Sophia Loren in 1967 beside one of the two London sphinxes flanking Cleopatra's Needle on the Victoria Embankment

Sophia Loren in 1967 beside one of the two London sphinxes flanking the obelisk known as Cleopatra's Needle on the Victoria Embankment. The sphinxes are cast in bronze to frame the obelisk.

The 18-metre obelisk was brought to London from Alexandria in 1877, although it had been presented to the British far earlier, back in 1819: as usual, by the Turkish ruler of Egypt, Pasha Mehmet Ali, in memory of the naval victories of Nelson and Abercromby over the French at the battles of Abukir and Alexandria in 1801.

Judging by the fact that the obelisk then lay about for almost 60 years, however, it can hardly have been regarded as much of a treasure.

The obelisk bears the names of Cleopatra, Ramesses II and Thutmose III. It was carved in the middle of the second millennium BC.