Section of the Interior of the Pyramid of Cephrene

Category

Library Item

Item no

31054

Title

Section of the interior of the Pyramid of Cephrene

Artist / maker

Unknown

Date

1820

Size

23.5 x 37.5 cm

Type

Lithograph

Location

Reference Library

Giovanni Battista Belzoni was an Italian explorer and archaeologist, born in Padua (Padova). In 1803 he was working in England as a circus strong man, and exhibiting models of hydraulic engines. In 1815 he went to Cairo to try and sell his hydraulic engines to Muhammad 'Ali Pasha, and within two years had begun a new career, excavating Egyptian tombs and temples.

The Pyramid of Cephrene, or Chephren, often called the "Second Pyramid", is built next to the Great Pyramid of Khufu (Cheops). Chephren is the son and successor of Khufu and Hensuten. Khufu's other son and also successor, Ra'djedef, started constructing his own pyramid at Abu Rawash, which is north of Giza. It was first explored in modern times by Giovanni Belzoni on March 2, 1818, when the original entrance was found on the north side of the pyramid and the burial chamber was visited. Belzoni had hopes of finding an intact burial, however, the chamber was empty except for an open sarcophagus and its broken lid on the floor.

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Related subjects

Architecture > Monuments > Pyramids

Architecture > Monuments > Tombs

Landscape > Landscape architectural facilities > Archaeological sites

Landscape > Landscape architectural facilities > Excavation

Places > Africa > Egypt

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