Mottled branches reach for the sky, and an ocean of softly deteriorating stone graves, rubbed by hands as much as time, welcome the visitors of Highgate East cemetery. Visiting the prestigious and historical burial ground, one is quick to notice the sudden and stupendous shift in the towering substructures. The East cemetery is home not only to the dead, but to a fascinating ‘egyptomania’ influence of Victorian era Britain: the Egyptian Avenue. An obsession with ancient Egypt is commonly referred to as egyptomania. From Katy Perry’s ‘Dark horse’ video (2013) to the Washington monument in Washington D.C., one definition of the term refers to the endless ways ancient Egyptian motifs are repurposed in modern-day trends and projects. “One of the most stunning sights of the Cemetery, a bit of ancient Egypt has found its way to north London,” reads the official website of Highgate. And indeed, well beyond the statue of a dog reclining fondly on Victorian bare-knuckle boxer, Thomas Sayers (1826-1865)’s tombstone, and the dozen standing angel statues with wings frozen mid-flutter amidst a mass of euphemisms etched onto tombstones, lies the all-too-recognizable makeshift ancient Egyptian-inspired structures. Visitors and…
UK Egyptomania: The Curious Case of the Egyptian Avenue in Highgate Cemetery
February 12, 2023
