In 1878 Cleopatra's Needle was unveiled by the Victorian's along the Thames embankment. It was placed there to commemorate Britain's victory over Napoleon sixty three years earlier.

The monument itself was made for Pharaoh Thotmes 3rd 3,500 years ago. It was transported from Alexandria, the Royal city of Cleopatra, to London in a specially designed and custom built cigar-shaped container ship, called the Cleopatra. The journey to London was not without it's drama as in the treacherous waters of the Bay of Biscay the Cleopatra broke free from the steamship towing her and  was in danger of sinking. 

Six volunteers were sent to assist with the Cleopatra but all were drowned in the attempt to rescue the crew. The men were eventually rescued but the tow rope to the Cleopatra was cut  leaving the vessel adrift in the Bay of Biscay.

All contact with the boat was lost, it was five days later that she was  spotted floating intact off the northern Spanish coast.

With the Cleopatra saved it was January 1878 before the crowds lining the Thames could cheer on the final leg of her arduous journey. Cleopatra's Needle stands on the Thames Embankment close to the Embankment underground station. Two large bronze Sphinxes lie on either side of the Needle. These are Victorian versions of the traditional Egyptian original. The benches on the Embankment also have winged sphinxes on either side as their supports.