Zahi Forever
Posted by Greg at 03:38, 02 Nov 2009For those that thought that Egypt's ancient history would soon be loosed from the iron grip of Dr Zahi Hawass (with his mandatory retirement from his position in May 2010), think again:
This past week the President of Egypt signed a decree naming me the Vice Minister of Culture. I was very honoured by his decision, as it shows his continuing support of my work to preserve the monuments of Egypt.
There is a rule in Egypt that when a government official reaches a certain age, they retire. Therefore I was planning to retire next May.
There are many good people at the Supreme Council of Antiquities who have experience and whom I hope could do a good job protecting Egypt’s history. However, I was concerned that the government would decide to appoint someone from the University to fill my position, who did not have experience in archaeology. Such a person might be impressed by the glory of the job and not focus on the monuments, and all the projects I have initiated would be abandoned.
Although this worried me, I was planning my life after the SCA. I was planning to have a new office with all of my books, where I could continue writing. I would continue to give lectures and travel all over the world, and also continue my excavations at Saqqara and the Valley of the Kings. But then President Mubarak called me on the phone to ask me when I am really retiring. He said he would appoint me the Vice Minister of Culture, which would mean that I would not have to retire next year, as Ministers and Vice Ministers in Egypt have no set age for retirement.
Yes, it's a very good thing that we didn't end up with someone who "might be impressed by the glory of the job", and abandon all the projects you initiated Zahi...
I get the feeling that this has been in the pipeline for some time. A no-brainer really, given Dr Hawass' work in conserving the monuments, as well as his pursuit of stolen artefacts, watchfulness against Zionist conspirators, and creation of New World Orders.
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Comments
2 November 2009
22 weeks 1 day
Has there ever been a less objective person in any job...ever??!! First rule of SCA - prevent any and all objective research into the history of the Pyramids.
2 May 2004
3 hours 14 min
... I thought Zahi had attained immortality within the Pyramid of Khufu's secret chamber. Or he'd resculpted the Sphinx's head with his face. Alas, the reality is much, much worse.
~ * ~
@levitatingcat
1 May 2004
5 days 17 hours
I cant help but wonder if this decision is due to Andrew Collins' discovery of caves under the plateau. After all, with what might be the most signifigant find on the Giza plateau in a very long time, I would expect anyone with a stake in Egypt to want to be involved.
http://www.spectrallight.net
12 April 2007
3 hours 21 min
I guess Egypt's rules about retiring can be bent for some special people. Just ask President Mubarak himself ;-)
It's not the depth of the rabbit hole that bugs me...
It's all the rabbit SH*T you stumble over on your way down!!!
Red Pill Junkie
19 August 2004
1 year 48 weeks
Rules and fairness are only supposed to apply to those whom the people in power are trying to keep in line... :D
RonB
Observer of Everything, Seer of Little
1 May 2004
10 hours 18 min
I fear Zahi is planning to become a permanent part of the exhibit. In order to get any discoveries at the Pyramids, we may have to fight off an annoying, undead Dr. Hawass! Look out for when they embalm this jerk. I, for one, will be calling Brendan Fraser.
1 May 2004
44 weeks 5 days
King Zahi I ... we can only hope he gets his own Hidden Tomb very soon. This guy has set back Egyptology centuries. Can we appeal to the Egyptian Gods to smite him???
11 December 2009
2 years 8 weeks
I like Zahi and think he is doing a great job. He is an Egyptian patriot and is doing the right things to protect the extensive ancient heritage of his nation by booting out the likes of Hancock, West and the rest of the Atlantis/ Lemuria crowd. My only concern is that he is getting old and needs to groom a kindred spirit as an apprentice. I hope he is attending to that.
Also, I like his hat !
16 August 2007
1 year 10 weeks
I think zahi should be given free acting lessons so he looks more relaxed and not so sweat drenched when before the camera. Maybe the make up department needs to step in more often before the lense is on zahi's sweaty face.
1 May 2004
1 day 22 hours
the sweat IS make-up..........just look at his hat, no sign of REAL soaked in sweat and wear. It's all stage performance.
"Life can be whatever you want it to be, as long as you do what your told."
LRF.
22 November 2004
2 weeks 6 hours
I know it is entertaining to make fun of Zahi, and there is reason to be critical of him and his organization. But at what point are you going to blame him for global warming?
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We are the cat.
10 August 2004
22 hours 20 min
...for smokers to get the blame!!!
Regards, Kathrinn
23 October 2006
7 weeks 5 days
Do you think that the "Hall of Records" would suddenly appear? Do you think that the "true" builders of the Pyramids would suddenly appear? Do you think that the "true" age of the Pyramids would suddenly appear? Do you think that their "true" purpose and use would suddenly become apparent?
Okay, Hawas does love the limelight and takes too much credit for other peoples work, and delayed the robots. On the other hand, he has done as best he can to ensure Egyptian sites are properly excavated and preserved.
E.P. Grondine
Man and Impact in the Americas
2 November 2009
22 weeks 1 day
....the perpetuation of massaging/ignoring/ridiculing 'evidence' to fit his pre-determined (and nonobjective) theories will continue while he is there.
Agreed, he has done a lot to ensure sites are properly excavated and preserved (his job), but he has also done a lot to prevent true understanding of many sites. I'm not suggesting aliens built the pyramids! Just that, as far as Zahi is concerned, Egyptians built the pyramids, and would have done so with sharp sticks or their teeth if no copper tools had existed at the time - and lets face it, I can't even landscape my garden with copper tools!
23 October 2006
7 weeks 5 days
And why do you think that the mystery of exactly how the Egyptians built them would suddenly be solved if Hawass retired?
And what sites do you think Hawass has prevented "the true understanding" of?
For some reason you also seem to think that the SCA has an unlimited budget. It doesn't.
Yes, it is a mystery how the ancient Egyptians quarried and carved all of those stones. And how those stones were raised, and exactly why the pyramids are where they are, and why they were built. Did it ever occur to you that if anyone did definitively solve any of those mysteries of ancient Egypt, Hawass would announce it, and take credit for the discovery?
(Look at how fast Zahi had his picture taken in the caves Andrew Collins found the records of. Did the PR mention Collins?)
About the only thing I can fault him on is delaying the robots. Given the nationalistic and religious forces in play, I think he did a really fine job in navigating through them, and that's why he got kept on.
E.P. Grondine
Man and Impact in the Americas
2 November 2009
22 weeks 1 day
....but the possibility exists that they didn't.
I also didn't think the "mystery of exactly how the Egyptians built them" would suddenly be discovered if Zahi retired...I am suggesting objective research (or at least research looking at the evidence first before reaching a conclusion) into this is being prevented at present.
Not sure why you have the impression that I think the SCA has an unlimited budget. Not mentioned or implied.
One could suggest that the 'delay' of the robots has in fact been time for private investigation to occur, just in case any 'live' (and I use that term cautiously) investigation uncovered anything not easily explained away as fitting with the current accepted views.
Yes, it did occur to me, and I agree with you that Zahi would only be too keen to leap in and take credit for any discoveries, however it is not in his, the SCA's or Egypt's best interests to allow any discoveries to occur that may weaken the current accepted views.
Again, I'm not suggesting aliens built the pyramids, or conversely, that the Egyptians didn't. It would just be nice if conclusions weren't reached by manipulation of and, at times, complete lack of evidence to suit preconceived agenda.
Call me naive, but wouldn't it be nice to seek and gain understanding about the history of our world without personal, political or patriotic rhetoric and agenda getting in the way?
Perhaps Santa will make my wish come true this year.....oh, and deliver me that Lego Death Star I've been coveting....
....if I can only have one, I'll go with the Death Star!
22 November 2004
2 weeks 6 hours
Egypt has to treat this important part of its economy carefully. As it is now, this is a predictable source of income. The mystery is an important part of that, so revelations about scientific progress must be carefully managed.
Be careful with the death star, lest one of your neighbors is scared of guns and the police break your door.
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We are the cat.
23 October 2006
7 weeks 5 days
Actually, the possibility that the Egyptians did not build them themselves is pretty much ruled out by the current and on-going excavations of the workmens' quarters.
Why did you miss this "live" information?
E.P. Grondine
Man and Impact in the Americas
1 May 2004
1 day 22 hours
.....if I was Egyptian I would be somewhat embarressed of ZW and his determination to proove to the world that the wonderful Egyptian people built the great pyramids
WHY?.....look at us now, wow, not too many cultures have reversed in skill over 4500 years like they have.
Not to mention the rape of the GP of it's cover stones for "easy to get at" building materials latter on.
You would think that a nation of knowledge and skill, like the builders of the GP, would have progressed not declined and also would have reverance for the accomplishments of their ancestors.
I'm just being sceptical about it. The proof so far is not conclusive enough for me,(like AGW).
"Life can be whatever you want it to be, as long as you do what your told."
LRF.
22 November 2004
2 weeks 6 hours
I don't really think the Egyptians who live there today have much to do with the Egyptians that built the pyramids. They have been conquered by the Macedonians, the Greeks, the Romans, the Arabs, the English and maybe I forget someone.
I find the pyramids interesting mostly in a wider sense of why cultures forget their abilities. For example, why did the first Australians forget about boats when they must have gotten there by boat? Why did the Chinese forget or ignore so many discoveries?
As for the pyramids as architecture, there isn't anything special about them other than the size. Every culture piles up stones.
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We are the cat.
23 October 2006
7 weeks 5 days
The Egyptians who live there today are the descendants of the builders. Why they stopped building them as large as they were, and went to other forms of kingly burial, is another one of the mysteries. For some reason they decided either it was not worth the effort or lacked the resources.
floppy1 mentions the conquests, and in addition to those you have the burning of the libraries.
Asteroid and comet impacts and the resulting climate collapses may account for much lost knowledge, as do volcanic eruptions.
Look what happened to the Minoans. In the case of the Australian boat builders, they were likely washed away by impact mega-tsunamis.
E.P. Grondine
Man and Impact in the Americas
12 April 2007
3 hours 21 min
Maybe that's the reason the Egyptians coveted those rare pieces of vitrified sand that were later used to adorn the headdresses of pharaohs.
Or are they proof of a more exotic apocalypse in ancient times? that's part of the allure. And getting back to Zahi, I think like earthling does that it's better to keep some things unsolved in order to keep the flow of tourists —it has worked for the folks at loch Ness so far ;)
It's not the depth of the rabbit hole that bugs me...
It's all the rabbit SH*T you stumble over on your way down!!!
Red Pill Junkie
23 October 2006
7 weeks 5 days
The dating of formation of Libyan Desert Glass is 26 million years ago. As to why the Egyptians used it, some of it was used before glass making was invented; its pretty in any case.
What is more interesting is the benben stone, and later Egyptian use of meteoritic iron.
Were the ancient Egyptians aware of impacts? Yes. Did they experience them? Yes:
http://abob.libs.uga.edu/bobk/ccc/ce1021...
and the effects of them multiple times later on.
Were they fundamental to Egyptian religion? Yes.
E.P. Grondine
Man and Impact in the Americas
22 November 2004
2 weeks 6 hours
They are the descendants in a biological sense, probably. But the culture has been gone for a long long time. Perhaps with the exception of some primitive agricultural methods before the Assuan dam was built.
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We are the cat.
23 October 2006
7 weeks 5 days
From DNA, there is no "probably" about it. Modern Egyptians are physical descendants.
Culturally, cultures change over time. Given how little sense it makes to quarry all those stones and pile them up, the mystery is why they did it in the first place.
While a lot of the ancient technologies were lost, a lot of survived beyond simple agricultural tech.
One of the big reasons for studying ancient empires is to make sure that we do not suffer similar fates.
E.P. Grondine
Man and Impact in the Americas
22 November 2004
2 weeks 6 hours
I am pretty sure some modern Egyptians are of Arab descent, and some of Greek descent.
Cultures change over time, but sometimes the change is drastic. There are traces of Celtic cultures in today's European cultures, but the culture is as dead as can be.
Personally I don't think they needed any great technology. Interesting techniques yes, but with tools made of copper, stone and wood.
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We are the cat.
12 April 2007
3 hours 21 min
The tools needed to make the pyramids may have been simple (or not); but to me I find it more interesting in how they were able to give the great pyramid the proprtions and alignment it has. Many aspects of its form resonate with mathematical constants, and that's no small feat.
It's not the depth of the rabbit hole that bugs me...
It's all the rabbit SH*T you stumble over on your way down!!!
Red Pill Junkie
22 November 2004
2 weeks 6 hours
It was good technique, and understanding of geometry. The geometry is easy now, but of course was much harder for the first ones to figure out.
Maybe the understanding of geometry was new at the time, we don't know that.
But everyone built hills (mounds), we still do. The engineering may have been elegant in terms of dimensions. Or the dimensions may relate to mathematical constants because they couldn't figure out any other dimensions.
But the main goal was to impress locals and visitors with how big the pyramids were. This was propaganda, just like today the tallest buildings. And it was well done, people still believe the pharaos' propaganda.
And it wasn't the pharaos either who had the understanding of building and geometry. It was their engineers.
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We are the cat.
12 April 2007
3 hours 21 min
I wasn't referring just to the fact that the great pyramid is so perfect in its geometrical features; but that those features are subtle representation of a few remarkable constants —I'm too busy right now to find links to this, but I'm sure sme of you know what I'm talking about here.
It's not the depth of the rabbit hole that bugs me...
It's all the rabbit SH*T you stumble over on your way down!!!
Red Pill Junkie
2 November 2009
22 weeks 1 day
The great thing (or should say one of) about this site is the opportunity have discussions like this between lay people, experts in their fields and all those in between!!
I agree with comments above about the usefulness of mystery for the purposes of tourism. Absolutely.
Personally, I have yet to read/view any evidence or theories about the origin and or purpose of the pyramids hat has convinced me one way or the other. All have holes to some degree.
There is little doubt humans (slaves) were involved in the physical building of the pyramids, but slaves to whom?
There is little doubt the Giza pyramids were carefully planned and engineered, but by whom?
There IS doubt as to whether the ORIGINAL intention was that of a tomb, or whether the Great pyramid was adopted by a Pharaoh, and all other pyramids a poor attempt at mimicry. The theory of the Great pyramid being a tomb hangs on two things - some dubious graffiti, and the interpretation that other pyramids (in their varied states of completion, grandeur and accuracy) must have all led up to building the Great pyramid, because the alternative defies accepted viewpoints.
I think anyone who talks in absolutes about this stuff is only fooling themselves.
And getting back to the topic, there is little reason for Zahi or the SCA to entertain any suggestions other than those they currently hold, which is the point really :)
EP, I'm interested in ancient impacts, and have read some of your work previously. I also think Alan Alford's last book (and its companion) was an interesting read.
RPJ, I agree - it is the regularity with which the remarkable appears that fuels the mystery.
22 November 2004
2 weeks 6 hours
I remember some of it, it's a little late at night here now to go look it up.
It reminded me of other sacred numbers and sacred methods.
In the old days, a lot of mathematics was kept secret and said to be sacred (do those words have the same root?). Better for business, or so they thought.
When I look today at the advice people ask for (and give) about computing on the web, I see something similar:
The majority of questions are about how to fix something, or how to program something. And the advice more often than not is a short sequence of steps on what to do.
But not very often do people ask why things are done that way. Most of the time they don't care. Even the people giving advice quite often have no idea why their fix works. The knowledge is very shallow. And this is not about end users, this is about people writing real programs.
Most of our work (in anything in todays life) is done at many layers. In cooking, it ranges from the restaurant critic to the farmers growing mushrooms and animal feed. Even further, there are layers "below" the farmers.
I would think a person who wants to be halfway competent should understand the layers next to the ones where they work. But most people don't care. They use recipes that worked before, having not the slightest inkling why.
This is bad of course - something changes one or two layers away, and the competence of these people evaporates. It gets worse, a lot of things only work by accident.
I can understand the approach for ancient days, for shamans and the like. We can work with nature, accepting that things work for reasons we don't know, because we can't change those things anyway.
But for technology that we made ourselves, from the ground up, this acceptance of magical machines seems very strange. Particularly for those who make the machines.
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We are the cat.
12 April 2007
3 hours 21 min
Earthling, could you please come here to Mexico and repeat that same sentence to my boss? PLEEEEEEEEEASE?? ;)
It's not the depth of the rabbit hole that bugs me...
It's all the rabbit SH*T you stumble over on your way down!!!
Red Pill Junkie