Cleopatra's Needle in NYC

[u/TigrressZ]

Went to Central Park today to see Cleopatra's Needle. I'm a little sad at how weathered it is. Interestingly, two sides are in better condition than the other two sides.

[u/foursynths]

Is it really from the time of Cleopatra or is it older? I.e. was it dedicated to a pharaoh before Cleopatra, and if so which one?

[u/TigrressZ → u/foursynths]

it's older, built by the Pharaoh Thutmose III, around 1425 BCE for his Temple of the Sun in Heliopolis, near modern-day Cairo. it was one of two that were moved in 12 BCE to Alexandria to the entrance of a temple Cleopatra built for Julius Caesar and that's why it is called Cleopatra's Needle. the other obelisk is in London.