Belzoni, Soane and Seti I

The Sir John Soane Museum is one of the most extraordinary places in London. It is not really a museum, it is the former home of a great Georgian architect and collector extraordinaire. It is actually three houses knocked into one – that does it an injustice, the houses are intricately interlinked – and all are filled with a cornucopia of antiques, painting, sculpture and architectural bric-a-brac. Rather than me try to describe it any further, take a look at these photographs:

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Basement Ante Room in the Soane Museum. Photo_ Gareth Gardner

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Right now there is more reason than ever for anyone with an interest in Egypt to visit. Soane’s greatest acquisition was the sarcophagus of the pharaoh Seti I, which is on permanent display in the basement space. Running until April is a temporary exhibition on the background to the sarcophagus. It was removed by Belzoni from Seti I’s tomb in the Valley of the Kings and transported to England where it was first offered to the British Museum. When the museum declined to meet Belzoni’s asking price, Soane stepped forward. Getting the 3,000-year-old relic into the house involved knocking down a sizeable chunk of the back wall. When all was done, and the wall rebuilt, Soane then threw a three-day party to introduce London to his new prize possession.

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This exhibition retells the story and also includes some of the wonderful watercolours made by Belzoni and his assistants in Seti’s tomb.

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Even if you can’t make it for the exhibition, Sir John Soane’s home is worth a visit any time you are in London. And the sarcophagus will still be there.

1 Comment

Filed under Egyptologists and Egyptology

One Response to Belzoni, Soane and Seti I

  1. Alex Peck

    Sir John Gardner Wilkinson is considered the foremost early British Egyptologist. A nod to his works…

    https://www.digital-epigraphy.com/reading/gentleman-scholar-and-pioneering-artist-sir-john-gardner-wilkinsons-remarkable-contribution-to-egyptology

    The Jason Thompson biography of Wilkinson is an excellent read.

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