Pococke, Egyptian Rock Tombs at Hajar Silsili, 1776, Print

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Ancient Egyptian Rock Tombs at Hajar Silsili – 1776 Dutch Engraving by Pococke This finely executed 18th-century engraving presents a … Read more Ancient Egyptian Rock Tombs at Hajar Silsili – 1776 Dutch Engraving by Pococke This finely executed 18th-century engraving presents a detailed architectural elevation and plan of the rock-cut tombs at Hajar Silsili (also spelled Gebel el-Silsila), a prominent archaeological site in Upper Egypt. The print is plate XLVII from the rare 1776 Dutch edition of *Beschryving van het Oosten* ( of the East) by Richard Pococke, translated and annotated by Ernst Willem Cramerus. The image combines a cross-sectional view and a frontal elevation of the temple façades carved into the sandstone cliffs along the Nile. The tombs feature characteristic Egyptian architectural elements such as columned porches, pylon-like entrances, and inscribed stele, all rendered with scientific precision and antiquarian interest. Beneath the structures, the engraving reveals an underground plan of chambers and corridors, giving insight into the burial architecture and layout. This engraving exemplifies the Enlightenment era’s fascination with ancient Egypt and its monuments. Pococke, an English theologian, linguist, and traveler, was among the first European explorers to document Egypt’s ruins systematically. His work was highly influential and widely admired for its meticulous observations and engravings, which were later translated into several languages, including this Dutch edition published in Utrecht, Rotterdam, and Amsterdam. The image is labeled at the bottom in Dutch: *"Gezigte en Platte-grond van Hajar Silsili"*, meaning "View and ground plan of Hajar Silsili." The hills rising behind the monuments add a picturesque quality while also emphasizing the structures' scale and their position carved directly into the living rock of the Nile valley cliffs. Condition report: In good condition with general age-related toning. Light creasing and a central vertical fold as issued. Minor edge wear and faint spotting in the margins. Printed on laid paper with wide margins, plate mark visible. Framing tips: This architectural engraving would look elegant framed in a thin black or antiqued silver frame with a warm ivory or light cream mat. The clarity and symmetry of the image lend themselves well to a clean presentation, ideal for libraries, studies, or collectors of early Egyptology. Technique: Engraving Maker: Richard Pococke, London (Dutch edition published 1776) See less