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Giovanni Battista Caviglia (1770 inGenoa – 7 September 1845, in Paris) was an Italian explorer, navigator and Egyptologist. He was one of the pioneers of Egyptian archeology of his time.[1] He was influential in the excavation of theSphinx of Giza near Cairo.
He was born inGenoa in 1770 at a time when the city was the capital of theRepublic of Genoa.[1] He spent most of his life sailing in theMediterranean in which he became a merchant captain.[2][3]
When he decided to start his career as an explorer, he left his ship moored in Alexandria and offered his services to various collectors. Most of his excavations were carried out on behalf of the British Consul GeneralHenry Salt.
Between 1816 and 1817, he explored theGreat Pyramid of Giza where he made important discoveries, including the descending corridor, the bottom of the well service and unfinished underground room.
In 1817, Salt hired him to excavate the Great Sphinx at Giza, which over the centuries had been almost totally covered by the desert sand.
The last dig around the Sphinx had been carried out in 160 AD by order of the Roman EmperorMarcus Aurelius. As the excavations continued under Caviglia, he came upon an array of ancient Egyptian artifacts and inscriptions in Greek and Latin.
In 1819, he had to suspend his research.
During excavations carried out in 1820 on behalf of the British in the ancient capital ofMemphis, about 20 km south of Cairo, he made another "sensational" discovery: theColossus of Ramses II. This huge statue oflimestone was found near the south gate of theTemple of Ptah, near the village of Mit Rahina. Despite missing its feet, the statue measured over 10 meters tall. The statue was offered, through the EgyptologistIppolito Rosellini, to Grand DukeLeopold II of Tuscany who refused the offer due to the difficulties and cost involved in transportation.
Following this, thepasha of EgyptMehmet Ali gave it to theBritish Museum in London, which in turn declined the offer for the same reasons. A museum was then built over the statue where you can still find it today.[4]
In 1835, when he was already 65 years old, the British EgyptologistsRichard William Howard Vyse andJohn Shae Perring hired him as an assistant for their excavations at Giza. The research was carried out using large quantities of gunpowder and took place in the pyramids ofKhufu andMenkaure. The collaboration lasted a couple of years after which Vyse fired him.[2]
Caviglia spent the last years of his life in Paris, where he died on 7 September 1845.
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