Egypt Threatens Removal of Ancient Central Park Obelisk

livescience ^ | 06 January 2011 | Andrea Leontiou

[JoeProBono]

Since 1881, the obelisk known as Cleopatra's Needle has stood in New York's Central Park, but a letter from the secretary general of Egypt's Supreme Council of Antiquities indicates that this may change if the monument is not taken better care of.

Recently, Zahi Hawass, the aforementioned secretary general and archaeologist, wrote to the Central Park Conservancy and New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg to inform them that if steps are not taken to protect the obelisk, it would be removed.

"I am glad that this monument has become such an integral part of New York City, but I am dismayed at the lack of care and attention that it has been given," Hawass wrote. "Recent photographs that I have received show the severe damage that has been done to the obelisk, particularly to the hieroglyphic text, which in places has been completely worn away.

I have a duty to protect all Egyptian monuments whether they are inside or outside of Egypt. If the Central Park Conservancy and the City of New York cannot properly care for this obelisk, I will take the necessary steps to bring this precious artifact home and save it from ruin."

[JoeProBono]

Zahi Hawass, the director of Egypt's Supreme Council of Antiquities

[Jim Noble]

Funny - I was sitting having lunch at the Met with my kids, looking out at this ugly thing a few weeks ago.

I wondered, "Why don't we send it back?"

[muawiyah]

Hawass makes a very good point. Besides they aren't making ancient Egyptian stonework anymore. They are rare.

If New York can't take care of it I'm sure we can get another American city to do so ~ I was thinking this would look great out front of the Fairfax county building. We have a huge lawn, and a protective glass enclosure could be provided easily.

[muawiyah]

Hawass makes a very good point. Besides they aren't making ancient Egyptian stonework anymore. They are rare.

If New York can't take care of it I'm sure we can get another American city to do so ~ I was thinking this would look great out front of the Fairfax county building. We have a huge lawn, and a protective glass enclosure could be provided easily.

[the invisib1e hand]

Please, by all means, take your freaking obelisk and stick it somewhere where the elements won’t get at it .

[bunkerhill7]

I can tell them exactly where to put it.

[surroundedinCT]

It’s a beautiful obelisk. Gorgeous in the time of history. If NYC won’t take care of it, at least Hawass will.

[marsh2]

I imagine the city pollution is eating away at it.

[JoeProBono]

Zahi Hawass ping

[JoeProBono]

[DakotaGator]

I have a duty to protect all Egyptian monuments whether they are inside or outside of Egypt.

No, Director Hawass, you don't. You only have the duty to protect monuments owned by Egypt. The obelisk in Central Park is not the property of Egypt. So you have absolutely no say in any matters concerning it.

This is all tied up in concepts of national sovereignty and property rights which were codified into something called laws. Of course, the rule of law seems to mean nothing to Director Hawass. One wonders why?

[JoeProBono]

Zahi Hawass and the Sphinx at Giza

[flaglady47]

Hawass has ulterior nationalistic/political reasons for his comments, however, why has NYC let an ancient monument of much historic value deteriorate to such a state? Hawass can go take a hike and has no rights here in America to do diddly squat, however, he has at least brought to our attention something that should be rectified, cleaning up and repairing the obelisk to good order. Maintaining the obelisk is not mutually exclusive w/telling this jerk to buzz off. And to those of you who have no sense of history and don’t give a fig about this obelisk w/its heiroglyphics from ancient times, then I guess you don’t give a fig about the history and maintenance of our original Constitution. History is very, very important and should not be denigrated.

[JoeProBono]

Removal of Cleopatra's Needle in Egypt

Cleopatra's Needle in Central Park in 1881

[Flag_This]

Sure, we’ll send it back - if you pay us back the $28,000,000,000.00 we’ve sent to egypt over 30 years.

[MinuteGal]

"Vicki Carp, Director of New York's Park Service said 'that's not true.'

Sounds like she and Mayor Bloomberg are in de-nial.

(....well, somebody had to say it)......

Leni

[muawiyah]

Let's see, Egypt, which is the source of the antiquities, was the FIRST NATION STATE in human history.

Yup, he has a claim.

[JoeProBono]

Cleopatra's Needle 1880 loading into Steamship

[SunkenCiv]

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[DakotaGator]

Yup, he has a claim.

Hmmmm...let's see; Does he own it? No. Does Egypt own it? No. Then he has no claim on it and should make no pretensions of such.