Introduction

The study of ancient Egypt is known as Egyptology. The scholars associated with the study of Egyptology are known as Egyptologists. In this following series, we will be familiarised with some of the greatest Egyptologists who have shaped the study of ancient Egypt in a fascinating and interesting way.

Who was Giovanni Battista Belzoni?

Giovanni Battista Belzoni was a pioneering Egyptologist. In the fraternity of Egyptology, he has another name – ‘The Great Belzoni’. Well, there were of course some reasons for calling him ‘Great’. Because he had contributed significantly to the initial studies of Egyptology.

Education

Mr. Belzoni was born and brought up in Italy. His hometown was Padua. Entering into the realm of Egyptology was not the aim of this smalltown inhabitant. Thus, he has an interesting story regarding his journey towards Egyptology.

Initially, he learned about hydraulics in Rome. Then, he decided to enter the monastic life but somehow, because of the circumstances, he came to the Netherlands. There, he started his career as a barber, about which he learned from his father during his childhood days, who was also a barber.

It was the year 1803. He moved to England. There he got married to an Englishwoman. Both of them joined theater performances and continued that for a long time. But, this was not a definite ending for him. Because Egypt was calling her silently.

The Call of Egyptology

Life can change itself anytime. It is an indisputable truth. The same happened to Belzoni also. It was the year 1815. Belzoni somehow met with Ismael Gibraltar. He was a diplomat of the then Ottoman Governor of Egypt and Sudan. Gibraltar somehow came to know about the presence of the skills of Belzoni in the field of hydraulics.

Belzoni showed him a self-invented machine and claimed that it would be helpful to raise waters from the Nile. Gibraltar, at that time, was in charge of a hydraulics project in Egypt. He found this guy worth of this work and thus, took him to Egypt. But, everything did not come to a happy end. Even after the successful experiment of the self-invented machine on the Nile River, somehow the higher authority didn’t give permission to the project. Thus, the project had been stopped.

The Wheel of Fortune

Belzoni was very depressed upon the rejection of the project. But, the wheel of fortune came to him with a new realm which he might have never been thought of. Swiss orientalist Ludwig recommended him for the assistantship to Egyptologist Henry Salt. Belzoni accepted the offer. Because he had to survive at that time. Thus, he started working with Mr. Salt in the sands of Sahara.

The ‘Young Memnon’

Belzoni started his work in Thebes, an ancient Egyptian city. There he involved himself with the clearance work at the Ramesseum. It was a memorial temple of the famous pharaoh Ramesses II. Belzoni showed both his patience and skill and in a tactful way, removed a colossal bust of the pharaoh. Presently, you can find this bust at the British Museum in London. The famous name of this bust is ‘Young Memnon’.

Other Achievements of Belzoni

Belzoni got immense attention after the successful removal of ‘Young Memnon’ at Thebes. The higher authority showed their interest in him and promised to support and authorize his further expeditions. So, he started his expedition at no time. Somehow, he initiated genuine interest in the study of the ruins from the sands of Egypt.

It was the year 1817. He cleared the sands of the great temple of Abu Simbel and make it totally visible. This temple complex is currently a UNESCO World Heritage site. He also excavated the temple complex at Karnak.

Belzoni’s Tomb

Well, Belzoni’s Tomb is actually not a tomb made for Belzoni himself. He discovered this tomb and sometimes it is referred to his name. It is the tomb of the pharaoh Seti I. He successfully opened this tomb.

Conclusion

Giovanni Battista Belzoni was not a trained Egyptologist. Even, most of the time of his career has been spent doing other works only. Later, with his accidental association with Egyptology, he did some remarkable works in this field within a very short period. Thus, his contribution to the development of Egyptology is commendable.