Travel Back to Victorian Egypt

These rare photos by the Zangaki brothers were once souvenirs for European tourists.

Travel Back to Victorian Egypt

Travel Back to Victorian Egypt

By Adrian Lam

During the Victorian era, fascination with Egyptian antiquities was at an all time high. During the English occupation of Egypt, tourist from all over Europe would flock to the ancient city to see one of the seven wonders of the ancient world.

Two Greek brothers, C. and G. Zangaki, would capitalize on the boom the booming industry and produce souvenirs for European tourist photographing the ancient ruins, the bustling cities of Cairo and Port Said, as well as posed shots of Egyptian peoples.

Although little is know about the Zangaki brothers, their pictures serve as a reminder of an age of discovery and curiosity.

European tourists on camels pose with their guides in front of the Sphinx and one of the Great Pyramids of Egypt. (Rijks Museum/Europeana)
Palms groves on the Nile near the pyramids (Museum fur Kunst und Gewerbe/Europeana)
Statue of Memphis at Sakkara (Museum fur Kunst und Gewerbe/Europeana)
Obelisk of Heliopolis- Senusret I (Europeana)

Portrait of two veiled women circa 1895. (Rijksmuseum/Europeana)
https://www.europeana.eu/portal/en/record/90402/RP_F_00_5365_9.html?q=Zangaki

Turkish woman on couch. (Museum fur Kunst und Gewerbe/Europeana)
Six men around the gateway to the pyramid of Khufu. (Rijks Museum/Europeana)
Three women climb one of the Great Pyramids of Giza with the help of local guides. (Rijks Museum/Europeana)
A Besharin man on a camel with shield and spear (C&G Zangaki/Rijksmuseum)
Bacharin woman (Rijks Museum/Europeana)
Bicharin soldier (Rijks Museum/Europeana)
River view at a mosque in Alexandria (Rijks Museum/Europeana)
View of Cairo and Al-Hussein Mosque (Museum fur Kunst und Gewerbe/Europeana)
A man stands on the head of the Great Sphinx (Rijks Museum/Europeana)
Flooded banks of the Nile (Rijksmuseum/Europeana)
Mecca caravan passing by a dredging barge. (Museum fur Kunst und Gewerbe/Europeana)
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