Cleopatra's Needle: From Pharoah to Fifth Avenue
So, you're wondering why a giant, ancient Egyptian pointy stick is chillin' in the middle of Central Park, huh? Well, buckle up, 'cause this tale is as old as the obelisk itself (okay, maybe not that old, but it’s pretty ancient).
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| Why Is Cleopatra's Needle In New York |
A Pointy Gift
Let's clear something up right away: It's not actually Cleopatra's needle. She was a total babe, but also a bit of a history buff, and this thing was around way before she was even a twinkle in her dad's eye. It was originally carved by a pharaoh named Thutmosis III, who was basically the Egyptian equivalent of a supermodel-slash-architect.
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The obelisk was originally all cozy in Heliopolis, Egypt, but later got moved to Alexandria to impress everyone. And that's where the Cleopatra connection comes in. See, the temple where it ended up was dedicated to Julius Caesar, and Cleopatra was all about that Caesar life. So, people started calling it Cleopatra's Needle. It's like calling the Eiffel Tower the Kim Kardashian Tower - not entirely accurate, but catchy.
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A Transatlantic Journey
Fast forward a few millennia, and we have a certain Mr. Ismail Pasha, the Khedive of Egypt. He's basically the Egyptian equivalent of a really rich, really powerful dude. To celebrate the opening of the Suez Canal, he decided to gift an obelisk to the United States. It was like saying, "Hey America, thanks for being cool, here's a giant, ancient paperweight."
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Getting this thing from Egypt to New York was no small feat. It involved a custom-built ship, a whole lot of engineering, and probably a few questionable decisions. But hey, when you're dealing with a 200-ton piece of granite, you gotta think big.
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A New York Minute
The obelisk finally arrived in New York in 1881 and was promptly plopped down in Central Park. It's been there ever since, soaking up the New York City vibes and probably wondering what the heck happened to its life.
So, there you have it. Cleopatra's Needle (or, more accurately, Thutmosis III's Obelisk) is in New York because of a combination of ancient history, diplomatic gifts, and some seriously impressive engineering.
How to Be an Obelisk Expert
How to pronounce obelisk correctly: Oh-bel-isk. It's not that hard, people.How to tell the difference between an obelisk and a pyramid: An obelisk is tall and pointy, a pyramid is short and flat-topped. It's not rocket science.How to appreciate the obelisk: Just stand there and marvel at the sheer size and age of the thing. It's like looking at a living piece of history.How to take a good photo of the obelisk: Find a good angle, avoid crowds, and use a filter that makes it look even more mysterious.How to avoid hitting the obelisk with a frisbee: Don't throw frisbees near the obelisk. It's really not that complicated.
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