The Great Belzoni: The Circus Strongman Who Discovered Egypt's Ancient Treasures (International Library of Historical Studies) [ILLUSTRATED] (Paperback)

~ (Author) "IN the early months of 1803 Charles Dibdin Junior was getting together a company for Sadler's Wells..." (more)
Key Phrases: old showmen, alabaster sarcophagus, second pyramid, British Museum, Abu Simbel, Muhammad Ali (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review

"If you wish to find inspiration for Allen Quatermain and Indiana Jones go no further, for here is a highly entertaining account of a fascinating character." 18/03/04 Chichester Observer - Waterstone's staff choice - Reviewed by Stephen George

Product Description

This is the extraordinary life story of Giovanni Belzoni: engineer, barber, monk, actor and strongman in a circus (where he earned his title "The Great Belzoni"), who became one of the giants of 19th century Egyptian Archaeology. Sometimes maligned as a tomb robber, he is perhaps the most important and yet least remembered explorer and archaeologist of the last two hundred years. Under seeming impossible conditions Belzoni transported the colossal granite head of Ramesses II from Thebes to England, where it is now one of the treasures of the British Museum. He went on to excavate the great temple of Abu Simbel, discover six major royal tombs in the Valley of the Kings, including that of Seti I, and provide the British Museum with a spectacular collection of Egyptian antiquities. Giovanni Belzoni was the first person to penetrate the heart of the second pyramid at Giza and the first European to visit the oasis of Siwah and discover the ruined city of Berenice on the Red Sea. His exhibitions and best-selling memoirs made him a major celebrity in Regency London, where he was a huge influence on the vogue for Egyptian style in art, design and architecture. In 1823, at the age of forty-five, Belzoni died of fever trying to reach the mysterious city of Timbuktu.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 360 pages
• Publisher: Tauris Parke Paperbacks; illustrated edition edition (December 5, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1860648770
• ISBN-13: 978-1860648779
• Product Dimensions: 7.3 x 5.7 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,678,708 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars the great belzoni, February 11, 2007

By	william callan (ireland) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Great Belzoni: The Circus Strongman Who Discovered Egypt's Ancient Treasures, Second Edition (International Library of Historical Studies) (Paperback)

This is an excellent book. It is like taking the trip of a lifetime back to early 19th century Egypt

3.0 out of 5 stars Belzoni, February 28, 2008

By	Robert G. Deckman - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: The Great Belzoni: The Circus Strongman Who Discovered Egypt's Ancient Treasures, Second Edition (International Library of Historical Studies) (Paperback)

The beginning is very uninteresing. Belzoni's epypt adventures are not mentioned until your half way through the book.