The extraordinary story of how an obelisk from the banks of Luxor was transferred to the Place de la Concorde in Paris in the early 19th century
Transporting the Luxor obelisk from Egypt to Paris was one of the great engineering triumphs of the early nineteenth century. No obelisk this size (two hundred and fifty tons) had left Egypt in nearly two thousand years, and the task of bringing it fell to a young engineer, Apollinaire Lebas, a man of extraordinary resolve and ability. His is a tale of adventure, excitement, and drama, but one hardly known to the English-speaking world.

Lebas' team was struck by the plague; they ran out of wood; they had to wait four months for the Nile to rise to free their beached ship. But in the end, The Luxor, with its precious cargo on board, sailed down the Nile. On October 25, 1836 before two hundred thousand cheering Parisians, Lebas raised his obelisk. He was rewarded handsomely by his king, a medal with his name on it was struck, and his body lies in the famous Pere Lachaise Cemetery in Paris along with French luminaries. Now this first-ever translation of Lebas's account, including digitally enhanced copies of his beautiful drawings, makes his remarkable story available to a wide audience.

The extraordinary story of how an obelisk from the banks of Luxor was transferred to the Place de la Concorde in Paris in the early 19th century

About the Author

Jean-Baptiste Apollinaire Lebas, born 1797, was a French engineer who in 1830 was charged with transferring an obelisk from Luxor to France. He was widely celebrated for this achievement.

Bob Brier is a world-famous Egyptologist who has conducted research on pyramids, obelisks, and mummies in fifteen countries. A senior research fellow at the C.W. Post campus of Long Island University, he is the author of seven books, including The Murder of Tutankhamen, and hosted The Great Egyptians which aired on TLC.

Colette Fossez Sumner is adjunct instructor of Romance Languages and Literatures at Hofstra University.

Reviews

"A delightful work, outlining the story of an obelisk's journey in the nineteenth century from Egypt to Paris, replete with technical details and endearing insights into the travails and tribulations endured by the team that moved this massive monument. Brier and Sumner's translation and notes also provides historical insights into the adventure of the obelisk."-Salima Ikram

"This narrative is full of passion, thrill and adventure regarding one of the most iconic monuments of Egyptomania in the world."-Zahi Hawass

"Highly recommended."-CHOICE

"This translation is to be welcomed."-Chris Elliott, Egyptian Archaeology

"A tale of adventure, excitement and drama"-Egypt Today

Book Information
ISBN 9781617979958
Author Jean-Baptiste Apollinaire Lebas
Format Hardback
Page Count 256
Imprint American University in Cairo Press
Publisher American University in Cairo Press
Weight(grams) 900g