Hawass, Zahi

Childhood and Youth

Zahi al-Hawass (Zahi Al-Hawass ^[4] or Hawwas ^{[5] [6]} ) was born on May 28, 1947 in the town of Al-Ubaydiyah in northern Egypt near the city of Dumyat ^{[7] [8] [9 ] ]} . His peasant father died when Hawass was thirteen years old ^[10] .

The press wrote that in his childhood Zaha Havass was afraid of the dark ^[11] , however, he describes himself as an active child who arranged performances in his village and played football well. After graduating from high school at the age of 15, Hawass enrolled in law at Alexandria University. He later changed the field and received in 1967 a bachelor 's degree in Greek and Roman archeology ^{[7] [8] [9]} . According to Hawass, after the university he voluntarily joined the army, but did not stay there long because he did not like the treatment with him ^[10] .

First Steps in Archeology

In 1968, Hawass was identified as assistant director of the excavation in Germopol (modern El Ashmunain ). In 1969, the Egyptian Ministry of Antiquities appointed him the head of the excavations in Mullawi , Tuna El-Gabala and Esna , as well as the inspector of the Italian expedition to the excavations of Antinopolis and the American expedition to the excavations of Abydos . One of the objects of those excavations was located in the desert, far from settlements, which is why Hawass was thinking of quitting his archaeological career and pursuing diplomacy, but nevertheless remained faithful to his profession ^{[7] [8] [9] [11]} .

Until the mid-1970s, Hawass was an inspector at various Egyptian and foreign archaeological expeditions and an assistant to the head of the excavations of the ancient city near Kom Abu Billo. In 1974, he was appointed chief inspector of the pyramids of Giza , the oasis of Bahariya and Imbaba ^[8] . Since 1975, Hawass received the position of head of excavations in various areas of Egypt, including near the Great Sphinx in Giza ^[8] . In 1978, he received the post of adviser to the Arab League on archeology, and the following year he was included in the permanent membership of the Egyptian Organization of Antiquities (EAO, the new name of the Ministry of Antiquities ^[12] ) ^[8] .

In 1979, Hawass received a diploma in Egyptology from Cairo University . In 1980, he was the chief inspector of the Giza pyramids ^{[8] [10]} .

Work in the USA

Hawass spent most of the 1980s in the United States . After completing the Fulbright education program, he received a master's degree in Egyptology and Archeology from Syria and Palestine at the University of Pennsylvania. In 1987, he defended his dissertation (Ph.D) in Egyptology on the topic “Burials of Cheops , Hafra and Mykerin in the Time of the Ancient Kingdom ” ^{[8] [9] [11]} .

Until 2001, Hawass lectured at Alexandria University, University of California Los Angeles, Helwan University , American University of Cairo, and the University of Pennsylvania. Also, he repeatedly gave public lectures ^[8] .

Head of the pyramid complex

In 1987 , returning to his homeland, Hawass was appointed Director General of the Egyptian Antiquities Organization (EAO) for the Pyramid Complex in Giza, the Baharias Oasis and the Saqqara Complex ^{[8] [9] [10]} . At this post, Hawass was responsible for the activities of foreign and Egyptian archaeologists, led the excavation, conservation and restoration of a number of objects, including the pyramids of Cheops and Djoser . In 1990, at this post, he discovered the graves of the pyramid builders, proving the hypothesis that the monumental structures were built not by slaves, but skilled workers and peasants convened for these works, working in shifts ^{[8] [9] [11]} .

Under the supervision of Hawass, the procedure for visiting the Cheops pyramid was tightened: for almost a year, tourists were not allowed to enter the building, and the flow of visitors was limited to 150 people per day ^[13] .

In 1993, he became interested in the opportunity to establish ventilation inside the pyramid and decided to investigate the so-called “air ducts” that led from the so-called “Queen's chamber”. To do this, he, together with the German scientist Rudolf Gantenbrink (Rudolf Gantenbrink), made an attempt to study these mines using a radio-controlled robot. At the end of one of the "ducts" was a door. Gantenbrink immediately told the press about his discovery ^[14] . This led to a conflict between Hawass and the head of the Egyptian Antiquities Organization, Muhamad Bakr, who claimed the discovery was falsified. According to Hawass, he quit himself, according to other sources, he was fired for unauthorized research by a German scientist. The formal theft was the theft of an unnamed statue from the pyramid complex ^[15] .

After his dismissal, Hawass left for the United States, but already in early 1994 , after Muhamad Bakr was succeeded by Nur El Din as head of the EAO, he was reinstated and held until 1997 ^{[8] [9]} . Also in 1994, the Egyptian Organization of Antiquities was renamed the Supreme Council of Antiquities (SCA) ^[12] .

In 1996, under the leadership of Hawass, the Valley of the Golden Mummies was discovered in the oasis of Baharia ^{[ [8] [9]} . In 1998, Hawass was appointed deputy secretary of state for the Supreme Council of Antiquities of Egypt ^{[8] [9]} .

Head of the High Council of Antiquities of Egypt

In 2002, Hawass headed the Supreme Council of Antiquities ^{[8] [9]} . As they wrote in the press, at this post he began to completely control Egyptian archeology, personally determining who and where will excavate. Hawass was not limited only to organizational responsibilities and continued to conduct archaeological work ^{[8] [16]} . The media also noted that in this post he controlled not only the ancient Egyptian, but also the Muslim, Jewish, and Coptic heritage. He was subordinate to about thirty thousand people ^[10] . In the same year, he announced the opening of another pyramid at Giza ^{[7] [17]} .

In 2003, Hawass continued to study the “ducts” in the Cheops pyramid . The new robot made a hole in the door, behind which was a small room. According to Hawass, the “air ducts” could have religious significance and it was understood that the soul of the deceased pharaoh would travel through them. In the future, Hawass planned to continue the study of "ducts" ^[14] .

In addition to excavating and preserving ancient monuments, Hawass was engaged in the reconstruction of Egyptian museums, the development of archaeological science in Egypt, and the protection of ancient monuments from thieves and vandals ^{[9] [11] [18]} . In 2009, Hawass announced that due to moisture and fungus, many monuments of ancient Egypt, including the tomb of Tutankhamun, can be destroyed in only 150-500 years. In this regard, he announced his intention to improve the ventilation system and close access for tourists ^{[19] [20]} .

Mummy DNA tests

For a long time, Hawass opposed DNA analyzes of Egyptian mummies, considering the inconsistency of such information, and did not give permission for foreign scientists to study mummies, sometimes appealing to Egyptian national security considerations ^{[21] [22]} . However, since 2005, he led the research group for the study of the mummy of Tutankhamun . Computed tomography was performed, and in 2010 DNA analysis was performed. Pharaoh Akhenaten and his nameless sister were named the parents of Tutankhamun, who inherited severe genetic diseases (cleft palate, clubfoot) and died of malaria, which caused complications after falling from the chariot ^[20] .

Work at the Ministry of Culture

In November 2009, Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak appointed Hawass to the post of Deputy Minister of Culture of Egypt Farouk Hosny ( ⁹⁾ .

The press noted that Hawass took a tough stance against foreign archaeological expeditions. Only in 2003, he revoked excavation permits from 13 expeditions and did not let hundreds of researchers into the country. As offended foreign archaeologists wrote, having occupied someone else's archaeological site, Hawass often made significant discoveries on it, without mentioning those who excavated before him. Hawass himself in response accused foreign archaeologists of incompetence, calling them "lovers" and "pyramidiot" ^{[16] [22]} .

Hawass has achieved an increase in cash receipts in the Egyptian treasury from foreign exhibitions ^[18] .

The Return of Egyptian Antiquities

Hawass is actively involved in the return of archaeological sites to Egypt. In 2003, the mummy of Ramses I was brought to Egypt from the USA ^[11] , and in 2009, under the threat of termination of cooperation, Hawass managed to return from the Louvre the frescoes that got there in the 1980s ^{[23] [24] [25]} . Hawass also demanded that the obelisk be returned from the Place de la Concorde in Paris ^[26] , and in 2010 called on tourists to boycott several European museums at once, refusing the restitution of Egyptian cultural property:

• British Museum ( Rosetta Stone );
• New Museum in Berlin ( bust of Nefertiti );
• The Louvre ( Zodiac of Dendera );
• Egyptian Museum of Turin (statue of Ramses II ) ^{[7] [9] [11] [18] [26]}

Minister of Antiquities

On January 31, 2011 , in the midst of active protests against President Mubarak, a new government was formed. The emerging Minister of Antiquities post was taken by Hawass ^[27] . On February 11 of the same year, Mubarak left his post. In early March, Hawass announced that the country's police were dormant, while looters were rampaging. According to Hawass, expressing his protest, he will not agree to take up a post in the new office, which was planned to be formed in the middle of the month, and also promised to leave the current one if Prime Minister Essam Sharaf asks for it ^{[28] [29]} . On March 5, Hawass confirmed his resignation from the post of minister ^[30] , but, nevertheless, entered the new office of Sharaf at the end of the same month ^[31] .

Accusation of corruption

On April 17, 2011, the court sentenced Hawass to one year in prison and a fine of $ 1,600. The year before, the Supreme Council of Antiquities of Egypt, which he headed, decided to hold a competition for bookstore rental in the Cairo Egyptian Museum, and the former tenant, not wanting to lose his place, filed a lawsuit demanding that the competition be stopped, calling Hawass himself the defendant. In June 2010, the court decided to terminate the competition, however, according to Hawass, it was already completed at the end of May. The verdict was appealed, and the second time the court acquitted the archaeologist, because he had no relation to the legal affairs of the organization. However, the plaintiff provided evidence of his involvement, and at the third trial in 2011 the court found him guilty of non-enforcement of the court decision ^{[32] [33]} . The minister called the court decision “a complete misunderstanding” and stated that he would appeal the verdict ^{[32] [34]} . In June 2011, the Court of Appeal dropped all charges of corruption from Hawass ^{[35] [36]} .

Retirement

On July 17, 2011, Egyptian Prime Minister Essam Sharaf fired more than a dozen government ministers, including Hawass. This was done under pressure from protesters in Cairo, demanding more radical reforms and the dismissal of officials associated with the Mubarak regime. The post of Minister of Antiquities was taken by the restorer Abdel-Fattah el-Banna ^[37] .

Personal life

The wife of Hawass Fekhira (Fekhira) in the specialty of a gynecologist. The spouses have two adult sons, one of whom is called Sherief ^{[10] [38]} .

• Hawass speaks negatively of pseudo-scientists who saw in the pyramids "messages of extraterrestrial civilizations" or seriously talked about the curse of the tombs of the pharaohs ^[11] .
• During his life, Hawass during excavations several times found himself on the verge of death due to bites of snakes and electric shocks. In 1992, shortly before the doors opened in the "ducts" of the Cheops pyramid, he suffered a heart attack . Hawass also complained of nightmares related to the mummies he found of young children ^[11] .
• Hawass has published many articles, as well as scientific and non-fiction books ^[22] . He repeatedly appeared in television programs and starred in documentaries about the history of Egypt ^{[8] [16]} .
• Hawass was called the Pharaoh, the King of the Pyramids (for total control over Egyptian archeology) ^{[11] [18] [22]} or Egyptian Indiana Jones (Hawass wore a hat on the excavations similar to the headdress of the movie heroes Stephen Spielberg and George Lucas ) ^{[11] [16 ] ] [18] [39]} .

Hawass is known for his anti-Semitic remarks. He wrote that “the desire to kill women, children and the elderly in the blood of Palestinian Jews ”, and that Israel did the same with the Palestinians as Assyrian King Sargon II and the Egyptian pharaoh did with the Jews at one time. In March 2010, Hawass canceled the ceremony of completing the reconstruction of the Cairo synagogue in the old Jewish quarter, saying that "Israel is a Zionist enemy." He also said that there would be no Jewish museums in Egypt until the conflict between Israel and Palestine was finally resolved ^{[5] [6]} .

Hawass was awarded the Order of the Arts and Culture of Spain , he is the commander of the Order of Merit for the Italian Republic and an officer of the French Order of Arts and Literature ^[9] .

Hawass is a member of the standing committee of Egyptian monuments, a member of the High Council of Culture of Egypt, as well as the head of the council of the High Council of Antiquities ^[8] .

Since 2002, Hawass has been a foreign member of the Russian Academy of Natural Sciences ^{[9] [40]} .

In 2005, he became an honorary doctor at the American University of Cairo ^{[8] [9]} .

In 2006, the American Time magazine included Hawass in the list of the hundred most influential people in the world ^{[16] [41]} . In the same year he was awarded the Emmy Award for one of the documentaries with his participation ^[9] .

• The Official Website of Dr. Zaha Hawass