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Cleopatra’s Needle Sphinxes

Cleopatra's Needle Sphinxes
Cleopatra’s Needle Sphinxes

Public Art: Cleopatra’s Needle Sphinxes

Sculptor: Unknown

Designed by: George John Vulliamy (1817–1886)

Description: These pair of cast bronze sphinxes guard the base of Cleopatra’s Needle (obelisk) but have absolutely no connection with Eygpt. When the bronze sphinxes were installed they were supposed to appear to be guarding Cleopatra’s Needle by facing away, but instead, they were accidentally erected facing towards it. I have read that it was Queen Victoria who requested they face the obelisk as they looked more aesthetically pleasing. 

Date Unveiled: 1882

Location: The two Sphinxes can be found at the base of Cleopatra’s Needle along the Thames, near Parliament, London, England.

Inscription :

netjer nefer men-kheper-re di ankh
(The good god, Thuthmosis III given life)

Trivia :
If you look closely around the base of the right-hand Sphinx you will see shrapnel damage made by a  bomb that exploded nearby during the bombing of London by German aeroplanes a few minutes before midnight on Tuesday 4th September 1917. The bomb killed three people and injured nine.  It was the first piece of London public art to be hit during an air raid. In March 1941 Cleopatra’s Needle came under fire once again. The bomb clipped a few chunks from the obelisk.

 

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