MPILETSO MOTUMI and Tyler Thompson
I LIVE in the world of the pharaohs. These were the words used by world renowned Egyptologist Dr Zahi Hawass as he spoke of his profound love for the rich history of the ancient Egyptians.
“It’s not enough to just like or love something. If you have the passion for it you will go far. It is everything,” he said.
The colourful, rich history of Egypt has made Hawass dedicate his life to discovering more of the mysteries of his country.
His passion for archaeology was awakened with the help of a veteran in the field who taught him the ropes.
“When I was young I wanted to be a lawyer, but after getting the textbooks and reading them I hated it. I then went to the faculty of arts and chose archaeology even though I knew nothing about it,” he said.
He took a government job where he did not find any inspiration.
“I was sent out to do excavations and I did not understand why I had to leave Cairo to go to the desert.”
One day a workman found a tomb and helped to train Hawass.
While cleaning a statue discovered after searching through the tomb, he fell in love with the profession.
Hawass is in South Africa to give two multimedia presentations about his adventures in archaeology.
When he is not excavating, he is writing books on his adventures and travelling the world.
The presentations are part of the Tutankhamun – His Tomb and His Treasures exhibition under way at Silverstar Casino in Mogale City.
Major discoveries Hawass has made include the Tombs of the Pyramid Builders in Giza and the Valley of the Golden Mummies at Bahariya Oasis.
He discovered two unknown Old Kingdom pyramids and rediscovered the pyramid of the 6th Dynasty queen Khuit and another that belonged to a 5th Dynasty queen.
“The history of Egypt isn’t just the history of Egypt – it’s the history of the world,” he said.
Included in his many accomplishments is leading the search for the tombs of Cleopatra and Mark Antony, supervising major conservation projects and receiving an Emmy from the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences for a special on ancient Egypt.
Hawass believes preserving the past means children will have a good future.
“When children come here they will learn and understand better about the history that captured the hearts of people all over the world.”
The Egyptian revolution was a setback in the building of what Hawass says would have been the largest museum in the world – the Grand Museum – where he planned to showcase artefacts of Pharaoh Tutankhamun.
He said archaeology was becoming more popular with the youth and in the last two years he had seen interest in it grow all over the world.
“People love the idea of Indiana Jones.
“Archaeology is an adventure. George Lucas came to Egypt and asked why my hat was more popular than the one worn by Harrison Ford in the movies. I told him my hat was genuine,” he said.
Hawass’s hat became an icon for archaeology and raised £250 000 (Egyptian) for a children’s museum in Cairo.
As an Egypt archaeological news spokesman for CNN, Hawass has used his expertise to educate others and strengthen interest in archaeology through research projects, publications, television documentaries and lecture tours.
His presentations at the exhibition will see him talk about the search for the tomb of Queen Nefertiti, new insights into the tombs in the Valley of the Kings and provide information on the research into the tombs of Cleopatra and Mark Antony.
Other historical discussions will include the great pyramids and the Sphinx, the discovery of the family of King Tutankhamun and how he died.
The exhibition started in December and has hosted 25 000 people.
Visitors get to experience the life-like reconstructed tomb of Tutankhamun, his treasures and over 1 000 replicas of artefacts.
“This exhibit is unique. It shows how it all happened, the originals will never travel.”
The exhibition, which ends in March, will take visitors to the mystical world of ancient Egypt.
It has been seen by more than 5 million people around the world.
“I want people to get the thrill of discovery and the magic of pyramids out of my lecture.”
Visit www.silverstarcasino.co.za