Thebes, near Luxor, Egypt. Part of the gigantic bust of Ramesses II is successfully removed by circus performer Giovanni Battista Belzoni, using a hydraulic system and hundreds of men to lift the bust (almost 3 meters tall and weighing 7 tons) onto wooden logs and transfer it to a barge on the Nile. Napoleon had attempted this several years earlier, in 1798, but failed, breaking the statue into two pieces, one weighing 7 tons and the other 13 tons. A large hole, about 10 cm in diameter, remains in the statue, likely from that attempt. Consider that during the time of the ancient Egyptians, they had transported the entire 20-ton bust there, likely using techniques similar to those used by Giovanni Battista Belzoni.
