Latest news with #ZahiHawass
Daily Mail
18 hours ago
- General
- Daily Mail
Archaeologists amazed to discover an ancient 'door to the afterlife' in the tomb of an Egyptian prince
Archaeologists examining a 4,400–year–old ancient Egyptian tomb have made a groundbreaking discovery. The catacomb, which belonged to a previously unknown prince called Userefre, features a large pink granite 'false door' – the largest ever discovered in Egypt. The door, which measures 4.5 metres high and 1.15 metres wide (15ft by 4ft) resembles a functional door but does not actually open. Instead, experts believe it held profound spiritual significance – serving as a symbolic portal through which the soul of the dead could travel to the afterlife. This 'gateway' demonstrates how considerable time and resources were dedicated to achieving eternal rest. The discovery, in Egypt's Saqqara necropolis, was made during an excavation mission led by Dr Zahi Hawass, former Minister of Antiquities. The door is decorated with hieroglyphic inscriptions detailing Prince Userefre's impressive titles, including 'Hereditary Prince, Governor of the Buto and Nekhbet Regions, Royal Scribe, Minister, Judge, and Chanting Priest.' The royal, who also goes by Prince Waser–If–Re, according to the inscriptions, was the son of King Userkaf, who was the founder of Egypt's Fifth dynasty. Despite his many titles, the prince and his tomb were previously unknown to scholars. 'Before this discovery, we didn't even know he existed,' Ronald Leprohon, professor emeritus of Egyptology at the University of Toronto, told The Archaeologist. Dr Melanie Pitkin, from Cambridge University, has previously explained how false doors were intended to serve as portals that allowed the life force – or 'ka' – of the deceased to move back and forth between the tomb and the afterlife. 'Family members and priests would come to the tomb where the false door was standing and they would recite the name of the deceased and his or her achievements and leave offerings,' she said. 'The ka of the deceased would then magically travel between the burial chamber and the netherworld. 'It would come and collect the food, drink, and offerings from the tomb to help sustain it in the afterlife.' Alongside the false door, archaeologists also found 13 high–backed chairs, each of which featured statues carved out of pink granite too. Most false doors discovered in Egyptian tombs are made of limestone, which was abundant at the time. Pink and red granite was a rarity and had to be quarried and transported from Aswan – around 650km away. As a result, it was reserved for royalty. The imposing size of this particular false door reflects Prince Userefre's elevated status within the royal hierarchy. The archaeologists also found a red granite offering table measuring 92.5cm in diameter, featuring carved texts describing ritual sacrifice. The tomb also had a massive black granite statue of a standing man, measuring 1.17 metres tall. The owner of this statue – whose name was inscribed on its chest – appears to date to a more recent time period, indicating the tomb may have been reused. Scientists working at the site are still looking to locate the prince's actual burial chamber. Tutankhamun was an Egyptian pharaoh of the 18th dynasty, and ruled between 1332 BC and 1323 BC. He was the son of Akhenaten and took to the throne at the age of nine or ten. When he became king, he married his half-sister, Ankhesenpaaten. He died at around the age of 18 and his cause of death is unknown. In 1907, Lord Carnarvon George Herbert asked English archaeologist and Egyptologist Howard Carter to supervise excavations in the Valley of the Kings. On 4 November 1922, Carter's group found steps that led to Tutankhamun's tomb. He spent several months cataloguing the antechamber before opening the burial chamber and discovering the sarcophagus in February 1923. When the tomb was discovered in 1922 by archaeologist Howard Carter, under the patronage of Lord Carnarvon, the media frenzy that followed was unprecedented. Carter and his team took 10 years to clear the tomb of its treasure because of the multitude of objects found within it. For many, Tut embodies ancient Egypt's glory because his tomb was packed with the glittering wealth of the rich 18th Dynasty from 1569 to 1315 BC.
See - Sada Elbalad
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- See - Sada Elbalad
Dr. Zahi Hawass Concludes Blockbuster U.S. Lecture Tour: Over 40,000 Attend in 30 Cities Across America
Ali abo deshish Renowned Egyptologist Dr. Zahi Hawass has concluded his highly successful lecture tour across the United States, which spanned three unforgettable months and included stops in 30 cities. The tour kicked off in Phoenix on May 1st and ended in Washington, D.C., on July 23rd. More than 40,000 attendees from across the country gathered to hear the world's most famous archaeologist unveil his latest discoveries from ancient Egypt—many of which were revealed publicly for the first time. In every city, Dr. Hawass was welcomed with thunderous applause and standing ovations, both at the start and conclusion of each lecture. Audiences were deeply moved, inspired, and left with a stronger desire to learn more about Egypt's extraordinary past. Following each lecture, long lines formed as attendees waited patiently to meet Dr. Hawass, take photos with him, and get their books signed—moments many described as unforgettable. Dr. Hawass described the tour as the most successful of his career to date, expressing his pride and gratitude for the overwhelming reception and the opportunity to bring Egypt's ancient wonders closer to the American people. U.S. Ambassador to Egypt, Herro Mustafa Garg, who attended one of the lectures, commented: 'It was an honor to attend Dr. Zahi Hawass's conference celebrating Egypt's extraordinary cultural heritage. The American people admire Egypt's contributions to human history. I look forward to the opening of the Grand Egyptian Museum and to Egypt's continued leadership in preserving our shared global heritage.' Dr. Hawass now continues his journey to Canada, where he is scheduled to present lectures in three major cities, continuing his mission to share Egypt's rich legacy with the world. read more New Tourism Route To Launch in Old Cairo Ahmed El Sakka-Led Play 'Sayidati Al Jamila' to Be Staged in KSA on Dec. 6 Mandy Moore Joins Season 2 of "Dr. Death" Anthology Series Don't Miss These Movies at 44th Cairo Int'l Film Festival Today Amr Diab to Headline KSA's MDLBEAST Soundstorm 2022 Festival Arts & Culture Mai Omar Stuns in Latest Instagram Photos Arts & Culture "The Flash" to End with Season 9 Arts & Culture Ministry of Culture Organizes four day Children's Film Festival Arts & Culture Canadian PM wishes Muslims Eid-al-Adha News Israeli-Linked Hadassah Clinic in Moscow Treats Wounded Iranian IRGC Fighters Arts & Culture "Jurassic World Rebirth" Gets Streaming Date News China Launches Largest Ever Aircraft Carrier Videos & Features Tragedy Overshadows MC Alger Championship Celebration: One Fan Dead, 11 Injured After Stadium Fall Lifestyle Get to Know 2025 Eid Al Adha Prayer Times in Egypt Arts & Culture South Korean Actress Kang Seo-ha Dies at 31 after Cancer Battle Business Egyptian Pound Undervalued by 30%, Says Goldman Sachs Sports Get to Know 2025 WWE Evolution Results News "Tensions Escalate: Iran Probes Allegations of Indian Tech Collaboration with Israeli Intelligence" News Flights suspended at Port Sudan Airport after Drone Attacks
New York Post
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Real-life ‘Indiana Jones' Dr. Zahi Hawass hits back at Joe Rogan: ‘Didn't do his homework' on pyramid alien conspiracies
Dr. Zahi Hawass has been called the real-life Indiana Jones and the Pharaoh of Egyptian archaeology — and not always with affection. Arrogant, passionate and relentlessly driven, Hawass, the former Minister of Antiquities of Egypt, has spent decades commanding excavation sites and delivering fiery public lectures with the confidence of a man who's been proven right one too many times. His recent lecture tour across the US drew large crowds. But it also came on the heels of a controversial interview with Joe Rogan, who called it 'the worst podcast I've ever done,' dismissing the famed archaeologist as a 'close-minded fellow who's been in charge of gatekeeping all the knowledge.' 13 Dr. Zahi Hawass, seen here in front of the Sphinx and Pyramids of Giza, Getty Images 13 Hawass now owns a bullwhip used by Harrison Ford (above) in the Indiana Jones movies. REUTERS But it's hard to argue with the résumé. Hawass has led or overseen many of the most significant Egyptian discoveries of the modern era: the Lost Golden City near Luxor, new tombs at Saqqara, the mummy identification of Queen Hatshepsut, and recent scans inside the Great Pyramid of Giza that revealed mysterious hidden chambers. He also spearheaded efforts to repatriate stolen antiquities and reframe Egyptology with Egyptians at the center. The Post spoke with this bombastic, unfiltered character who wears his larger-than-life reputation like a tailored khaki jacket. New York Post: You're wrapping up your US lecture tour. Was it everything you'd hoped for? 13 Joe Rogan called a May 2025 episode of 'The Joe Rogan Experience' featuring Dr. Zahi Hawass 'the worst podcast I've ever done.' Hawass, in turn, told The Post it was 'the worst interview I've ever done in my life.' Joe Rogan/YouTube Dr. Zahi Hawass: It was fantastic … I haven't seen an audience love a lecturer like this before. In every city, when I enter the room, there's a standing ovation. And when I finish the lecture, there's another standing ovation. It's quite remarkable. I don't think that happened when Dr. Howard Carter found Tutankhamun's tomb 100 years ago. He never had this kind of fame. NYP: Do you ever get tired of talking about your discoveries? ZH: Never! … Every discovery I've made in my life has its own story. The last discovery I made, the Lost Golden City in Luxor, is a major, important discovery. It's the largest city ever found in Egypt, and for the first time we have a glimpse into the artisans who made the temples and the tools they used during the Golden Age. Inside the city, we found seven large royal workshops where they made the statues, jewelry, textiles and clothing for the palace. One of the most important things we found — and it's not published yet, I've only announced it during my lectures — is the name Smenkhkare. NYP: Found? Like, it was written in the hieroglyphics? 13 'Sometimes when I'm on an excavation, I think, 'This may be it.' There's a great amount of danger,' Hawass said. Getty Images ZH: That's right! It was everywhere! And I really believe that Smenkhkare is a throne name for Queen Nefertiti. I'm currently searching for her mummy so I can test her DNA and prove this theory. We start in September to search for her tomb. NYP: Out on the road, did you run into people eager to refute your research? There's a growing fringe movement that believes aliens were involved in building the pyramids. ZH: Oh yes! They're everywhere! And they like to dream. Listen, I am not against any new discovery. Just show me the evidence. I get angry emails every day from people who think I'm hiding the evidence … I get where they're coming from. If you stood in front of the Great Pyramid for the first time, I'm sure you'd find it hard to believe that it was built by human beings. Who would hire 10,000 workers a day to work for 28 years to build such a thing? It seems ridiculous even to imagine it! But this was a national project of the whole nation. 13 Hawass and his team came face-to-face with King Tutankhamun's mummy in 2005 for a controversial CT scan. AP NYP: So you'd be willing to consider aliens as co-architects, you just want proof? ZH: I want anything … If aliens built the pyramids, there would be something in the ground. I have been excavating in Egypt for decades, and I've found nothing to indicate anything but human activity. But you have someone like Joe Rogan. Did you hear my interview with him? NYP: I did. It was tense. ZH: Because he wouldn't listen to the evidence I was giving him! He said it was the worst interview he ever did in his life. Well, I'm telling you this. I want you to print this. It was the worst interview I've ever done in my life. 13 'Katy Perry came once, and I don't think she was very happy. I didn't recognize her, and didn't realize she was a singer,' Hawass said of Perry, seen above with Orlando Bloom at the pyramids in 2019. Joe Rogan/YouTube 13 'I only knew that the guy next to her was Orlando Bloom,' Hawass added of Perry. 'I think that upset her. Katy Perry/ Instagram NYP: What went wrong? ZH: I'll tell you what went wrong. When you do an interview with a person, you expect this person to do their homework. When I talked to Piers Morgan, he did his homework. Joe Rogan did not do his homework. NYP: Is it also possible that he just disagreed with you about what the evidence suggested? ZH: He was talking about these Italians [who] found eight pillars 600 feet under the Khafre pyramid. [A group of researchers claimed this spring that they had discovered 'vertical cylinders' 2,000 feet below ground.] The techniques they used, Synthetic Aperture Radar tomography, can only show 15 meters under the ground, about 60 feet. It will never be able to show 600 feet. Never! 13 Hawass said he banned Beyoncé from the pyramids after an alleged scuffle between her bodyguard and a Hawass employee. Balkis Press/ABACA / Shutterstock And if these theories are correct, why have they never come to discuss it with us? Why did they decide to announce their discovery by publishing in a magazine where you have to pay a fee to publish? How does that make sense? NYP: What if Rogan was willing to tour the pyramids with you? ZH: Oh, absolutely. I told him as much. But he rejected my invitation. It's his problem now, because for him to see the pyramids without me is useless. He said on the podcast that he wanted to go with… what's his name, the guy in England? NYP: Graham Hancock. [Hancock, who hosted 'Ancient Apocalypse' on Netflix, believes the pyramids were built by a lost-to-time civilization some 12,000 years ago.] 13 'Intellectual, beautiful' Princess Diana was one of Hawass' favorite guests to show around the Pyramids of Giza. Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty Images ZH: Hancock, right! He asked me to be on his Netflix show, but I'm not sure I want to do it. I also got a call from Piers Morgan's assistant, asking if I'd be available to do a show in November in Cairo, with me showing him some of my latest discoveries. I promise you, if we do it, we will beat Joe Rogan's ratings a hundred percent. NYP: You've been in the orbit of many celebrities and politicians over the years. Who surprised you most, for better or worse? ZH: I cannot forget Princess Diana. She was intellectual, beautiful, just incredible. NYP: Anybody you couldn't stand? 13 'When you close a tomb for 3,000 years, and this tomb has mummies in it, there are going to be germs. When you open this tomb, the germs have to come out,' Hawass said of so-called tomb curses. Getty Images ZH: Beyoncé came in 2008, and it did not end well. She was a very nice lady, but she had a very bad bodyguard. I have a camera lady who follows me during these tours, to record everything — and Beyonce's bodyguard … snatched the camera right out of her hand. I wouldn't stand for it! I told her and her bodyguard to get out, and banned her from the pyramids. Katy Perry came once, and I don't think she was very happy. I didn't recognize her, and didn't realize she was a singer. I only knew that the guy next to her was Orlando Bloom. I think that upset her. NYP: You're claimed to be the inspiration for Indiana Jones. Is that true? ZH: It's absolutely true. 13 Hawass led the team that discovered the mummified remains of Queen Hatsheput. AFP via Getty Images 13 Queen Hatsheput, depicted here as a seated statue from 1473-1458 B.C. Egypt, was one of Egypt's most storied pharaohs. UIG via Getty Images NYP: Like George Lucas said, 'Tell me about your life,' and then turned it into a script? ZH: Yes. That is entirely true. We had dinner in Cairo, and he jokingly told me that my hat is more famous than Harrison Ford's hat from the movie, and I reminded him that my hat is a real archaeological hat and Harrison's is a fake one. NYP: Have you ever watched one of the Indiana Jones movies and thought, 'Yep, that happened to me?' 13 Hawass has led or overseen many of the most significant Egyptian discoveries of the modern era, including the Lost Golden City near Luxor (above). art_of_line – ZH: Of course. All of them … I have seen some real danger. Sometimes when I'm on an excavation, I think, 'This may be it.' There's a great amount of danger. I've scaled ropes down into shafts that haven't been entered in thousands of years, and it isn't lost on me that this isn't entirely safe. I often think, 'Well, if this rope snaps, that's the end of me.' NYP: What about Pharaoh curses? The curse of Tutankhamun apparently killed a few archaeologists. ZH: This is the real story about the curse. When you close a tomb for 3,000 years, and this tomb has mummies in it, there are going to be germs. When you open this tomb, the germs have to come out. There's radiation! In the past, archaeologists would be in a hurry to look inside these tombs. And they would ingest all of this unhealthy air. I realized this just a few months ago, you need to let a new discovery breath. I found a sealed sarcophagus 60 feet under the ground, and when the workmen opened it, I waited for three hours until the bad air was released. And then I put my head inside to investigate. NYP: I'm surprised you haven't made a cameo in any of the Indiana Jones movies. ZH: Well, hopefully Harrison Ford and I will have our moment soon. Leslie Greif, a big Hollywood producer, wants me to do a show with Mr. Beast, but I told him I need Harrison Ford. Can you imagine that? Dr. Zahi Hawass and Mr. Harrison Ford revealing the secrets of the Great Pyramid together. Billions of people would tune in. Who wouldn't want to watch that?
Daily Mirror
04-07-2025
- General
- Daily Mirror
'Extraordinary' Great Pyramid of Giza discovery rewrites its slave history
Inscriptions found inside the Great Pyramid of Giza have finally put to bed the long-held belief that the ancient wonder was built by slaves, according to a new report Archaeologists have made a groundbreaking discovery inside Egypt's Great Pyramid, finally confirming who truly built the iconic monument 4,500 years ago - and debunking the long-standing belief that it was constructed by slaves, according to MailOnline. The remarkable find, led by esteemed Egyptologist Dr Zahi Hawass and his team, indicates that the ancient marvel was not erected by 100,000 slaves as Ancient Greek sources once suggested, but by highly skilled, paid labourers working under a strict regime. "These findings confirm that the builders were not slaves. If they had been, they would never have been buried in the shadow of the pyramids," Dr Hawass explained on the Matt Beall Limitless podcast. "Slaves would not have prepared their tombs for eternity, like kings and queens did, inside these tombs." Narrow chambers "They were discovered in chambers that are challenging and perilous to access, and they use writing styles that only trained Egyptologists can accurately interpret," Dr Hawass stated. "It's nearly impossible that someone in recent times could have forged something like this. You must climb about 45 feet and crawl through tight spaces to even reach those chambers.", reports the Express. Revealing script In a groundbreaking discovery, archaeologists have unearthed tombs just south of the Great Pyramid, believed to be the final resting places of the very workers who built the iconic structure. These ancient graves held not only tools like flint instruments and pounding stones, but also statues that vividly portray labourers moving enormous stone blocks. Intriguingly, some tombs bore titles such as "overseer of the side of the pyramid" and "craftsman." But it's not just the tombs that are causing a stir; Dr Hawass has shed light on the actual construction methods of the pyramid. The limestone used was sourced just 1,000 feet away, with evidence suggesting it was transported using a ramp system made from rubble and mud, traces of which were found by Dr Hawass's team to the southwest of the pyramid. Dr Hawass explained: "The ramp had to come from the southwest corner of the pyramid and connect to the quarry," detailing the excavation at a site labelled C2 where they discovered remnants of this ramp - a mix of stone rubble, sand, and mud. Although the ramp was dismantled, not all evidence was erased, leaving behind clues for modern-day researchers. The Great Pyramid of Giza, erected under Pharaoh Khufu's reign during the Fourth Dynasty, stands as the largest pyramid on the Giza Plateau and a testament to human architectural prowess. Despite its fame, many secrets of its construction have been shrouded in mystery, until these recent excavations began to reveal the ingenuity of the ancient builders. "There's a popular myth that the workers ate only garlic, onions, and bread, but we found thousands of animal bones at the site," Dr Hawass revealed. "An expert from the University of Chicago analyzed them and found that the Egyptians slaughtered 11 cows and 33 goats every day to feed the laborers. This diet was enough to support around 10,000 workers per day." Dr Hawass now plans to launch a new expedition funded by podcast host Matt Beall - and for the first time in modern history, a robot will be sent deep into the pyramid to uncover more of its secrets. From the mythical to the tangible, these latest findings are dramatically rewriting the story of how the Great Pyramid was built - and by whom.
The Sun
03-07-2025
- General
- The Sun
Who REALLY built Egypt's Great Pyramid is ‘revealed' in hidden inscriptions dating back 4,500 years
ARCHAEOLOGISTS have unearthed hidden inscriptions inside Egypt's Great Pyramid which could reveal who built the iconic structure. The groundbreaking discovery could hold the key for who is responsible for the monument's construction nearly five thousand years ago. 2 2 According to the Ancient Greeks, 100,000 slaves who worked in three-month shifts over 20 years produced the Great Pyramid of Giza. However, fresh discoveries suggest that paid laborers who took three days off a month are responsible. Egyptologist Dr Zahi Hawass and his team recently explored a series of narrow chambers above the King's Chamber using imaging technology, finding never-before-seen markings left by work gangs from the 13th-century BC. They subsequently stumbled upon tombs of the laborers which included statues of the workers during the pyramid's construction. "[The discoveries] confirm that the builders were not slaves. If they had been, they would never have been buried in the shadow of the pyramids," Hawass said during an episode of the Matt Beall Limitless podcast. "Slaves would not have prepared their tombs for eternity, like kings and queens did, inside these tombs." The Great Pyramid of Giza, is the oldest and largest of the three pyramids in Giza, Egypt. River Nile close to Cairo. It was built as a tomb for the Fourth Dynasty pharaoh Khufu, also known as Cheops, and his queen. Khufu is believed to have reigned during the 26th century BC from 2589BC to 2566BC. Astonishing moment a dog is spotted at the top of 455ft Great PYRAMID of Giza after climbing up to bark at birds Few details about the ruler are known, with all the information coming from inscriptions in his necropolis in Giza and later documents. He is thought to have had two wives, Meritites I and later Henutsen. Inside the pyramid are three chambers - the Queen's Chamber and the King's Chamber, connected by the Grand Gallery. The latest findings also shed light on how the pyramid was built, revealing that limestone from a quarry just 1,000 feet away was hauled to the site using a rubble-and-mud ramp, remnants of which were found southwest of the monument. Inscriptions were previously found inside the Great Pyramid during the 19th century, sparking debate that the writings were forged hundreds of years after it was built. "There was some debate on whether or not that could be a forgery, but now you're saying that you've discovered three more cartes within the King's Chamber,' Beall asked Dr Hawass. "They were found in chambers that are difficult and dangerous to access, and they use writing styles that only trained Egyptologists can accurately interpret,' said Dr Hawass. "It's nearly impossible that someone in recent times could have forged something like this. You must climb about 45 feet and crawl through tight spaces to even reach those chambers." Dr Hawass and his team also scooped a number of tools inside the tombs which were likely used to build the pyramid, including flint tools and pounding stones. He added: "The base of the Great Pyramid is made from solid bedrock, carved 28 feet deep into the ground. "This means that after marking the square base, the builders cut down into all four sides of the rock until they created a level platform of solid stone, no blocks, just bedrock. "You can still see this today on the south side of Khufu's pyramid." Pyramid building in Egypt reached its peak with the Fourth Dynasty of Pharaohs which saw constructions in both Giza and Dashur. Pyramids were not built in isolation but formed only one part of a pyramid complex. Other elements usually included a satellite pyramid, other small pyramids for queens, a mortuary temple, a valley temple, and a causeway between them. A brief history of Ancient Egypt Here's everything you need to know... The Ancient Egyptians were an advanced civilization who at one point owned a huge portion of the globe The civilization began about 5,000 years ago when ancient humans began building villages along the River Nile It lasted for about 3,000 years and saw the building of complex cities centuries ahead of their time – as well as the famous Great Pyramids The Ancient Egyptians were experts at farming and construction They invented a solar calendar, and one of the world's earliest writing systems: The hieroglyph The Egyptians were ruled by kings and queens called pharaohs Religion and the afterlife were a huge part of Ancient Egyptian culture. They had over 2,000 gods Pharaohs built huge elaborate tombs to be buried in, some of which were pyramids – at the time among the largest buildings in the world The Egyptians believed in life after death, and important people's corpses were mummified to preserve their bodies for the afterlife The Ancient Egyptian empire fell due to a mix of factors, including wars with other empires and a 100-year period of drought and starvation
