1880s Pyramids and Sphinxes of Ancient Egypt – Mizraim Chromolithographs
DESCRIPTION
This selection of plates illustrates the monumental architecture of ancient Egypt, focusing on the pyramids and associated funerary complexes that defined the Old Kingdom landscape along the Nile. These plates originate from Mizraim, a large folio educational portfolio produced in the late nineteenth century by Samuel A. Binion and published by the American Polytechnic Company of Buffalo, NY, circa 1880.
Detailed architectural diagrams reveal the internal structure of the Great Pyramid at Giza, while other views depict the sphinx monuments and pyramid fields extending into Nubia. Together these prints present some of the most recognizable symbols of Egyptian civilization and highlight the engineering achievements that fascinated archaeologists and travelers throughout the nineteenth century.
Created during a period of intense Western fascination with Egypt following the decipherment of hieroglyphics and the major archaeological expeditions of the nineteenth century, the work translated the discoveries of scholars such as Lepsius and Wilkinson into vividly printed chromolithographs intended for classrooms and public lectures. These prints offer striking visual interpretations of Egyptian antiquity and are among the most dramatic Victorian era illustrations of the monuments of the Nile.
Sakkarah – North Eastern View of the Great Step-Pyramid
This view depicts the Step Pyramid of Djoser at Saqqara, widely regarded as the earliest monumental stone pyramid in Egypt. Small travelers resting in the foreground emphasize the immense scale of the stepped structure rising from the desert plateau.
Meidum – South-West Corner of the Pyramid / The Pyramid of Sneferu
Two views illustrate the partially collapsed Pyramid of Meidum, attributed to Pharaoh Sneferu of the Fourth Dynasty. The upper scene shows fallen masonry at the base, while the lower panorama presents the surviving core tower dominating the surrounding desert landscape.
Gizeh – Topographical Plan of the Pyramids
A detailed survey plan documenting the layout of the Great Pyramid, Second Pyramid, and surrounding tomb complexes at Giza. The plate records early archaeological efforts to map temples, causeways, mastabas, and the surrounding plateau.
Gizeh – Southern View of the Great Pyramids
A sweeping panorama of the three pyramids of Giza rising above the desert plain. Figures resting in the foreground reinforce the romantic 19th-century image of travelers encountering the monuments.
Gizeh – View of the Great and Second Pyramids
A dramatic engraving showing the Great Pyramid of Khufu and the Pyramid of Khafre towering over the surrounding dunes. Small caravans emphasize the immense scale of the monuments.
Gizeh – Vertical Section and Details of the Great Pyramid
A technical architectural diagram presenting a cross-section of the Great Pyramid, revealing internal chambers, corridors, and structural design. Additional diagrams illustrate construction details and inscriptions.
Gizeh – Sections of the Gallery in the Great Pyramid
Two interior views depict explorers ascending the Grand Gallery within the Great Pyramid by torchlight. The dramatic vertical composition highlights the remarkable engineering of the passageways.
Gizeh – The Second Pyramid
A detailed landscape view of the Pyramid of Khafre on the Giza plateau. The plate captures the monument’s massive stone blocks and the rugged desert terrain surrounding it.
Gizeh – South East View of the Sphinx and Great Pyramid
This striking composition places the Great Sphinx prominently in the foreground with the Great Pyramid rising behind it. Visitors nearby provide a sense of scale for the colossal sculpture.
Gizeh – South East View of the Sphinx and Second Pyramid
Another view of the Great Sphinx, here shown with the Second Pyramid of Khafre in the background. The scene captures both monuments within the sweeping desert landscape.
Androsphinx and Criosphinx (XVIII Dynasty)
This sheet illustrates two sculptural forms of Egyptian sphinxes. The Androsphinx features a human head and lion’s body, while the Criosphinx presents a ram-headed guardian associated with the god Amun.
Pyramids of Barkal
A view of the pyramids at Gebel Barkal in Nubia, constructed by the Kushite rulers who adopted Egyptian pyramid traditions. A caravan crossing the desert highlights the remote setting of these monuments south of Egypt.
CONDITION
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