Scholars and adventurers in Egypt

Since ancient times, many artists, scholars, adventurers and archaeologists have traveled to Egypt, a fascinating country. Bringing back objects, images and texts, they have contributed to the rediscovery of ancient Egypt. Among these enthusiasts are Jean-François Champollion, who deciphered the hieroglyphs in 1822; Mariette, who became Director of Egyptian Antiquities in 1858, and then the first curator of the Cairo Museum in 1901; painter David Roberts, famous for his mid-19th-century watercolor landscapes; Howard Carter, who discovered Tutankhamen's tomb in 1922; and Jean-Yves Empereur and his recent underwater excavations of Alexandria harbor (1990s). From chapter to chapter, the book progresses from north to south, from the Delta to Nubia, following the course of the Nile. Passing through Cairo, Karnak, the Valley of the Kings and Abu Simbel, the author takes us in the wake of the men and women who explored, drew and photographed Egypt and its riches.

255 pages.