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The engravements of Carlo Vidua and Leonardo had the same marks except for Belzoni and Salt.
Perhaps the first two knew each other or maybe they travelled together with Salt? Why had Vidua's name been partially removed? Had he any enemies? For about ten minutes I anticipated in my mind ten years of studies and voyages for the research of these ones and many other travellers. Inquiries are still going on nowadays: An amatory study and successives ones which are more specific and developed by eminent Egyptologists. This inquiry gave me much satisfaction because I realized that knowledges in this field are still very spead out and not very developped.
My work then consisted in collecting all documentations on the pubblications
of this argument, a kind of "who is who" (see Dawson and Uphill
book) in short, with an amused note regarding to the different writings
about some personalities. This was supported by my little treasure of
photos of names and writings of travellers I collected during my following
tours. And then the rivalry among the various travellers and parties
become evident. The extraordinary story of Egypt in the first half of
the last century comes to the surface: Pasha Mohammed Ali, the internal
wars, the hard competition between the French and English consuls in
the research and recovery of the antiquity: the history of the birth
of modern Egyptology. I admit, it had nearly became a joke like little
boy collect figurines to play with. Life sometimes so serious and heavy,
becomes coloured thanks to these small and futiles emotions.
Owing to inquiries about travellers and using culture information via internet I discovered a characteristic village in Monferrato where there is a "Villa Museum" of the Vidua Counts. His son Carlo was the first traveller I met on my way. It was a pleasure to meet Conzano's Mayor, Mr. Emanuele Demaria, who had kindly given me the use of "Villa Vidua" as a place for the exibition about the travellers. I could not chose a better place!
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