Short History Of Tomb-raiding: The Epic Hunt Fo... May 2026

: Even the earliest Predynastic tombs were plundered for their treasures.

: Many early modern hunts were steeped in the supernatural, with "expert magicians" hired to locate treasure and communicate with guarding spirits like ghosts or djinns. Short History of Tomb-Raiding: The Epic Hunt fo...

: In the early 19th century, figures like Giovanni Battista Belzoni—a former circus strongman—became famous for moving massive artifacts, such as the bust of Ramesses II , from Egypt to European museums. 3. The Modern Era: From Curiosity to Conservation : Even the earliest Predynastic tombs were plundered

: Because tombs were seen as vehicles to the afterlife, robbing them was considered sacrilegious. Legal documents from the 20th Dynasty (1189–1077 B.C.E.) detail trials of gangs who pillaged rock-cut tombs in Thebes. By the medieval and early modern periods, tomb

By the medieval and early modern periods, tomb raiding became more systematic.