Sir John Gardiner Wilkinson had a very interesting life in Egypt, Wilkinson lived during the ‘golden age of scholarship and adventure’ — between Champollion’s decipherment of hieroglyphics and the discovery of King Tutankhamun's tomb in 1922. Whilst living in Egypt he dressed in the style of a Turk, his friend Robert Hay joined him bringing with him a Greek woman, that he had bought in the market of slaves in Cairo, even though Slavery was not pursued in England, it was actively accepted in Egypt during the period of time. Wilkinson married his slave, as initially she would not have anything to do with the 'infidel'. Many interesting characters came into his tomb home, which became an inescapable passage known to all, and famous for its comfort, parties and receptions were given regularly.
Wilkinson actually lived inside a tomb halfway up the hill of Sheikh Abd el-Qurna, on the West Bank of Thebes (luxor) this area was known as the Village of the Tomb Robbers, he built his garden around the entrance to the tomb of Ahmose, he had a Pidgeon house, a grand mudbrick tower and surrounding wall to enclose a garden and courtyard to obscure the monumental portico of the original tomb. His guests arrived on thursday nights and enjoyed a relaxing evening surrounded by the beauty of the tomb reliefs in his home.
His local neighbors were the Rassoul family, tomb robbers who had found a tomb (DB320) with the mummies of over fifty Kings and royalty in a tomb near to the Temple of Hatshepsut, they had kept the tomb a secret for over ten years, and sold artifacts to tourists during the winters, the kings had been taken from their own tombs in the Valley of the Kings to supposedly protect them from Tomb Robbers.
Ahmed Rassoul also lived in a tomb on the hillside with his mother fendia, his daughter and granddaughter, his mother can be seen wearing a pharaonic collar
Wilkinson's own tomb home could be seen from most of the valley below because of the portico and pillars which form its monumental entry, the tomb belongs to Amethu called Ahmose, who carried the titles of Mayor of the City (Thebes) who was the Vizier of Tuthmosis 111, which is the highest position in the land, and when the King was absent from the country on campaigns Ahmose was responsible of all duties of Egypt on behalf of Tuthmosis 111
Wilkinson began his Egyptian studies during a very important time in the development of Egyptology, he became friends with Champollion who had actually deciphered the hieroglyphics, Although he had the utmost respect for his friend Champollion he was able to correct through research some of Champollion's mistakes
During his stay in Egypt , Wilkinson visited virtually every known ancient Egyptian site, and skillfully recorded inscriptions and paintings as a talented copyist and compiling copious notes, he published his most significant work ' Manners and Customs of the Ancient Egyptians' Acclaim for this publication brought Wilkinson a knighthood in 1839 and ensured him the title of the first distinguished British Egyptologist.
He remained in Egypt until 1833, traveling extensively through the country. He learned Coptic and Arabic, and continued his study of Hieroglyphics, there was hardly an ancient Egyptian site known at that time that Wilkinson did not visit and record in his notebooks. His interest was almost an obsession. There was no inscription, regardless of how small or incomplete that was too insignificant for his attention.
Whilst living on the West Bank Wilkinson copied scenes and inscriptions in the tombs of the Nobles, One morning he walked over to the Valley of the Kings and he assigned numbers to the twenty tombs that were known during that period in time, establishing the numbering system still used today. In fact, modern Egyptologists frequently consult his notes on Thebes particularly for private tomb scenes which were copied by him but since have been damaged or even completely destroyed. Through this work, he was able to identify the names of many of the ancient Egyptian kings for the first time. His copies of texts and other drawings are extremely precise,
Wilkinson was a pioneer of Egyptology and he is often rereferred to as 'the Father of British Egyptology'. He copied scenes and inscriptions in the private tombs of the Nobles, and also surveyed the known tombs in the Valley of the Kings, and produced the first comprehensive plan of ancient Thebes, as well as a chronology of the New Kingdom dynasties, modern Egyptologists frequently consult his notes on Thebes particularly for private tomb scenes which were copied by him but since have been damaged or even completely destroyed. Through this work, he was able to identify the names of many of the ancient Egyptian kings for the first time. His copies of texts and other drawings are extremely precise.
Wilkinson returned to England for his health's sake in 1833, he went on to publish his researches in a large number of publications. His most significant publication was Manners and Customs of the Ancient Egyptians, it was first published in three volumes in 1837 and was illustrated by Joseph Bonomi. Acclaim for this publication brought Wilkinson a knighthood in 1839 and ensured him the title of the first distinguished British Egyptologist.
My BLOG was inspired by the writing of Chris Naunton and his new publication Egyptologists Notebook, that brings this period of time, its excellent characters and how they brought ancient Egypt to the attention of the world. It is a really good read.
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