The Eye of Osiris · Character

John Bellingham

An Egyptologist who returned from the desert with a case of antiquities and then vanished from his relative's study without a trace, leaving only a broken scarab behind.

major

Also known as Mr. John Bellingham, Bellingham, the late John Bellingham, Poor John Bellingham

First appearance: The Vanishing Man

As a major figure in The Eye of Osiris, John Bellingham is not background color—the story leans on what they do once the chapter opens.

The missing man, an archaeologist who recently returned from Egypt; last seen at Mr.

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John Bellingham is the man at the center of the mystery: a well-known collector who came back from Egypt, called on his relative Mr. Hurst at Eltham, and was never seen leaving the house. His disappearance leaves a will in dispute, a brother suddenly impoverished, and a daughter adrift, while the scarab found in the grass becomes the first tangible clue. His absence, more than his presence, drives the novel's early arc, forcing everyone around him to reconstruct a man from fragments.

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Character Web

7 connections

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Relationship types

Other

Character groups

Minor and Background Characters
Central Investigation Characters

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Narrative arc

Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Exposition.

Setup
Escalation
Breaking point
Aftermath
Closing

This is the story's dramatic climax because it marks the emotional and psychological nadir of the narrator's d…

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In the story

John Bellingham appears across 6 companion beats. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.

The Vanishing Man
The missing man, an archaeologist who recently returned from Egypt; last seen at Mr. Hurst's house.
Legal Complications and a Jackal
The deceased brother whose will and disappearance are central to the legal discussion.
VI: Sidelights
Deceased uncle, described as obstinate, self-willed, and wrongheaded. His will is considered absurd and like that of a lunatic.
The Sphynx of Lincoln’s Inn
Referenced as the missing man whose remains may have been discovered; his last gift to the British Museum is mentioned.
XVI: O Artemidorus, Farewell!
His mummy is the subject of discussion regarding the bitumen coating.
A Strange Symposium
The deceased; his disappearance and the circumstances of his will are central to Thorndyke's analysis.

Chapter companion notes

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