THE STORY OF "DESCRIPTION OF EGYPT"

Upon his visit to the Scientific Academy built by Napoleon Bonaparte during the time of the French Expedition, the great historian Abdur-Rahman al Jabarti describes the books and atlases in addition to the Arab writings that Bonaparte had brought from France, mainly to attract the attention of Egyptian intellectuals and to show off his interest in Islamic culture
The primary mission of French orientalists who accompanied the Expedition was to create bridges of understanding and cordiality between the Egyptian people and the French invaders presenting translations of the French leadership instructions understandable by common people.

Influenced by their readings of French orientalists, the French Cultural Cohort envisioned Egypt as an earthly paradise. However, as they first stepped into the country they were shocked to face difficulties inconceivable to them, as they were neglected by the military. The scholars lived in harsh conditions, difficult terrain and with scarce water. Worse, the Egyptians looked upon them as invaders.

Yet, their suffering came to an end as Napoleon Bonaparte moved into Cairo. They had the chance of living in appropriate houses. When he decided to establish the Egyptian Scientific Academy, Bonaparte had in mind the image of its French counterpart. To this end, he selected as members a galaxy of physicians, engineers, various scientists, artists, journalists, archeologists and economists. On the other hand, Bonaparte got built for the first time a museum for Egyptian antiquities, that comprises ancient Egyptian coffins, mummies, together with the Rosetta Stone. The museum was initially based in as-Sanary House that still survives nearby as-Sayeda Zeinab Mosque.

Most of the orientalists accompanying the Expedition were selected among experienced and qualified consuls, translators employed in near eastern embassies or scholars in the School of Oriental Languages in Paris that replaced the "bond of specialists in languages of prospective colonies. Among the lecturers was "Venteur", director of the Scientific Academy who died in 1799 during the siege of Acre. He was succeeded by Emide Juper who later translated "Geography" by al-Idreesi. He also compiled a research on bedouins on the Palestinian borders, for inclusion in "Description of Egypt".

Most orientalists who accompanied the French Expedition were students of "Sylvestre de Sas", the grand instructor of a galaxy of orientalists. One of those was De La Porte who provided cartographers with a list of names of towns and villages in Latin for insertion in Egypt's map. He also compiled a brief study on the history of Mamluks for "Description of Egypt". Jan Joseph Marcel was instrumental in disseminating Arab civilization in France.

He was commissioned by Bonaparte to manage the national printing press in Egypt. In October 1798, as the French cannons were shelling al-Azhar Mosque to quench the Cairo revolution, Marcel rushed into fire flames to rescue the invaluable Quranic texts. After the end of the Expedition, he was appointed director of the National Printing House in Paris so as to assist with the publishing of "Description of Egypt". He had already contributed to the book significant studies on the Nile Meter at al-Gezira, Ibn-Tolon Mosque and the Kufi Caligraphy. In addition, he published two books that reflected his experiences in Egypt in Egypt and his extensive knowledge of the Islamic world.

Furthermore, Engineers of Science and Arts Committee had the credit of introducing Pharaonic art. They inserted into "Description of Egypt" features of the Pharaonic civilization, including architecture, sculpture and arts during the modern kingdom and the Ptolemic age. In June, 1799 the famous Egyptologist Vivan Dinion met in Qena the first mission of engineers to examine the conditions of the Nile waters, led by mathematician "Piere Simon Gerand".

The mission included "Philier de Tirage" and "Goulois" who were the first to introduce the objective description method that was the only means of depicting the Egyptian monuments before the invention of photography. In this respect, they were the first to accurately copy the inscriptions of the horoscope at Dandara Temple that fascinated them. They also discovered Amnehotep III. When they arrived at al-Karnak Temple, the two engineers were overwhelmed by its grandeur and colossus. They even spent hours copying its eye-catching inscriptions.

Several months of the departure of the first expedition to Upper Egypt, two other expeditions followed. The first, composed of 12 members, was headed by a cadastral engineer. The second, composed of 11 members, was headed by a mathematician. One member discovered Edfo Temple that lay buried under the sand whereon peasants cottages were built. He could identify the road to al-Cab Tombs on the western bank of the Nile. These tombs bore inscriptions showing scenes of agricultural life such as hunting, sowing and harvest.

When members of both missions arrived to Luxor, they examined Luxor tombs, al-Karnak, Ramsium, al-Gorna and Habu city; they also discovered the valley of kings tombs. Unfortunately, they had time to see only the tomb of RamsisIII known as "the harp-player's tomb".

Accordingly, the French expedition scientists had succeeded in surmounting all obstacles that had persisted for 18 centuries to access 12 royal tombs. When they arrived in Gerga, the commander of the military garrison guided them to a heap of ruins west of the Nile in Abydos earlier mentioned by ancient historians. They studied the great temple of Setil, which they first thought to be a palace buried into sand.

When both missions came to an end and scientists returned back to Cairo in October and November 1799, their portfolios were packed with drawings and data that served as useful material for their book "Description of Egypt". They tried to return to France so as to compile these drawings and data into the book but they remained in Egypt until the surrender of General Mineau in 1801. Eventually, those scientists managed to take away those drawings, chants and some monuments to France. However, the British confiscated the Rosetta Stone and Neftanbo Tomb, which were kept at the British Museum.

As soon as the scientists arrived to France, the mission earlier supported by Napoleon was restarted until a decision was issued in 1802 so as to publish "Description of Egypt" or "Wasf Masr" at the expense of the public library and to pay fixed salaries to staff involved. Scientists worked on a map for Egypt, depending on collected documents of which some were seized by the British.

According to the introduction, Egypt was a meeting point between Africa and Asia, Europe with East and memories with reality. It is the birth place of arts that includes endless number of monuments.Its main temples and palaces built during the era of the Pharoahs still exist. The latest of those monuments were contemporary to the Trojan war. Homer, Lycorgus, Solon, Pythagoras, and Plato came to Egypt to learn about its sciences, creeds and laws. Moreover, Alexander the Greart constructed a wonderful city that remained for long the prime trading harbour.

Thus "The Description of Egypt" was typical of European attempts to understand and unravel the mystery of the orient in anticipation of occupying its landsand draining down its wealth.
"The Description of Egypt" comprises materials that belong more to science than to letters. It is composed of 12 large-size volumes of maps, lists and drawings, and 24 volumes of texts. It is noteworthy that the birth of "Egyptology" owes much to "The Description of Egypt" and was complemented by Champollion's discovery of Rosetta Stone