Giovanni Battista Belzoni

The Life and Discoveries of Archaeologist Giovanni Battista Belzoni
Giovanni Battista Belzoni was born on 15th November 1178, in Padua- north-eastern of Italy. At the age of 16, he went to Rome on foot to study hydraulic engineering at a monastery in Rome. After gaining a substantial amount of knowledge about hydraulics, Giovanni travelled to England in 1803. Being brought to England, he became a strongman and performer known as ‘Patagonian Samson’ because he was an individual of immense strength. Wherever he performed, he would also have his hydraulic creations displayed. He performed at the circus for twelve years.

On June 9, 1815, Giovanni and his wife Sarah travelled to Egypt to introduce his hydraulics creation to Mohammed Ali Pasha- who was interested in Egypt’s modernization and technological advancement. After failing, Giovanni was in Egypt without a job. After a while Giovanni met up with a British Consul General named Henry Salt, Henry convinced Giovanni to gather t...