La Science et guerre : Dévoilement Egypte (1 Viewer)

[PolarBear]

Science & War: Unveiling Egypt

"Napoleon is not remembered as a scientist, but he thought of himself as one. He was trained as a military engineer and had considerable mathematical skills. In 1797, he was elected to membership in the National Institute, the foremost scientific society in post-Revolutionary France.

When the directive to invade Egypt came down, Napoleon saw it as an opportunity to make the founding country of western culture a province of the greatest country in modern Europe. And he wanted to bring a gift — the gift of modern science — to help the Egyptians map their country, manage the Nile, raise their agricultural and industrial output, improve the standard of living, and invigorate the intellectual climate. Accordingly, he decided to take with him a corps of scholars, trained in engineering, astronomy, natural history, topography, manufacturing, and linguistics."

For more on this aspect of Napoelon's Expedition to Egypt see

http://www.lindahall.org/events_exhib/exhibit/exhibits/napoleon/index.shtml

 

[REVWARBUFF]

Randy,

That is so well done. Your terrific research provides a great history lesson here for those of us who are not very familiar with Napoleon. Great scene and I see you put that new Sphinx right to work. Napoleon and science.........who would have thought that?

Mark

 

[PolarBear]

Thanks Mark

There is actually an entire book on the subject:

 

[Mitch]

Superb picture
Mitch

 

[kogu]

Great work, Randy!
Konrad :salute::

 

[RISORGIMENTO]

fantastic Randy, your skill is amazing
Carlo

 

[OldDragon]

Randy, a masterpiece as usual. Thank you for sharing.

Will try to get the book. Meanwhile, can you tell if there are any pictures of how the scientific contingent dressed ... Were they in civilian type clothes or military type ?

OD

 

[wwiibuff]

Great photo Randy and thanks for the info to go along with it.

 

[wayne556517]

Well done again mate,ive seen those NAPS over John,s house and they are superb just like your pic Randy.

 

[Guy]

Randy, although I am not into Nap's , I must say very well done . "Chapeau" as they say in French
guy

 

[PolarBear]

From Egyptomania to Egyptology

Another consequence of Napoleon's Scientific Expedition to Egypt was the rise of Egyptomania in both Europe and America.

"Egyptomania was the renewed interest of Europeans in ancient Egypt during the nineteenth century as a result of Napoleon's Egyptian Campaign (1798–1801) and, in particular, as a result of the extensive scientific study of ancient Egyptian remains and culture inspired by this campaign. In addition to its aesthetic impact on literature, art and architecture, it also played a role in the discussion about race, gender and national identity."

Eventually this cultural phenomenon transformed into the academic discipline of Egyptology. Remember, it was the French under Napoleon who discovered the Rosetta Stone that eventually led to an understanding of Egyptian hieroglyphs. The stone subsequently came into the hands of the British, but it was French scholar Jean-François Champollion who published the first full translation in 1822.


This variation on my previous photo is meant to convey the excitement of the French contact with Ancient Egypt, its artifacts and form of writing as it was introduced to them by the local population.

 

[PolarBear]

Thank you and merci beaucoup to Mitch, Duke, OD, Carlo. Konrad, and Mitch.
The NE series is great for collectors like me who enjoy doing small historic vignettes of the military away from the battlefield.

Randy

 

[PolarBear]

Randy, a masterpiece as usual. Thank you for sharing.

Will try to get the book. Meanwhile, can you tell if there are any pictures of how the scientific contingent dressed ... Were they in civilian type clothes or military type ?

OD

OD

Here are engravings from the period depicting the scientists with Napoleon at the Institute of Egypt, Cairo in 1798 showing them in civilian dress and Napoleon's artists and engineers at work among the ancient ruins. Hopefully K&C will release figures of some of the scientists.

 

[OldDragon]

Randy, thank you for sharing the engravings.

I hope this will help spur K&C to come out with some of the non-military personalities in the expedition ... And I believe that there were quite a few with significant legacies, like the father of the Suez canal builder.

The officer with the wooden leg shown below ... Looks particularly interesting. And so would Pauline Foures in a hussar uniform

OD

 

[MapleLeaf]

It's very French my freind
Good job

 

[Sans Culotte]

Thanks Mark

There is actually an entire book on the subject:

I'd highly recommend the book to anyone who wants to know more about the savants who accompanied Napoleon. Thanks for the dio, as it combines my own taste for Ancient Egypt & Napoleon's Egyptian campaign.

 

[PolarBear]

Thank you Wayne, Sans Culotte and Mapleleaf

Your kind words are much apprecitated!

Randy

 

[PolarBear]

Randy, thank you for sharing the engravings.

I hope this will help spur K&C to come out with some of the non-military personalities in the expedition ... And I believe that there were quite a few with significant legacies, like the father of the Suez canal builder.

The officer with the wooden leg shown below ... Looks particularly interesting. And so would Pauline Foures in a hussar uniform

OD

Amen to that! Let's lobby Andy!^&grin

 

[Obee]

Randy,

I think I like your second image with the added figures, but thats not undermining your first one, which is also very good.

I love your artistic work, so keep it up

John

 

[Grognard]

Excellent dio Randy! "C'est magnifique et très oriental !".

2 great Napoleonic action thrillers that I am sure you will enjoy if you like this period is "Napoléon's Pyramids" and its sequel "The Rosetta Key" written by William Dietrich. It's all about Napoléon, his Egyptian campaign including the scientific part and some secrets hidden in the mysterious Giza pyramids...Very well written and entertaining!