Special Offers - Monographs
Description de l'Égypte - ou recueil des observations et des recherches qui ont été faites en Égypte pendant l'expédition de l'armée française:
Publié par les ordres de sa majesté l'empereur Napoléon le Grand.
Saarbrücken : Fines Mundi, 2007.
Facsimile edition of Edition Imperiale 1809-1822 (size of text volumes reduced by circa 15%, plate volumes by circa 30%).
21 volumes ; 30-45 cm.
EUR 1,780.00
HARRASSOWITZ ID 075018505
Originally published by the French government between 1809 -1822, the renowned Description de l'Égypte includes the detailed results of Napoleon's pioneering military and scientific expedition to Egypt (1798-1801) and the first comprehensive illustrated description of ancient and modern Egypt.
In 1798, Napoleon embarked on his legendary expedition to Egypt trying to obtain control of the region from the Turkish Empire. Conquering Egypt, the geographical centerpoint in the axis of trade between Europe, India and the East, was an integral part of Bonaparte's strategic plan. Among the numerous civilians accompanying him, were the "savants", leading French scholars, artists, scientists, engineers and technicians. The task assigned to them was to compile a thorough survey of every aspect of Egypt that could later be used in planning the country's future shape.
The survey was divided into various sections detailing the antiquities, modern architecture, natural history and topography of Egypt. The coordination was assigned to the l'Institut de l'Egypte and so were the plans of having it published eventually.
Following the defeat of the French army, the "savants" returned to France where a committee was established to supervise the editing of the publication. Begun under Napoleon in 1809, Description de l'Égypte was finally completed in 1830. Despite the military failure, the expedition and the resultant Description were a scientific and cultural success beyond everybody's expectations. The publication was recognized to be the "Birth of Egyptology". Prior to Napoleon's invasion, knowledge of Egypt, its culture and antiquities, was limited to the objects brought to Europe by the Romans and nineteenth-century merchants. The exquisite plates and the detailed descriptions of this voluminous work has had a decisive influence on how Egypt has been perceived in the western world ever since.
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