Intro Screen
The Description de l’Egypte was the outcome of the collaboration of more than 150
prominent scholars and scientists who accompanied Napoleon Bonaparte in 1798, and
some 2000 talented artists and technicians. For over 20 years, they systematically
examined almost every aspect of contemporary and ancient Egyptian civilization,
producing 20 volumes of text and plates of unmatched accuracy and detail. Historically
these engravings became the most comprehensive record and inventory of Egypt’s land
and monuments.
Today, with the efforts of the BA International School of Information Science (ISIS), the
preservation of this valuable collection has been possible. The 11 plate volumes, owned
by the Bibliotheca Alexandrina, and the 9 text volumes, owned by l’Institut d’Egypte,
have been fully digitized, integrated on a virtual browser and made accessible to the
public through this pioneering endeavor.
History Screen
Description de l’Egypte
Description de l’Egypte was the outcome of the collaboration of more than 150
prominent scholars and scientists who accompanied Bonaparte to Egypt in 1798. They
systematically examined almost every aspect of contemporary and ancient Egyptian
civilization.
The Description de l’Egypte was the outcome of a 20-year process, dependent on the
talents and industry of some 2,000 mechanics, draftsmen, cartographers, typographers
and engravers. Nothing similar had ever been attempted before. Not only did it give an
illustrated account of Egypt’s historic, cultural, artistic and religious treasures; it also
described the topography and provided a detailed description of the flora, fauna and
mineralogy of the country. Every aspect of Egyptian life known during that period was
precisely and accurately described.
In 1802, Bonaparte ordered the Imperial Press to begin publishing the visual record. The
monumental work was published, in parts, between 1809 and 1822, in 20 volumes,
known as the Imperial edition.
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It included over 900 plates (hand-colored copperplate-engravings) and some 3000
illustrations representing an exhaustive record of Egyptian history, architecture, antiquity,
geography, natural history, botany and the humanities. It is found in various editions of
varying numbers of volumes: often at least 9 volumes of text, and 11 volumes of plates.
The first edition proved so popular that the second edition, also known as the Royal
edition, was published in Paris, by C. Panckoucke from 1821–1829, comprising 26 text
volumes and 11 plates volumes.
The impact of this masterpiece was enormous. It directed the attention of the world to
ancient Egypt, and led to the modern study of its records and early history. Superbly
illustrated and accurately documented, this bibliographical rarity had the effect of
awakening the interest of the West in Egypt and drawing attention to the Pharaonic and
Muslim civilizations which had flourished there. It hence served as a turning point in the
Western study and perception of Egypt and paved the way for the birth of modern
Egyptology.
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As a result, the country’s daily life, natural history and antiquity had a lasting influence
on the arts in Europe and the world.
Today, through the efforts of the BA International School of Information Science (ISIS),
the digital preservation of this valuable collection has been possible. The complete
volumes of plates and text have been fully digitized, integrated on a virtual browser and
made accessible to the public through this remarkable and inspiring project.
Text Screen
Text Volumes
The cultural and scientific elite of France, accompanying the expeditionary force,
compiled information sufficient to produce what was then the largest publication in the
world. A Commission of Science and Art, and l’Institut d’Egypte were founded. Under
their aegis, virtually all Egypt’s patrimony was systematically cataloged, mapped and
meticulously described, from the obelisks to the vast statues on the banks of the Nile, as
well as the country’s flora and fauna. The 9 volumes of text hold comprehensive
information about modern Egyptian society, as well as Egypt’s physical environment and
natural resources.
Plate Screen
Plate Volumes
The 11 volumes of plates have been recorded in three sections: Antiquities, the Modern
State and Natural History. Hundreds of artists participated to produce more than 3000
illustrations in a large size approximately 52  71cm format, edited by the best minds.
The illustrations cover wide-ranging themes such as historical constructions, flora and
fauna, landscapes, customs of the inhabitants, industries, commerce, agriculture, tools
and goods for daily use.
L’Institut d’Egypte screen
L’Institut d’Egypte
Between 20 and 22 August 1798, less than two months after landing at Alexandria, the
young Napoleon Bonaparte, member of the Institut de France, and General-in-Chief,
with some famous scholars and some young enthusiasts, set up the Institut d’Egypte in
Cairo.
Its first scholars were in charge of the research, study and publication of physical,
industrial and historical facts about Egypt and were to produce the Description de
l’Egypte. A focal point for intellectual pursuit in Egypt, the Institut is the oldest
functioning academy of sciences and arts outside Europe.
Monge, Fourier, Berthollet, Caffarelli, Saint–Hilaire and mathematician Louis Costaz, all
members of the National Institute, joined René Desgenettes and Antoine–François
Andreossy in helping to formulate the purpose, regulations and composition of the new
academic society.
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Members of the Institut d’Egypte were in charge of the research and study of physical,
industrial and historical facts about Egypt and published findings that stemmed from their
activities as members of that body. Since a goal of the Institute was to propagate
knowledge, it summarized their research in its own journal, La Decade Egyptienne. In
addition, it printed a newspaper, the Courrier d’Egypte, which offered specific details
about the work of Scientific and Artistic Commission and the Institute. In addition, a
significant amount of the information in the Description de l’Egypte was compiled by
members of the Institut d’Egypte.
The Institut d’Egypte became the focal point for scholarly work in Egypt, and provided
both actual space and structure for scholarly discourse.
Bibliotheca Alexandrina screen
Bibliotheca Alexandrina
The Bibliotheca Alexandrina (BA), the New Library of Alexandria, is dedicated to
recapture the spirit of the original, which was a spirit of learning, dialogue and tolerance.
Similarly, the BA aspires to be:
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The world’s window on Egypt;
Egypt’s window on the world;
A leading institution of the digital age; and
A center for learning, tolerance, dialogue and understanding.
To fulfill that role, the new complex of cultural and scientific excellence is much more
than a library. It includes a library that can accommodate millions of books, six
specialized libraries, three museums, seven research centers, three permanent exhibitions,
five art galleries, a planetarium, an Exploratorium and a conference center for thousands
of persons. One of the BA’s focal points of concern is the documentation, digitization,
and preservation of heritage.
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This project was initiated and implemented within the International School of
Information Science (ISIS). Founded as a research institute within BA, ISIS acts as an
incubator for digital and technological projects, promoting and nurturing innovations
which view the encompassing aims of the BA as an end goal. Hence, this project of
digitizing one of the most important works on Egypt—the Description de l’Egypte—
fulfills an integral part of BA’s mission.
Visit the BA’s website www.bibalex.org for more information on the BA complex,
projects and events.