DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.6551#0119
86
OPERATIONS CARRIED ON AT GIZEII.
Signore Belzoni. It fully equalled my expectations; but
I was sorry to observe bow wantonly it bad been dis-
fig red, it was said, but I trust without foundation, by
M. Champollion. One square pillar bad been entirely
destroyed, and several of the apartments were strewn
with large fragments, which had been cut from the
painted walls, and columns. The sepulchre, however,
bad been violated before Belzoni's discovery, who found
the sarcophagus removed from its original position, and
a descending passage of considerable length opened be-
neath it, which could not have been effected when the
sarcophagus was in its place. In most of these tombs,
as also in the Pyramids of Gizeh, the sarcophagi have
been removed, and excavations made beneath, and around
them, in search either of treasure, or of secret commu-
nication ; but this is, I believe, the only passage that
many of the interesting objects described have been since destroyed.
As the tombs, however, which contained them are pointed out, much
needless inquiry is saved. According to all accounts, Mr. Hay has
with laudable industry caused casts and copies to be taken of these, and
of other antiquities in Upper and in Lower Egypt, which will probably
in a few years be entirely destroyed. Government should publish collec-
tions of this sort, and save from oblivion records that can never be replaced.
They would do well to emulate the wise and liberal manner in which
M. Champollion's and Signore Rosellini's works have been published.
The fine obelisk at Thebes and the colossal statue at Metrahery are at
our disposal; but it appears that this country is now too much impo-
verished to remove any of those masses which antient Egypt had both
the power and the skill in numberless instances to fashion and to erect,
and which, it may be remembered, the Romans found it easy to convey
not only to Italy, but also across the deserts to Palmyra. It is to be
regretted that the obelisk from Thebes has not been erected in this
country as a monument to Lord Nelson : it would have been a more appro-
priate and glorious record of his fame than any sculpture which modern
times can produce.
OPERATIONS CARRIED ON AT GIZEII.
Signore Belzoni. It fully equalled my expectations; but
I was sorry to observe bow wantonly it bad been dis-
fig red, it was said, but I trust without foundation, by
M. Champollion. One square pillar bad been entirely
destroyed, and several of the apartments were strewn
with large fragments, which had been cut from the
painted walls, and columns. The sepulchre, however,
bad been violated before Belzoni's discovery, who found
the sarcophagus removed from its original position, and
a descending passage of considerable length opened be-
neath it, which could not have been effected when the
sarcophagus was in its place. In most of these tombs,
as also in the Pyramids of Gizeh, the sarcophagi have
been removed, and excavations made beneath, and around
them, in search either of treasure, or of secret commu-
nication ; but this is, I believe, the only passage that
many of the interesting objects described have been since destroyed.
As the tombs, however, which contained them are pointed out, much
needless inquiry is saved. According to all accounts, Mr. Hay has
with laudable industry caused casts and copies to be taken of these, and
of other antiquities in Upper and in Lower Egypt, which will probably
in a few years be entirely destroyed. Government should publish collec-
tions of this sort, and save from oblivion records that can never be replaced.
They would do well to emulate the wise and liberal manner in which
M. Champollion's and Signore Rosellini's works have been published.
The fine obelisk at Thebes and the colossal statue at Metrahery are at
our disposal; but it appears that this country is now too much impo-
verished to remove any of those masses which antient Egypt had both
the power and the skill in numberless instances to fashion and to erect,
and which, it may be remembered, the Romans found it easy to convey
not only to Italy, but also across the deserts to Palmyra. It is to be
regretted that the obelisk from Thebes has not been erected in this
country as a monument to Lord Nelson : it would have been a more appro-
priate and glorious record of his fame than any sculpture which modern
times can produce.