. Along the way, King translates the hieroglyphics for readers and discusses the history of the obelisks as well, including their connection to Ramses the Great, the Romans, and ultimately their destinations.

This edition of King’s Cleopatra’s Needle is specially formatted with a Table of Contents and is illustrated with over a dozen pictures of Cleopatra and the obelisks.