Photographs of the Pyramids of Giza taken at the height of colonialism show tourists climbing the massive structures and offer more insight into the evolution of tourism in Egypt.
While it’s forbidden for tourists nowadays to clamber up Egypt’s pyramids to take a snap, back in Victorian times it was all the rage.
European holidaymakers clad in three-piece suits or long formal dresses and hats had their photographs taken while climbing landmarks and sitting on top of camels at the country’s most recognizable icons including King Khufu’s tomb and the sphinx in Giza.
These vintage photographs capture tourists enjoying picnics and having an after-lunch nap, inside a temple with hieroglyphics.
While it’s forbidden for tourists nowadays to clamber up Egypt’s pyramids to take a snap, back in Victorian times it was all the rage.
European holidaymakers clad in three-piece suits or long formal dresses and hats had their photographs taken while climbing landmarks and sitting on top of camels at the country’s most recognizable icons including King Khufu’s tomb and the sphinx in Giza.
These vintage photographs capture tourists enjoying picnics and having an after-lunch nap, inside a temple with hieroglyphics.
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| 1860 |
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| 1867 |
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| 1867 |
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| 1880 |
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| c.1880. European holidaymakers clad in three-piece suits or long formal dresses and hats had their photographs taken at the country’s most iconic landmarks including the Sphinx of Giza. |
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| 1882 |
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| c.1890. The Sphinx before excavation with tribesmen, a tourist and camels and the pyramids of Kephren (left) and Cheops (right) beyond at Giza. |
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| 1895 |
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| c.1898. Formally attired Victorian holidaymakers nap after having a wine-fuelled picnic inside a temple. |
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| c.1898. European tourists enjoying a meal inside a temple with a backdrop of hieroglyphics while a local waits on them with a bottle of wine. |
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| c.1900 |
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| c.1900. Tourists brave the heat in long skirts, jackets and hats while sitting atop camels attended to by locals. In the background of this shot from 1900 is the pyramid and sphinx at Giza. |
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| c.1900 |
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| c.1900 |
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| c.1900. A group of holidaymakers - dressed for a summer party - are helped as they climb up a pyramid to get the ultimate vantage point. |
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| c.1900. A group of men rest at the top. |
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| c.1900. Photographer Lewis Larsson composes a photo from atop the Great Pyramid. |
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| c.1900 |
