Artribune Podcast Explores the Odyssey of Cleopatra's Needles
The latest episode of 'Storie dell'Arte', an artcrime podcast produced by Mosè Previti for Artribune, traces the tumultuous journey of an obelisk from Alexandria to London. Originally erected in Heliopolis in the 15th century BC and later moved to Alexandria by the Romans under Augustus, the two pink granite obelisks from Aswan—dubbed 'Cleopatra's Needles'—were gifted to Britain in 1819 by Egyptian Khedive Mehmet Ali. The episode recounts their sea voyage in the late 19th century aboard the Cleopatra, a cigar-shaped steam vessel that encountered a storm, leading to salvage operations and legal disputes over ownership. The narrative explores why obelisks matter as symbols of civilization defying time, representing human power and collective psyche. The podcast is based on documented events, weaving archival sources, articles, court records, and interviews into an immersive story with original synth soundtrack. New episodes are available at www.artribune.com/podcast.
Key facts
- The podcast 'Storie dell'Arte' is produced by Mosè Previti for Artribune.
- The episode focuses on the obelisks known as Cleopatra's Needles.
- The obelisks were originally erected in Heliopolis in the 15th century BC.
- They were moved to Alexandria by the Romans under Emperor Augustus.
- The obelisks are made of pink granite from Aswan.
- They were gifted to Britain in 1819 by Khedive Mehmet Ali of Egypt.
- The transport vessel was a cigar-shaped steamship named Cleopatra.
- The ship encountered a storm, leading to salvage and legal disputes.
- The podcast uses archival sources, articles, court records, and interviews.
- The soundtrack is original, featuring synth reinterpretations of classical pieces.
Entities
Artists
- Mosè Previti
Institutions
- Artribune
Locations
- Egypt
- Alexandria
- London
- Heliopolis
- Aswan
- Britain