Innovation No. 58 of 77 in the book
Tourist Graffiti
Visitors carved their names into ancient monuments
- When
- c. 1250 BCE
- Dynasty
- 19th Dynasty
- Era
- New Kingdom
The urge to scrawl ‘I was here’ at a famous site is ancient — and the oldest tourist graffiti we can read is Egyptian, from around 1250 BCE.
By the New Kingdom, the pyramids were already 1,000-year-old monuments, and Egyptians visited them as tourists. A scribe named Hadnakht left a note admiring the ‘beautiful’ temple of kings long dead.
They signed their names, praised the view, and dated their visit — exactly what people carve into monuments today.
The world’s first ‘I was here’ was scratched by an Egyptian sightseer.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the earliest archaeological evidence for tourist graffiti in ancient Egypt?
The earliest confirmed evidence dates to approximately 1250 BCE during Egypt's New Kingdom (19th Dynasty). The urge to scrawl ‘I was here’ at a famous site is ancient — and the oldest tourist graffiti we can read is Egyptian, from around 1250 BCE.
How did ancient Egyptians develop tourist graffiti, and what is its legacy?
By the New Kingdom, the pyramids were already 1,000-year-old monuments, and Egyptians visited them as tourists. A scribe named Hadnakht left a note admiring the ‘beautiful’ temple of kings long dead. By the New Kingdom, the pyramids were already 1,000-year-old monuments, and Egyptians visited them as tourists. A scribe named Hadnakht left a note admiring the ‘beautiful’ temple of kings long dead. The world’s first ‘I was here’ was scratched by an Egyptian sightseer.