• In Egyptian astrology, Ursa Major is
not a bear or part of the Big Dipper
but rather part of the thigh of an ox.
• Egypt has one of the oldest cultures
in the world and its history spans
3,000 year of continuous activity.
• The Nile, one of Egypt’s most
recognizable wonders, is the longest
river in the world. It also flows South
to North into the Mediterranean Sea.
• Cleopatra’s needle is the name for
the three ancient Egyptian obelisks
re-erected in London, Paris and New
York during the 19th century. The
name is, however, incorrect as they
were already over 1,000 years
old during Cleopatra’s lifetime. They
were erected by Thutmose III,
nephew of Hatshepsut, around
1450 B.C. The inscriptions currently
on the obelisks were added 200 years
later by Ramesses II.
• The London and New York needles are
a pair. The London needle was given to
the United Kingdom by Egyptian and
Sudanese ruler Muhammad Ali in 1817.
The New York needle was formally
given to the United States in 1879
but wasn’t erected until 1881. They
measure 68 ft (21 m) tall and weigh
180 tons.