Belzoni: The Giant Archaeologists Love to Hate

About this book

The Italian son of a barber. A failed hydraulic engineer. A giant who performed feats of strength and agility in the circus. Giovanni Belzoni (17781824) was all of these before going on to become one of the most controversial figures in the history of Egyptian archaeology. A man of exceptional size with an ego of comparable proportions he procured for the British Museum some of its largest and still awe-inspiring treasures. Today however the typical museum visitor knows nothing of Belzoni and many modern archaeologists dismiss him as an ignorant vandal. In this captivating new biography Ivor Nol Hume re-creates an early nineteenth century in which there was no established archaeological profession only enormous opportunity. Belzoni landed in Egypt where he was unsuccessful in selling a hydraulic machine of his own invention and came under the patronage of diplomat Henry Salt who convinced him to travel to Thebes in search of artifacts. Among the many treasures Belzoni would bring back was the seven-ton stone head of Ramesses II the "Young Memnon." The book includes gripping accounts of Belzonis wildly productive and physically brutal expeditions as well as an unforgettable portrait of his wife Sarah who suffered the hardships of the Egyptian deserts and later bore the brunt of the disillusionment that came with the declining popular perception of her husband. Including numerous illustrations many in color this volume brings one of archaeologys most fascinating figures vividly to life.