Giovanni Belzoni

NAME Giovanni Battista Belzoni

WHAT FAMOUS FOR Known as The Great Belzoni, he was a pioneering archaeologist and explorer of Egyptian antiquities, famed for his discoveries of tombs, pyramids, and ancient artifacts.

BIRTH Born November 5, 1778, in Padua, Italy.

FAMILY BACKGROUND Belzoni hailed from a humble family. His father was a barber in Padua. As one of fourteen children, he grew up in a large household with roots tracing back to Rome.

CHILDHOOD Belzoni's early years were spent primarily in Padua. At the age of sixteen, he moved to Rome, where he developed an interest in mechanical devices and hydraulics. Initially, he considered a life of religious devotion and began preparations to join the Capuchin order. However, his fascination with engineering and exploration ultimately led him down a different path.

EDUCATION Specific details about Belzoni's formal education are scarce. Nevertheless, his time in Rome exposed him to various intellectual pursuits, including hydraulics, which would later prove invaluable in his archaeological endeavor

CAREER RECORD  1800 Moved to the Batavian Republic (now Netherlands) where Belzoni earned a living as a barber.

1803 Belzoni joined a traveling circus in London, where he performed as a strongman, impressing crowds with feats of strength. 

Portrait of Belzoni as a strongman

1812, Belzoni abandoned his circus career to pursue engineering. 

1815 His path led him to Egypt, where he aimed to introduce a hydraulic irrigation machine to Muhammad Ali Pasha. Although this endeavor proved unsuccessful, it marked a pivotal moment in his life.

1816  In Egypt, Belzoni met British Consul Henry Salt, who recognized his potential and recruited him to collect Egyptian antiquities. Between 1816 and 1819, Belzoni made groundbreaking discoveries that would shape our understanding of ancient Egypt:

1819 Upon his return to England in 1819, Belzoni published a popular account of his adventures and discoveries. He also held exhibitions of his Egyptian artifacts in London and Paris, further popularizing Egyptology.

1823 Belzoni embarked on a final expedition to Timbuktu in West Africa.

APPEARANCE Belzoni was exceptionally tall for his time. He is described as being 6 feet 7 inches (about 2.01 meters) tall. His size and strength allowed him to work as a circus strongman, performing feats of strength and agility.

Portrait of Belzoni by Jan Adam Kruseman, 1824

FASHION When performing his strongman acts, Belzoni would dress in a "circus-strongman outfit. Illustrations from the time show him wearing this outfit while performing his famous "Human Pyramid" act. During his circus acts, he was sometimes depicted bearing a colorful flag in each hand while carrying a heavy iron frame with people

CHARACTER A daring, ambitious and ambitious individual, Belzoni was unafraid of risk, which helped him excel in his explorations despite great challenges.

SENSE OF HUMOUR Known for his showmanship, Belzoni’s humor was often theatrical, fitting his background as a circus performer.

In his writings, Belzoni used vivid and sometimes dramatic language to describe his experiences. For example, his account of sinking into a pile of mummies, describing it as "a crash of bones, rags and wooden cases," suggests a certain dark humor or at least a flair for the dramatic

RELATIONSHIPS Giovanni Battista Belzoni married his English wife, Sarah Bane (or Banne) in England in 1803, a time when life was challenging, and they relied on circus performances to sustain themselves.

While little is known about Sarah's early life, it is believed she may have been born in Bristol or Ireland. She was an integral part of Belzoni's life, accompanying him on his many travels, including his expeditions to Egypt. Sarah's unique perspective on the lives of Muslim women is captured in a chapter she wrote for Belzoni's book, "Short account of the women of Egypt, Nubia, and Syria." This chapter offers valuable insights into her independent travels and observations.

Their marriage endured until Giovanni's untimely death in 1823. Sarah outlived her husband by nearly half a century, passing away in Jersey on January 12, 1870. 

Mr and Mrs Sarah Belzoni in a bark in the cataract.

MONEY AND FAME Belzoni's explorations and exhibitions brought him fame in England, although financial success varied due to the high costs of expeditions.

FOOD AND DRINK Belzoni likely subsisted on limited rations during his expeditions, adapting to local cuisines in Egypt.

MUSIC AND ARTS His work as a circus performer exposed him to various forms of entertainment and performance arts. Belzoni became interested in "phantasmagoria," a type of scary show based on projecting terrifying images. 

Belzoni made drawings and models of the royal tombs of Thebes, which his widow exhibited after his death. This suggests he had some artistic ability, at least in terms of archaeological

LITERATURE Belzoni authored Narrative of the Operations and Recent Discoveries Within the Pyramids, Temples, Tombs, and Excavations, in Egypt and Nubia, chronicling his adventures. It was published in 1820, shortly after his return to Britain from Egypt in 1819.

NATURE Belzoni displayed resilience in challenging natural environments, adapting well to Egypt’s harsh landscapes.

HOBBIES AND SPORTS Belzoni had a significant interest in and practice of conjuring and magical performances, which were part of his diverse skill set before he became involved in Egyptology. This background in theatrical illusions and performances likely contributed to his later ability to capture public interest in his archaeological discoveries.

SCIENCE AND MATHS Belzoni had a keen interest in hydraulics, which initially took him to Egypt to propose an irrigation system to Muhammad Ali Pasha. His interest in designing hydraulic devices for shows at Covent Garden indicates a blend of technical and theatrical skills

ARCHAEOLOGY Giovanni Battista Belzoni wasn't exactly a scholar, but he had a knack for finding things. He discovered and documented the tomb of Seti I, a magnificent burial chamber filled with stunning hieroglyphs and paintings. And that wasn't all. He also managed to haul a seven-ton bust of Ramesses II out of Egypt and ship it back to England, a feat that would make a modern-day logistics company weep.

The great temple at Abu Simbel, before Belzoni cleared its entrance of sand. https://wellcomeimages.org/indexplus/image/V0014703.html

PHILOSOPHY & THEOLOGY  As a young man, Belzoni had a deep religious vocation that prompted him to take the habit in a monastery and also considered becoming a monk and began studying for a religious life. Despite his early religious inclinations, Belzoni ultimately did not pursue a monastic life. He left Rome in 1798 when Napoleon's troops occupied the city, abandoning his plans for a religious career 

Rather than adhering to a specific philosophy, Belzoni seems to have been driven by a practical and adventurous spirit. He adapted to various careers and situations throughout his life, from circus performer to engineer to explorer. British archaeologist and Egyptologist Howard Carter described Belzoni as having a "serious and lofty purpose" and being "imbued with the great desire of bettering the knowledge of the world."

POLITICS His explorations indirectly aligned with Britain’s colonial interests in Egypt during the 19th century.

SCANDAL He moved to England in 1803 to avoid legal troubles in the Netherlands. 

Belzoni faced criticism from other archaeologists who questioned his methods, as early excavation standards were far less rigorous.

On one occasion, Belzoni narrowly avoiding being shot. During an altercation with a Turkish soldier, the Turk drew a pistol and fired; the bullet missed Belzoni, but killed another man. 

It is claimed a rival French antiquity-hunter, M. Drouetti, had planned to have Belzoni assassinated. 

MILITARY RECORD Belzoni dodged military conflict during his Egyptian travels, at times evading the French army.

While not fighting the French army specifically, Belzoni once got involved in a fracas with an ill-tempered Turkish soldier and was wounded.

HEALTH AND PHYSICAL FITNESS Belzoni maintained impressive strength and fitness, essential for both his circus acts and the grueling work of artifact transportation.

HOMES He lived in various places across Europe and the UK, relocating often due to his work and explorations.

TRAVEL Giovanni Battista Belzoni, a man of prodigious strength and an even more prodigious appetite for adventure, was a kind of 19th-century Indiana Jones, long before there was an Indiana Jones. After trying his hand at everything from circus strongman to hydraulic engineer., he eventually found his true calling journeying extensively through Egypt and the Near East, where he made most of his notable archaeological discoveries.

Belzoni's adventures were as wild and unpredictable as the deserts he explored. He was a man who lived life to the fullest, and his legacy continues to inspire generations of explorers and dreamers.

DEATH Belzoni died on December 3, 1823, from dysentery in the village of Gato in Benin, West Africa, while on an expedition..

He was buried under a large tree, six feet underground, in the nearby village of Gwata. The burial was conducted with some ceremony, as it's mentioned that "Mr. Houston read the prayers, after which the riflemen bid the last farewell to his tomb with three salvoes."

APPEARANCES IN MEDIA Giovanni Belzoni's adventurous life and achievements in archaeology have inspired multiple media portrayals, often emphasizing his daring exploits in Egypt. His biography, Narrative of the Operations and Recent Discoveries within the Pyramids, Temples, Tombs, and Excavations in Egypt and Nubia, is one of the earliest accounts that popularized his work. His character has appeared in historical novels, documentaries, and even fiction where he’s portrayed as a “tomb raider” figure due to his dramatic style and showmanship. His life is also a subject of museum exhibitions on early archaeology.

ACHIEVEMENTS Belzoni’s notable achievements include discovering the tomb of Seti I, transporting the colossal bust of Ramesses II to the British Museum, and pioneering archaeological exploration techniques.

Source New World Encyclopedia