Video: Tombs of the Pyramid Builders

Originally published January 14, 2010 | Zahi Hawass' Blog | by Dr. Hawass | The following video showcases an extra scene from the upcoming Nova special - Riddles of the Sphinx - and talks about Hawass' discovery of the pyramid builders' tombs near the Giza necropolis. (Just imagine, if it hadn't've been for a horse's misstep, we would be less knowledgeable on this subject!) Take a peek:

Egyptian Eyeliner May Have Warded Off Disease

Originally published January 8, 2010 | ScienceNOW Daily News | by Katie Cottingham | This article features commentary from various scientists - and one from Chicago - who analyze the possible uses of eye paint in Ancient Egypt. Although, tests prove there are benefits to such a regiment, the risks make this ancient treatment far from perfect. The following is an excerpt:

Clearly, ancient Egyptians didn't get the memo about lead poisoning. Their eye makeup was full of the stuff. Although today we know that lead can cause brain damage and miscarriages, the Egyptians believed that lead-based cosmetics protected against eye diseases. Now, new research suggests that they may have been on to something.

The following is a little more information about the science behind this discovery, from Chemical Online: Ancient Egyptian Cosmetics - Magical Makeup May Have Been Medicine For Eye Disease

Here is another source reporting on the same story on January 18th: Ancient Egypt's Toxic Makeup Fought Infection, by Sindya Bhanoo - NY Times

Upcoming Lectures and Events in Egyptology

If you have any free time, you may wish to attend any or all of the following upcoming lectures and events around the world (to attend them all, you would need to spend some money on plane tickets, so perhaps it is silly to encourage visiting them all):

When: January 27
Where: Our Lady of Lourdes High School Auditorium in Poughkeepsie, NY
Lecture: Dr. Bob Brier's The Secret of the Great Pyramid
Price: Free admission

When: January 16
Where: press room of the Palma-Arena, C/ de l'Uruguai s/n, Palma de Mallorca, Spain
Lecture: Marina Escolano Poveda's Beyond the Rosetta Stone. The Fundamental Role of the Coptic Language in the Decipherment of the Hieroglyphic Script

When: Through May 2010
Where: Greece (contact info is provided at Challenging the Past)
Seminars: Hellenic Society for the Study of Ancient Egypt

When: February 20
Where: University of London, Garden Halls - London, England
Workshop: Forensic Aspects of Ancient Egypt

Oriental Institute's New Exhibit - James Henry Breasted

Originally published January 10, 2010 | Chicago Tribune | by William Mullen |

New exhibit -Pioneers of the Past- tells tale of James Henry Breasted, whose 1919-1920 travels through the Middle East established center's famed antiquities collection, which celebrates it's 90th anniversary with the temporary exhibit's opening on January 12.

Egypt Tombs Suggest Pyramids Not Built by Slaves

Originally published January 10, 2010 | Yahoo! News |

Hardly a surprise is what this article chronicles (along with many other sources): a new set of tombs built for the pyramid builders of the Giza Pyramids proves that they were Egyptian citizens rather than slaves.

Here are some another great sources concerning this recent piece of archaeological news, which includes a little more information and pictures: Press Release - New Tombs Found at Giza - Zahi Hawass' Blog and Tomb Discovery Helps Solve Ancient Slavery Riddle of the Pyramids - Daily Mail

Somewhere in the world, 57 academics just punched the air.

Cairo Museum Offers Blind Tours

Originally published January 5, 2010 | Telstra BigPond News |

The Cairo Museum reflects the efforts German museums have put forth to give children with visual impairments the same experiences as those with none, going so far as to employ blind tour guides. Who better to give tours to people with blindness than people with blindness, no doubt to ensure an enriching and appropriate experience?

Founder’s Archaeological Journey to Middle East Featured in Oriental Institute Exhibit

Originally published January 6, 2010 | Oriental Institute | by William Harms |

This article promotes the newest exhibit in the University of Chicago's famed Oriental Institute Museum called Pioneers of the Past: American Archaeologists in the Middle East, 1919-1920. It also includes background history of the exhibit's inspiration, J. H. Breasted, and the goals of this exhibit.

Attendance is free, with a suggested donation rate for adults ($7) and children ($4) (very minimal, considering admission to most museums).

Here's an excerpt from the article:

A new exhibition at the University of Chicago’s Oriental Institute Museum chronicles an amazing and sometimes dangerous journey 90 years ago by James Henry Breasted, a famed archaeologist who brought back Egyptian artifacts to Chicago.

Pioneers to the Past: American Archaeologists in the Middle East, 1919–1920, opens Tuesday, Jan. 12 and will feature artifacts as well as photos and letters documenting the journey of Breasted, who was the first American to receive a Ph.D. in Egyptology.

Great Egyptological Articles and Musings at Heritage Key

Originally published January 4 and 5, 2010 | Heritage Key |

The following are very interesting articles and musings published within the last 24 hours by some very fantastic writers and scholars at Heritage Key:

• January 5, 2010: Looking Forward to Speaking (and Listening) at 'Current Research in Egyptology' in Leiden by Paula Veiga
• January 5, 2010: Did Unemployed Minoan Artists Land Jobs in Ancient Egypt? by Owen Jarus
• January 5, 2010: What Value Do Replicas Hold? The Many Answers. by Ann Wuyts
• January 4, 2010: Current Research in Egyptology XI Conference at Leiden University by Ann Wuyts
• January 4, 2010: Mummy Recycling: From Ancient Rags to Paper by Ann Wuyts
• Tutankhamun - His Tombs and his Treasures (Hamburg)

Cleopatra Exhibit Coming to the U.S.

Originally published January, 2010 | Art Museum Journal | by Stan Parchin |

Making its majestic debut at the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania is Cleopatra: The Search for the Last Queen of Egypt (June 5, 2010-January 2, 2011). Touring five North American cities, the exhibition presents more than 250 artifacts that describe archaeologists' recent attempts at locating the elusive tomb of the enigmatic Cleopatra VII (69-30 B.C.), Ptolemaic Egypt's legendary last queen, and Roman general Mark Antony (83-30 B.C.), antiquity's most famous pair of ill-fated and clandestine lovers.

New Tombs Found at Saqqara

Originally published January 5, 2010 | Zahi Hawass' Blog | by Dr. Hawass |

Saqqara yields two rediscovered tombs, dating back 2,500 years, the oldest found in the area, replete with human and falcon remains and pottery. Despite it having been looted and explored throughout the millennia, it proves that Saqqara has many more secrets.

Three sources announce different facts about the discoveries in addition to Dr. Hawass' account, which is far more descriptive: The Sydney Morning Herald, which discloses mostly topographical information; IOL, which contains a few dates and measurements; and possibly the most interesting source from the Discovery New, which includes great photographs of the discovery.

Heritage Key Launches Tutankhamun Series from Lord and Lady Carnarvon

Originally published January 4, 2010 | Yahoo! News | Source: Heritage Key |

Heritage Key continues to recreate great historical sites as virtual online experiences with its newly launched accessible video series that delves into the discovery of Tutankhamun’s tomb and the men behind the discovery.

Heritage Key provides a page dedicated to everything Tutankhamun as well as a launching page to the Tutankhamun/Carter-Carnavron video series.

Massive Statue of Taharqa Found In Sudan

Originally published December 29, 2009 | Heritage Key | by Owen Jarus | A small blurb about the newly discovered one ton granite statue of Taharqa, a 25th Dynasty Egyptian ruler, including a bit of background history of the Napatan pharaoh and previous discoveries made in the Sudan in 2008 (only recently made public on December 20, 2009 - follow the link to read the original announcement).

Plans to Make a Formal Request for Nefertiti's Bust are Underway

Originally published December 30, 2009 | Zahi Hawass' Blog | by Dr. Hawass | Recent documentation from January 1913 illustrating deception in the acquisition of the bust of Nefertiti gives Dr. Hawass all the ammunition he needs to make a formal request to the Berlin Museum for the return of this artifact. More news is to come concerning this topic.

Monument Lifted from Cleopatra's Underwater City

Originally published December 17, 2009 | Yahoo! News and the Associated Press | by Katarina Kratovac

An underwater research team of Greek archaeologists have just lifted from the Mediterranean Sea a huge nine-tonne granite block from a temple of Isis in Alexandria, near a palace supposedly belonging to Cleopatra VII.

News from the Desk of Zahi Hawass

From November 13 - December 13, 2009 | Zahi Hawass' Blog | by Dr. Hawass

Articles:

• December 13: Tourist Regulations
• December 9: The Tomb of Sa-Iset at Dashur
• November 24: Climate Change and Conservation in Egypt
• November 16: Site Management at Giza

Video:

• December 10: Tomb Robbers in the Valley of the Kings
• December 3: King Tut’s Treasure
• November 26: The Curse of Tutankhamun
• November 20: How Did King Tut Die?

Photos:

• December 7: Tomb of Amenemhab
• December 2: The Mummy of Sitre-In
• November 26: Yuya and Thuya Canopic Jars
• November 20: Seti I Tunnel