Zahi Hawass and the Temple of Tate
Dr. Zahi Hawass, secretary general of Egypt’s SupremeCouncil of Antiquities and director of the Giza PyramidsExcavation, presented his passion for archaeology at the Willis M.Tate Lecture series in McFarlin Auditorium Monday night.
“I looked into a statue’s eyes and fell in love witharchaeology,” Hawass said.
The famous archaeologist has made several very importantdiscoveries at and around the pyramids, including the possiblediscovery of the tomb of King Seti I.
Located in the Valley of the Kings, it is believed thatSeti’s burial chamber is located at the end of a 300-footshaft. Although Hawass has only been 217 feet inside the shaft, heremains optimistic and will continue to excavate the site upon hisreturn to Cairo in the next week.
During the TXU Lecture, Hawass briefly addressed some commonmisconceptions of the pyramids, including a lesser-known myth thatslaves built the pyramids; instead, they were enlisted workers.
Recently, Hawass and his team excavated tombs of the workersthat were responsible for Khufu’s Great Pyramid.
In the same general area, Hawass found 55 workmen’s bedsand physician’s tools that indicate that a doctor was on sitein case of injuries. His colleague, Dr. Mark Lehner, recentlyexcavated an ancient bakery.
The bodies found in the worker’s tombs are estimated tohave been between five and six feet tall and between 30 and 35years of age. These people all had severe spinal trauma due to lotsof heavy lifting.
Perhaps the most popular question that lingered ineveryone’s mind was, how were the workers able to move suchmassive blocks and construct such immense structures?
According to Hawass, evidence has been found that indicates theuse of large ramps. There is also evidence that suggests the use ofwater to move the heavy blocks. Luckily for the Egyptians, thelimestone rock quarries were located on site.
Hawass received gasps from the audience when he revealed asecret about King Khefre.
He said that Khafre built the Sphinx and that there is a secrettunnel that leads from the base of the Sphinx to Khafre’spyramid. He has confirmed his hypothesis, but unfortunately, thetunnel only extends 45 feet and there is nothing on the inside.
Amidst the facts, Hawass added some humorous stories to lightenthe mood and keep the audience intrigued.
He said that many people have tried to duplicate the structureof the pyramids. One man in Chicago, he said, built a pyramid ashis house. This man, his wife and their eleven kids live in theEgyptian style home. This man recently had a statue constructed tolook like an Egyptian pharaoh. However, Hawass said it looks morelike Bill Clinton.
Coincidentally, Bill Clinton actually paid Hawass a visit whilethe archaeologist was excavating the tunnel under the Sphinx. Manypeople believed the tunnel held an evil curse, but Hawass said thatdidn’t seem to bother the former president. Clinton told thearchaeologist that his life could not get more cursed.
For aspiring archaeologists, Hawass advises caution in choosingarchaeology as a career. You must be very passionate, he said.”I would give my life for archaeology.”
