Articles by Dr. Zahi Hawass | drhawass.com

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Many people make the mistake of thinking that dreams cannot come true, but they can. You have to believe, and know that they are more than just imagination.

— Zahi Hawass

Articles by Dr. Zahi Hawass

Here you can find an overview of the most recent articles by Dr. Zahi Hawass. Click the article title to get further information. To see older articles, browse the articles by using the page overview below, or use the search function.

Excavations in the Valley of the Kings

March 14th 2010

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.
Dig Days - Dominican University Festival

March 9th 2010

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.
Dig Days - Dr. Zhivago

February 26th 2010

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.
The Avenue of Sphinxes

February 22nd 2010

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.
Restoring the Naos of Amenemhat I

February 21st 2010

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.
Opening the Children’s Exhibit at the Cairo Museum

February 12th 2010

Recently we opened the new Children’s Museum exhibit at the Egyptian Museum in Cairo. This exhibit is very good, it is for children, and contains replicas of ancient Egyptian monuments, sculptures and artefacts using LEGOS.
Restoring the Monastery of Saint Anthony

February 11th 2010

The Monastery of Saint Anthony, located 250 km east of Cairo, on the Red Sea, is the oldest active monastery in the world. It was founded in AD 356, and remains an important part of the Coptic history of Egypt. I recently visited to reopen the monastery after an eight-year restoration project.
A Tribute to James Romano

February 9th 2010

On December 4, 2009, Diana Craig Patch, who is co-director of the mission to Malqata, spoke about her work at the site of Amenhotep III’s palace. I was asked to provide a few words about the project and my good friend, the late James Romano. I gave them these words, which were read aloud at the conference. I was glad to be able to give a tribute to this great man.
Opening the Tomb of Sa-Iset

February 1st 2010

Recently I went to Dashur to investigate the tomb of the vizier Sa-Iset and lift the huge sarcophagus lid to discover what it contained.
Festival of Archaeologists

January 28th 2010

Recently we celebrated the fourth annual Festival of Archaeologists at the Cairo Opera House. I began the idea four years ago of having a day to celebrate the achievements of Egyptian archaeologists, and making a place for them to meet together and with their foreign colleagues.