Paul Lucas (traveller)

Paul Lucas (1664 in Quevilly near Rouen – 1737 in Madrid) was a French merchant, naturalist, physician and antiquarian to King Louis XIV. He travelled extensively in Greece, Turkey, the Levant and Egypt, in three major voyages (1699–1703), (1704–1708) and (1714–1717). He was the son of Centurion Lucas, well known book printer and publisher in Rouen and Judith Mauclerc.

In 1688, he served with the Venetians at the Siege of Negroponte. In 1696 he returned to France with a large collection of medals and other antiquities which were purchased for the French Royal Cabinet. This brought him to the attention of the court and he then began the series of three voyages.

Lucas is one of the earliest sources of information from Upper Egypt, visiting among other places Thebes (though he does not identify it) and the Nile up to the cataracts.

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