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PARIS ON THE NILE
An Egyptian tour of the capital
Napoleon Bonaparte's campaign in Egypt and the Orient between 1798 and 1801 led to the rise of an architectural style known as the Egyptian Renaissance in Paris, and generated several monuments across the French capital that drew inspiration from pharaohs, sphinxes and other iconic images for their decoration. But if you wander around like an Egyptian during an afternoon in Paris, you'll find that the Napoleonic era is far from the only influence. Sometimes it seems like pyramids and obelisks are everywhere...
Fellah Fountain
The Fontaine du Fellah was built in 1806 during the reign of Napoleon Bonaparte. It is the work of architect François-Jean Bralle and sculptor Pierre-Nicolas Beauvalet. The fountain was one of fifteen fountains built by Napoleon to provide drinking water to the people of Paris and to commemorate his military campaigns.
Pyramid, Parc Monceau
The park includes a collection of reduced architectural elements, or follies – including an Egyptian pyramid, a Chinese fort, a Dutch windmill and Corinthian pillars. A number of these items are Masonic references, reflecting the fact that Philippe d'Orléans was a prominent Freemason.
Sphinx, Hotel Fieubet
In ancient Egypt, the pharaoh was sometimes depicted as the sphinx, a human-headed lioness. From the earliest written records of man, the lioness was recognized as the fierce hunter of the fearsome species in the cultures of ancient Egypt and Africa and dominated in the pantheons of these ancient cultures as representing warriors and warriors. protectors of the country.
Obelisk of Luxor
Two twin 3,300-year-old obelisks once marked the entrance to Luxor Temple. Muhammad Ali Pasha, the Wāli and self-proclaimed Khedive of Egypt, gifted the two obelisks to France in 1829. In August 1832, the French paddle steamer Sphinx traveled to Alexandria to meet the barge Louqsor there, which was to load the obelisk of Luxor and bring it to Paris.
The Man with the Arm Raised by Olivier Brice, Place du Caire
Works of art and architecture in the Egyptian style have been made or built occasionally on the European mainland and the British Isles since the time of the Renaissance.
Facade of the Passage du Caire, in the Sentier district
Among the earliest examples of the Renaissance in France is the Passage du Caire building built in 1798. The exterior of the stone structure features large engaged Hathor heads, a freize and other more subtle architectural influences of ancient Egypt.
Luxor cinema
Opened in 1921 as an independent cinema, the Louxor was taken over by the Pathe chain and then finally closed for more than 25 years. In 2003, the City of Paris bought the site. After undergoing a major renovation, the Luxor reopened in April 2013.
Nubian lion fountain
While the Egyptians ruled Nubia, they documented the worship of Dedun as a god of wealth and prosperity, believed to be the son of the Nubian lioness goddess, although they did not incorporate this deity into their own pantheon.
Palm Tree Fountain
The Fontaine du Palmier (1806-1808) is the largest fountain built during the reign of Napoleon that still exists.
The pyramid of Louvre
The Louvre Pyramid is surrounded by three smaller pyramids, in the main courtyard (Cour Napoléon) of the Louvre Palace. The Great Pyramid serves as the main entrance to the Louvre Museum. Completed in 1989, it has become a landmark of the city of Paris.
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