Egypt's 'iconic' antiquities chief Zahi Hawass fired

[Giray Khan the Brave]

Hi all, thought this might be an at least tangentially interesting article for SOTT:

_http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5ijBtFZ08OmsLpDoUeg-YSLO-p1Sg?docId=036d849b7eed4fd4ab3516b948a1f7ad

Egypt's antiquities minister, whose trademark Indiana Jones hat made him one the country's best known figures around the world, was fired Sunday after months of pressure from critics who attacked his credibility and accused him of having been too close to the regime of ousted President Hosni Mubarak.

Zahi Hawass, long chided as publicity loving and short on scientific knowledge, lost his job along with about a dozen other ministers in a Cabinet reshuffle meant to ease pressure from protesters seeking to purge remnants of Mubarak's regime.

Cheers,

:)

 

[Ellipse]

Don't know if the man who replace him will change something but yes, he tried to mimic Indiana Jones with his hat and he locked the situation.

 

[Laura]

Best news I've heard all week!

 

[Nević Nenad]

It's really not nice, but . . . I was laughed like mad when I saw this news ;D

 

[Scottie]

Yeah, don't let the door hit ya on the way out! ;D

 

[Laura]

This should be a lesson to other "scientists" that have been placed, by the PTB in their countries, in positions of authority and toe the party line.

 

[stellar]

Good riddance. He made for poor documentary series anyway. Not so educational when polluted with lies.

 

[Cosmos]

good news indeed, certainly there soon will be another Hawass type on this position

 

[Giray Khan the Brave]

This news reminded me of something: some years ago I read in a book (I think it was one of Graham Hancock's) a very interesting passage that seemed to insinuate that Zahi Hawass had some weird connections with a kind of esoteric, probably Rosicrucian order, and had been 'placed' in the position of Chief of Antiquities in order to further and protect the interests of this organisation by controlling from the source Ancient Egyptian studies using various techniques such as misdirection and suppression. The book claimed some kind of proof that this organisation had funded even his education and had pulled strings behind the scenes many times in order to get him where he was.

His loud, brash behaviour, his avuncular 'charm' (I use the term loosely) and his air of being the Great Kahuna of Ancient Egypt was probably all part of this misdirection, if true...

Does anyone else remember anything like this? I'm quite sure it was a Graham Hancock book about the pyramids but it could also have been another author of the same ilk, like Robert Bauval maybe?

 

[Cosmos]

This news reminded me of something: some years ago I read in a book (I think it was one of Graham Hancock's) a very interesting passage that seemed to insinuate that Zahi Hawass had some weird connections with a kind of esoteric, probably Rosicrucian order, and had been 'placed' in the position of Chief of Antiquities in order to further and protect the interests of this organisation by controlling from the source Ancient Egyptian studies using various techniques such as misdirection and suppression. The book claimed some kind of proof that this organisation had funded even his education and had pulled strings behind the scenes many times in order to get him where he was.

His loud, brash behaviour, his avuncular 'charm' (I use the term loosely) and his air of being the Great Kahuna of Ancient Egypt was probably all part of this misdirection, if true...

Does anyone else remember anything like this? I'm quite sure it was a Graham Hancock book about the pyramids but it could also have been another author of the same ilk, like Robert Bauval maybe?

Well that wouldn't suprise me if it is true

 

[NewOrleans]

I don't believe this rush to judgment has been so wise.

My mother has been an Egyptologist, now in her mid-90's, and though she doesn't know him personally, she has always believed that Zahi Hawass always had been a "gatekeeper" of what is still stored in Egypt. I don't think nor have I read facts outlining his crimes as a Mubarak flunky, as many accuse him of. I DO think he has been an impediment to obliterating the real Past of civilization. Both Wahhabiism and the West have vested interests in keeping anything historical or scientificlly significant suppressed...information that would upset the archaeological apple cart.

And when the rioters wanted to destroy the museum during Egypt's revolt past last year, he stood up to the rioters and guarded the priceless museum of antiquities when all else was chaos. It was broken into almost immediately and some items destroyed, but he stopped it.

I think there ARE more tombs, but unplundered by both grave robbers and scientists. Probably even confirmation of Alien Contact with a long standing early human civilization. Major Museums are probably licking their lips imagining what new loot they can purchase and exhibit. Big money there. One example I'm aware of is that he's been criticized for not allowing digging under the Sphinx - because there IS something there. And he's protected it.


He was part of the now-famous King Tut Exhibit years back, believing that the world deserved to see the Art of their - our- antiquity and to differentiate Egypt from it's quarreling neighbors. Politics may witness generational change, but in the long view, Egypt is ageless. Hawass has been a true guardian - through centuries. And I believe that he has done this through lifetimes since the age of Khufu and Cheops.

This is a tragedy, not a moment of rejoicing. And now the real looting will begin.

 

[anart]

I don't believe this rush to judgment has been so wise.

If you're referring to the comments made in this thread, why do you think it's a 'rush to judgment'? Do you think those who have made these statements would do so if they didn't have solid information on which to base them?

 

[NewOrleans]

It's a valid question, Anart. I read the comments and other online quotes and thought that the charge of "kicking out a Mubarrak supporter" was maybe only half the story. I'd heard about him for years. And I wasn't being hostile to anyone's opinion just disagreeing. Who knows what comes next for Egypt?

 

[Hildegarda]

Does anyone else remember anything like this? I'm quite sure it was a Graham Hancock book about the pyramids but it could also have been another author of the same ilk, like Robert Bauval maybe?

it may have been "Stargate Conspiracy" by Picknett and Prince. THey really had an ax to grind with him

 

[Hildegarda]

I DO think he has been an impediment to obliterating the real Past of civilization. Both Wahhabiism and the West have vested interests in keeping anything historical or scientificlly significant suppressed...
[..]
He was part of the now-famous King Tut Exhibit years back, believing that the world deserved to see the Art of their - our- antiquity and to differentiate Egypt from it's quarreling neighbors. [..] Hawass has been a true guardian - through centuries.

He has completed his Masters and PhD at the University of Pennsylvania, in the US. He remains a member of the board of overseers for the college museum. UPenn has some of the largest collection of Egyptian artifacts in the world, outside of Egypt. From colonial looting, no doubt. His PhD advisor and an expert in the field, Dr. David Silverman, was a curator for the recent traveling King Tut exhibits, personally invited by Hawass.

Hawass have surely differentiated -- and enriched -- Egypt with his work on Egyptian treasures. But whatever he did was with full agreement with the West. IMO.