Cleopatra S Needles

In the half-century between 1831 and 1881 three massive obelisks left Egypt for new lands. Prior to these journeys, the last large obelisk moved was the Vatican obelisk in 1586 – one of the great engineering achievements of the Renaissance. Roman emperors moved more than a dozen, but left no records of how they did it. The nineteenth-century engineers entrusted with transporting the obelisks across oceans had to invent new methods, and they were far from certain that they would work. As the three obelisks, bound for Paris, London and New York, sailed towards their new homes, the world held its breath. Newspapers reported the obelisks' daily progress, complete with dramatic illustrations of the heroic deeds of the engineers and crews struggling under nearly impossible conditions. When the obelisks finally arrived safely in their new homes, bands played Cleopatra's Needle Waltz and silver obelisk pencils dangled from fashionable ladies' necks. This turbulent era, caught up in obelisk mania, is recreated by Bob Brier in all its glory. Amid astounding tales of engineering dexterity and naval endurance, the individuals involved in transporting the obelisks and receiving them in their future homes are brought to life through their letters and diaries, newspaper articles and illustrations. Written by a renowned Egyptologist and author, this compelling book will fascinate all those interested in Egypt, its iconic monuments and the history of great endeavour.

This delightful book tells the story of how Cleopatra's needle, the popular Egyptian obelisk that is now located in Manhattan's Central Park, came to New York in January of 1881.-- Metropolitan Museum of Art website.

Dan Rawlins, a world-famous archaeologist working out of New York's Metropolitan Museum, asks his assistant to find half of an Egyptian ankh in the museum's collection. But she disappears, only to turn up murdered. The relic is nowhere to be found. Meanwhile, Jacinda El-Bahri, a Mossad agent, is on the run in Cairo after stealing the other half of the ankh from a powerful terrorist. Known as Salameh, he plans to use the relic's incredible energy to unleash a power of biblical proportions. Across three continents and three thousand years, the struggle to reunite the ancient artifacts rages. And Dan and Jacinda, caught in the throes of an ancient evil, may be the only hope for the modern world. At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.

Charles E. Moldenke in the book "The New York Obelisk: Cleopatra's Needle" shares information about obelisks founds across the New York City featuring Cleopatra's Needle. This book is an historical book and an excerpt from the first chapter goes thus "Obelisks have been found in various localities of the ancient Egyptian empire. Possibly almost every city of some prominence will have boasted of some, no matter how small, especially such cities as became for a time the residence of the Pharaoh" is an excerpt from the book."