Narrative of the operations and recent discoveries within the pyramids,…
"In peril on the sea" by Montague T. Hainsselin is a historical travel narrative written in the early 19th century. It follows a determined European explorer-engineer through Egypt and Nubia as he documents operations among pyramids, temples, and tombs, contends with local politics and dangers, and advances bold claims about ancient architecture. Expect vivid first-person reportage that blends logistics, discovery, and argument, including the attempted removal of a colossal statue and side
journeys toward the Red Sea and desert oases. The opening of the narrative presents a frank preface in which the author insists on telling his story himself, outlining his solitary methods, hydraulic expertise, and major finds (from pyramids and royal tombs to famed statues), and stating his aim to correct public misreports. A second preface adds pointed theses—locating the temple of Jupiter Ammon in a specific oasis, dismissing misidentified sites for the Egyptian Labyrinth, and arguing that Egyptians built true arches—while citing new traveler reports to bolster these views. The story then begins in earnest: arrival at Alexandria during the plague and a wary quarantine; a journey up the Nile to Cairo; early visits to the pyramids; an injury and the chaos of a military revolt; and a stint at Soubra building a water-raising machine for the ruler, amid glimpses of courtly pastimes, electricity demonstrations, and village festivities. After an accident and local resistance doom the machine, the traveler resolves to ascend the Nile, accepting instructions to try transporting a colossal head from Thebes. With scant tools, a small crew, and his wife, he sails south, dealing with officials and rough country life, and the section closes with his awed first encounter with the grand, richly carved temple at Dendera. (This is an automatically generated summary.)
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About this eBook
| Author | Belzoni, Giovanni Battista, 1778-1823 |
|---|---|
| Title | Narrative of the operations and recent discoveries within the pyramids, temples, tombs and excavations in Egypt and Nubia; vol. 1 : and of a journey to the coast of the Red Sea, in search of the ancient Berenice; and another to the Oasis of Jupiter Ammon |
| Original Publication | London: John Murray, Albemarle Street, 1822. |
| Credits | Rick Tonsing, Chuck Greif, and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive) |
| Language | English |
| LoC Class | DT: History: General and Eastern Hemisphere: Africa |
| Subject | Egypt -- Antiquities |
| Subject | Nubia -- Antiquities |
| Category | Text |
| EBook-No. | 77277 |
| Release Date | Nov 20, 2025 |
| Copyright Status | Public domain in the USA. |
| Downloads | 703 downloads in the last 30 days. |
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