Lady Hester Stanhope, was an upper-class English lady, that travelled to the Middle East in the early 19th century. She conducted physical and spiritual journeys, using various means of transportation such as ships and horseback riding trips between Egypt, Israel, Lebanon and Syria, accompanied by locals who affectionately called her 'Queen of the Desert'. In order to fit in with the men around her, she adopted their riding style and attire and wore a male turban.

On one of her travels, Lady Stanhope arrives at Tel Ashkelon following an Italian treasure map that she came across in Lebanon. She conducted excavations at the site, but the buried treasure was never found.

The local delegation that assisted Lady Stanhope in the excavations unearthed a variety of antiquities, including a headless roman statue, that was mysteriously shattered and destroyed by her.

Lady Stanhope is considered the first archeologist and excavator in the land of Israel.

Our work aims to shed new light on historical figures and integrate them into the history of the local environment.

We are on a journey that combines her character with our own, and her searches with ours.

The journey map

Yael Sonnino-Levy

Tamar Shalit-Avni

#lady_H.S

Ramot-meir