Egypt's Zahi Hawass to be Prosecuted for Corruption?

[jose v]

http://vimeo.com/17010427 

 

The Fall of Pharaoh Zahi

Two weeks ago, at the height of the Egyptian popular uprising, I asked whether it might spell the end for the controversial head of Egyptian antiquities, Dr. Zahi Hawass. Now with President Mubarek stepping aside, and the central protest in Tahrir Square winding down, smaller protests against particular 'regime personalities' have begun - and the Big Z appears to be well and truly in the cross-hairs.

Around 200 archaeologists have gathered outside the headquarters of the SCA (Supreme Council of Antiquities) with a list of demands, one of which is the prosecution of Dr Hawass "for corruption and accountability for the theft of 18 masterpieces from the Cairo Museum".

This Associated Press article makes clear that many professional archaeologists and students have had enough of the self-serving ego of the antiquities chief.

One would think that ZH is a canny enough operator to work his way out of this current mess though...despite the backlash, his monopolisation of Egyptian archaeology does give his CV enough 'oomph' for him to perhaps argue that only he is qualified enough to guide Egyptology forward in such uncertain times. However, according to this report he may already be packing his bags.

Read more: http://www.dailygrail.com/Hidden-History/2011/2/The-Fall-Pharaoh-Zahi

 

[patrick]

"I have met the man in London and he was arrogant and rude. It has also been reported that he claims other people's finds for himself."
This does not surprise me in the least, what a cretin.

[nonya]

I've been watching these things go down with Hawass and its very exciting. He needs to get out. He has been sitting on secrets and he is not allowing any other group, including egyptian students to honestly report on what they are finding in or around the pyramids. I hope he gets kicked out and replaced with someone who is more integral. I hope this happens as his ego and secrecy needs to be removed.

[Ullan]

Perhaps now we can get some proper archeology going around historic sites. The main reason why we know next to nothing about the history of the Sphynx at Giza and the inner secrets of many pyramids is because Dr. Hawass has always banned such research, claiming 'We know all there is to know about the Giza plateau'.

 

High time researches can go in and take a second, critical look at his findings. Let's start by searching for the entrance of the Great Pyramid, rather than be content with letting tourists enter through a hole blasted in the side by dynamite in the 1920's.