Section of the Tomb of Samethis in Thebes

Category

Library Item

Item no

31084

Title

Section of the tomb of Samethis in Thebes

Artist / maker

Aglio, A.

Date

1820

Size

49.0 x 59.5

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 ancient city of Thebes was so called by the Greeks after the important city of that name in Greece. To the Egyptians it was known as Waset, but was often simply called Niwet, or 'the city'. Its modern name is Luxor. Thebes was the principal city of Upper Egypt and was also the capital during parts of the Middle Kingdom (about 2040-1750 BC) and New Kingdom (about 1550-1070 BC), when the cult of its local god, Amun, rose to prominence.

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Related subjects

Architecture > Architectural features > Stone carvings

Architecture > Monuments > Statues

Architecture > Monuments > Tombs

Communication > Written > Cartouches

Communication > Written > Hieroglyphs

Landscape > Landscape architectural facilities > Archaeological sites

Landscape > Landscape architectural facilities > Excavation

Places > Africa > Egypt

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