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Proposed method for the removal of Cleopatras Needle from Alexandria
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Proposed method for the removal of Cleopatras Needle from Alexandria
Proposed method for the removal of Cleopatras Needle from Alexandria and its transportation by sea to London. Date: 1877
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Media ID 23397808
© Illustrated London News Ltd/Mary Evans
1877 Alexandria Cleopatras Method Needle Oct20 Removal
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This image from 1877 depicts a proposed method for the removal of Cleopatra's Needle, an ancient Egyptian obelisk, from Alexandria and its transportation by sea to London. The Needle, standing at approximately 32 meters tall, was originally located in the ancient Egyptian city of Heliopolis before being moved to Alexandria around 1450 AD. In the late 19th century, the obelisk became a subject of interest for the British, who sought to add it to their collection of ancient artifacts in the United Kingdom. The proposed removal method involved dismantling the Needle into several sections, each weighing around 20 tons, and transporting them by boat to a waiting ship in Alexandria's harbor. The sections would then be carefully loaded onto the ship and secured for the journey across the Mediterranean Sea. The image shows the Needle being dismantled, with workers using ropes and pulleys to lift the heavy sections off the base. The ship, which can be seen in the background, was specially designed for the transportation of the obelisk. It was equipped with a deep draft and a large crane to lift the sections onto the deck. The ship's crew would navigate the vessel through the Mediterranean Sea, making stops at various ports along the way to take on supplies and fuel. Once the Needle arrived in London, it would be reassembled in a new location, becoming a prominent feature of the city's landscape and a symbol of the UK's connection to ancient Egypt. The successful transportation of Cleopatra's Needle marked a significant achievement in the field of archaeology and demonstrated the technical expertise of the time.
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