Lantern slide

Title: Crystal Palace, The Egyptian Court

Date: circa 1900

Accession number: IN6648

Measurements: whole: 70 x 75 mm

This slide shows the Egyptian Court at Crystal Palace. At the turn of the 20th century, Egypt was considered an exotic location. The room is decorated with pillars and paintings of ancient deities. It resembles the Egyptian temples and tombs unearthed by European archaeologists. In 1875 the ruler of Egypt sold his shares in the Suez canal to British Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli. Disraeli wanted to prevent the French from gaining control of the waterway. The Egyptians resented this foreign takeover, and when it looked as if they would seize control of the canal, British troops occupied Egypt. The British governed there until 1954, although Egypt was never officially a British colony.