CLEOPATRA'S NEEDLES, the name popularly given to the two Egyptian obelisks presented to the British and American people respectively, and now standing on the Thames Embank ment in London and in the Central Park of New York city. Originally set up by Thotmes or Tethmosis III. at Heliopolis about I soo B.C., they were removed by Caesar Augustus to adorn the Caesareum at Alexandria about 14 B.C. and there remained until removed (in each case by private munificence) to their pres ent positions in 1878 and 1880. Both are of rose-red Syene granite, covered with hieroglyphical inscriptions, and are estimated to weigh some 200 tons. (See OBELISK.)