Zahi Hawass
Encyclopedia : Z : ZA : ZAH : Zahi Hawass
He is currently the Secretary General of the Egyptian Supreme Council of Antiquities; prior to that, he was the Director of the Giza Plateau and has also worked at archaeological sites in the Nile Delta, the Western Desert, and the Upper Nile Valley.
Hawass is currently spearheading a movement to return many prominent Ancient Egyptian artifacts, such as the Rosetta Stone, to Egypt from collections around the globe in which they are in safekeeping. In July 2003, the Egyptians demanded the return of the Rosetta Stone. Hawass, secretary general of the Supreme Council of Antiquities in Cairo told the press "If the British want to be remembered, if they want to restore their reputation, they should volunteer to return the stone because it is the icon of our Egyptian identity."
He is also a vocal opponent of ancient astronauts theories about a previous worldwide civilization. He appeared on a History Channel show to dispel the theories, and provided evidence to show that the Egyptians built the Egyptian pyramids. Hawass is now a regular columnist for Egypt Today magazine [link].
Criticism
Over the span of a long career, Hawass has faced some criticism. His frequent visits to the United States and Europe to lecture, hold museum exhibits, and appear on television and radio shows have earned him the derision of conservative and religious factions in his home country. In the West, some have accused Hawass of dominating the field of Egyptology and courting the media for his own gain after they were denied access to archaeological sites because, according to Hawass, they were too amateurish. Others however, including several Egyptologists, have said in interviews that most of what Hawass has done for the field was long overdue [link]. Hawass has typically ignored or dismissed his critics, and when asked about it, he indicated that what he does is for the sake of Egypt and the preservation of its antiquities.
External links
- [Dr. Hawass's home page]
- [The king of the pharaohs] – Tim Radford; The Guardian, November 27, 2003.
- [CEO backs down in dispute over Egyptian sarcophagus]
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