Narrative of the operations and recent discoveries within the pyramids, temples, tombs, and excavations, in Egypt and Nubia

Giovanni Battista Belzoni was an Italian explorer and pioneer archaeologist of Egyptian antiquities. He is known for his removal to England of the seven ton bust of Ramesses II, the clearing of sand from the entrance of the great temple at Abu Simbel, the discovery and documentation of the tomb of Seti I, and the first to penetrate into the second pyramid of Giza. This 1820 narrative of his travels and discoveries is fascinating. Full title: Narrative of the operations and recent discoveries within the pyramids, temples, tombs, and excavations, in Egypt and Nubia; and of a journey to the coast of the Red Sea, in search of the ancient Berenice, and of another to the oasis of Jupiter Ammon.

By : Giovanni Battista Belzoni (1778 - 1823)

00 - Preface 01 - First Journey 1 Alexandria. Plague. Cairo. Pyramids. Wounded. Rebellion. Marriage Ceremonies. 02 - First Journey 2 Arabian play and farce. Soldiers shooting. Hydraulic machine. Ascending the Nile. Hermopolis, Siout, Dendera. 03 - First Journey 3 Removing Memnon bust. Difficulties. Turkish dinner. Work proceeds. Bust arrives at the Nile. 04 - First Journey 4 Mummy cave. Assouan. First Cataract. Elephantine. Alarmed by the natives. 05 - First Journey 5 Journey continues. Several villages. Description of the natives. Introduces money. 06 - First Journey 6 Second cataract. Land journey. Frighten natives. Ascend against the current and eddies. View of cataract from Rock of Aspis. Greek church. To open the temple at Ysambul. Difficulties with natives. Cacheff drinks wine for first time. 07 - First Journey 7 Great numbers of workers. Attempt at robbery. Return to first cataract. Small obelisk. Column with Latin. Manners of the Arabs. Luxor. Carnak. Count de Forbin. Lion headed statues. 08 - First Journey 8 Carnak. The Bey and court. The tomb of a king. The boat and its trials. Bust of Memnon embarked on boat. Thebes to Cairo to Alexandria. Captain Cabillia’s operations. 09 - Second Journey 1 Cairo to Thebes, Tabeen and Boorumbol. An Arabian dance. Forced march to Thebes. Bedoween horsemen and tents. A missing letter. Cacheff of Erments. Miracles by a Santon. Luxor. Carnak. Thebes 10 - Second Journey 2 Gournou natives and tombs. More on the natives. Two metal vases. Sphinxes and sickle. Discovery of tombs. Herodotus on mummies. Various classes of mummies. Animal mummies. 11 - Second Journey 3 Mummy priests. Mummies and their decoration. Linen, enamelling, gilding, painting, sculpture, architecture. Tomb. Happiness of Gournou natives. A colossal head discovered. Arrival of Defterdar Bey. Barbarous conduct toward the Bey of Gournou. 12 - Second Journey 4 Ascends Nile. Thebes. Bey interview. Two Fathers. Whirlwind. Mirage.Locusts. Island Of Philoe. Ysambul. Second Cataract. Extortion attempt. Return to Ysambul. 13 - Second Journey 5 Opening the temple. Ramadan. Other cacheffs. Entry to temple. Description. Departure. Assouan. Luxor. Erments. 14 - Second Journey 6 Valley of Beban el Malook. Tombs. Arrival of travelers. Tomb excavation. Enter the tomb. Description of apartments. Sarcophagus of alabaster. 15 - Second Journey 7 Tomb of Psaummuthis. Painting. Name of the tomb. Isle of Philoe stones. Noble family. Count de Forbin. Pyramind of Cephrenes. 16 - Second Journey 8 Difficulties. Observation on the Pyramids. Foundation of temple discovered. First entrance. More calculations. Discovery of the true entrance. 17 - Second Journey 9 Difficulties in entering. Description of interior. Arabic inscription observed. Accounts of the pyramids. Hieroglyphics. Coatings. Thebes. 18 - Third Journey Visit Defterdar Bey. Capital crimes. Thebes. Eclipse of the sun. Opinion on Memnonium. Wax models of tombs. Motive for travel to Red Sea. 19 - Journey To The Red Sea 1 Great Nile inundation. Across the desert. Hills of granite. Description of the Ababdy tribes. In sight of the Red Sea 20 - Journey To The Red Sea 2 Emerald Mountains. Miners. Journey to Sakiet. The Red Sea. Fishermen. Wady el Gemal. 21 - Journey To The Red Sea 3 Sulphur mines. Ancinet town. Journey to the Nile. Wells. Various locations. 22 - Account Of Taking Of The Obelisk From The Island Of Philoe To Alexandria 1 Thebes. Assouan. Obelisk falls into Nile. Recovery. Launch obelisk down the Nile. Arrival at Assouan then Thebes. 23 - Account Of Taking Of The Obelisk From The Island Of Philoe To Alexandria 2 A stranger. Carnak. Assault by Arabs. Decision to leave for Europe. Delay. Resolution to travel to the Oasis of Ammon 24 - Journey To The Oasis Of Ammon 1 Entry to Faioum. Brick pyramids. Lake. Temple of Haron. Hyena. Denay-Bacchus. Fedmin el Kunois. 25 - Journey To The Oasis Of Ammon 2 Ancinet Arsinoe. Guide for the desert. Bedpween camp. Into the desert. Various places. Introduction to the natives. 26 - Journey To The Oasis Of Ammon 3 Searching for antiquities. Mineral fountain. Tp El Cassar. Entry prevented. Finally entry. Visit ruins and tombs. Fountain mentioned by Herodotus. 27 - Journey To The Oasis Of Ammon 4 Return begun. Various villages. Arrival at Nile. Return to Cairo. Leave Cairo. Infamy of Mr. Drouetti. Return to Europe.