What is important to me is that I have the great good fortune to spend my days doing something I love, and being given the opportunity to make a difference in the world.

— Zahi Hawass

March 14th

One of the most famous sites in Egypt has always been the Valley of the Kings, which has revealed to us such wonders as the tomb of Tutankhamun. However, all of the major discoveries of the past were made by foreign archaeologists. I was determined that Egyptian archaeologists should become part of the process of excavation and discovery, so in November 2007, the first all-Egyptian team to ever work in the Valley began excavating the area behind the tomb of Merenptah.

March 13th

Egypt will restitute a collection of ancient Egyptian artifacts in June 2010, the collection is now in the custody of the Homeland Security Office on Long Island, near New York City.

March 9th

 

When I went to the Dominican Republic, the only person I knew was Carlos Morales Troncoso, the minister of foreign affairs. I consider him to be a great man and I believe he will be a leader of the Dominican Republic in the future. When you meet him, you will instantly be attracted to his personality, strength, and kindness.


Photoblog: Click the photographs to see a larger version, or visit the Photoblog overview.
Dr. Hawass in Tutankhamun's Tomb
Hawara Pyramid
Burial Goods of Na-Sa
Dr. Hawass in KV 9
Ramesseum from the Air
March 7th

Dr. Zahi Hawass, Secretary General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities (SCA), announced today that the French mission working at Saqqara has found the burial chamber of Queen Behenu. As of yet, it is unclear if this queen was the wife of Pepi I or Pepi II, who ruled during the 6th Dynasty. The burial chamber was revealed while the team was cleaning the sand from Behenu's pyramid in the area of el-Shawaf in South Saqqara, west of the pyramid of King Pepi I.

March 1st

Culture Minister, Farouk Hosni, announced today that a colossal red granite head of King Amenhotep III (circa 1390-1352 BC) was discovered in his funerary temple of the Kom El -Hettan area on Luxor's West Bank. He added that the discovery was carried out by the Colossi of Memnon and Amenhotep III Temple Conservation Project, a multi-national Egyptian-European team.

February 26th

When Omar Sharif kissed Barbara Streisand in his famous movie Funny Girl, the entire audience screamed. The kiss caused much anger throughout the Arab world, because at the time the Arab-Israeli conflict was going on, which had begun soon after the war of 1967. Arab people did not like to see Sharif kissing a Jewish woman, and so they began to criticise him. What could he say? Sharif is an Egyptian Christian who converted to Islam after marrying his love, Faten Hamama.

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February 25th

Culture Minister, Farouk Hosni, announced that following two years of negotiations and investigations, the 21st Dynasty (1070-945 BC) coffin of a private individual called Imesy is to be returned to Egypt. 

February 22nd

The SCA currently has many restoration projects underway. One of the most important is the Avenue of Sphinxes in Luxor. This is an avenue that stretches between Karnak and Luxor Temples and is lined with sphinxes, although most of it was covered with modern housing.

February 21st

The issue of returning stolen artefacts to Egypt is very important to me. I have worked for years on returning pieces that were illegally taken from Egypt, and there are many great institutions that support and assist me in my quest. Recently, the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York brought a piece of a naos back to Egypt, and we replaced it in its original location in Karnak Temple.

Filming for Nova at the Great Sphinx
Tomb of Zed-Amun-efankh
Relief from the Newly Discovered Temple in the Sinai Showing Ramesses II Making Offerings
With My Hosts In Seville
The Crowd Gathered for my Atlanta Lecture
Book Signing at AUC Press Bookstore
Graffito of the Vizier Userhat in the Valley of the Kings
A Coffin from the Newly Discovered Necropolis in Illahun