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Title details for The Obelisk and the Englishman by Dorothy U. Seyler - Available

The Obelisk and the Englishman

by Dorothy U. Seyler
ebook
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William John Bankes (1786--1855) was a pioneer in the nascent study of the language, history, and civilization of ancient Egypt. At the Abydos Temple he discovered the King List -- a wall of cartouches listing Egyptian kings in chronological order -- which was vital to the decoding of Egyptian hieroglyphs. At Philae he uncovered a fallen obelisk, which he arranged to be transported back to England. And in modern-day Jordan he was the first European to make sketches and site plans of the "lost" city of Petra.

Bankes's life was rich and full, and his discoveries have proven to be quite valuable and influential. But, living in an era when homosexuality was a capital offense, he was persecuted for being gay and threatened with imprisonment and execution. His decision to travel and pursue his love of art and architecture went against his father's wishes that he follow in his footsteps and become a politician. Despite such obstacles, Bankes's pioneering work on ancient temples and artifacts now enriches the knowledge of modern Egyptologists, and his art collection and decorative talents can be enjoyed by those who visit his home, a National Trust estate -- with the obelisk from Philae still raised on the south lawn.

Enhanced by many of Bankes's drawings and paintings, this engaging story is full of vivid detail about the beginnings of Egyptology, Regency England, and a fascinating individual, and it sets the record straight about Bankes's crucial role in setting the stage for the work of later scholars.

From the Hardcover edition.
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Publisher: Prometheus Books

Kindle Book

  • Release date: May 12, 2015

OverDrive Read

  • ISBN: 9781633880375
  • File size: 12376 KB
  • Release date: May 12, 2015

EPUB ebook

  • ISBN: 9781633880375
  • File size: 12376 KB
  • Release date: May 12, 2015
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Kindle Book
OverDrive Read
EPUB ebook

subjects

Art Biography & Autobiography History Nonfiction

Languages

English

William John Bankes (1786--1855) was a pioneer in the nascent study of the language, history, and civilization of ancient Egypt. At the Abydos Temple he discovered the King List -- a wall of cartouches listing Egyptian kings in chronological order -- which was vital to the decoding of Egyptian hieroglyphs. At Philae he uncovered a fallen obelisk, which he arranged to be transported back to England. And in modern-day Jordan he was the first European to make sketches and site plans of the "lost" city of Petra.

Bankes's life was rich and full, and his discoveries have proven to be quite valuable and influential. But, living in an era when homosexuality was a capital offense, he was persecuted for being gay and threatened with imprisonment and execution. His decision to travel and pursue his love of art and architecture went against his father's wishes that he follow in his footsteps and become a politician. Despite such obstacles, Bankes's pioneering work on ancient temples and artifacts now enriches the knowledge of modern Egyptologists, and his art collection and decorative talents can be enjoyed by those who visit his home, a National Trust estate -- with the obelisk from Philae still raised on the south lawn.

Enhanced by many of Bankes's drawings and paintings, this engaging story is full of vivid detail about the beginnings of Egyptology, Regency England, and a fascinating individual, and it sets the record straight about Bankes's crucial role in setting the stage for the work of later scholars.

From the Hardcover edition.
Expand title description text
Art Biography & Autobiography History Nonfiction