Donald Malcolm Reid
- Published in print:
- 2015
- Published Online:
- January 2016
- ISBN:
- 9789774166891
- eISBN:
- 9781617976759
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- American University in Cairo Press
- DOI:
- 10.5743/cairo/9789774166891.003.0011
- Subject:
- History, Ancient History / Archaeology
The Depression, World War II, and the turmoil of the postwar years severely curtailed field archaeology in Egypt. Sidelined from public life, Selim Hassan published vast multi-volume ...
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The Depression, World War II, and the turmoil of the postwar years severely curtailed field archaeology in Egypt. Sidelined from public life, Selim Hassan published vast multi-volume works—Excavations at Giza in English, and a History of Ancient Egypt in Arabic. Sami Gabra presided as dean of the profession, while younger Egyptologists like Ahmad Fakhry and Labib Habachi climbed the career ladders of the Antiquities Service and universities. Under the guidance of Drioton, the last of the French directors of the Egyptian Antiquities Service stretching back to Mariette, King Faruq enthusiastically visited sites, collected antiquities, and subsidized the excavations of Zaki Saad at Helwan out of palace funds. A set of postage stamps depicted the young king as protector of Egyptian heritage from the Pyramids and Islamic monuments through to the Aswan Dam and the Egyptian University. The Museum of Egyptian Civilization opened in 1949 propagated the same message with a similar chronological sweep. In 1951, on the eve of Nasser's revolution, separate crises of decolonization nearly shut down both French and British archaeological activities in Egypt.Less
The Depression, World War II, and the turmoil of the postwar years severely curtailed field archaeology in Egypt. Sidelined from public life, Selim Hassan published vast multi-volume works—Excavations at Giza in English, and a History of Ancient Egypt in Arabic. Sami Gabra presided as dean of the profession, while younger Egyptologists like Ahmad Fakhry and Labib Habachi climbed the career ladders of the Antiquities Service and universities. Under the guidance of Drioton, the last of the French directors of the Egyptian Antiquities Service stretching back to Mariette, King Faruq enthusiastically visited sites, collected antiquities, and subsidized the excavations of Zaki Saad at Helwan out of palace funds. A set of postage stamps depicted the young king as protector of Egyptian heritage from the Pyramids and Islamic monuments through to the Aswan Dam and the Egyptian University. The Museum of Egyptian Civilization opened in 1949 propagated the same message with a similar chronological sweep. In 1951, on the eve of Nasser's revolution, separate crises of decolonization nearly shut down both French and British archaeological activities in Egypt.
Jill Kamil
- Published in print:
- 2007
- Published Online:
- September 2011
- ISBN:
- 9789774160615
- eISBN:
- 9781617970184
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- American University in Cairo Press
- DOI:
- 10.5743/cairo/9789774160615.003.0014
- Subject:
- Society and Culture, Middle Eastern Studies
Labib Habachi long harbored a wish to keep his personal library of over three thousand books as a unit after his death in order to provide a service to young students of Egyptology. He visualized a ...
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Labib Habachi long harbored a wish to keep his personal library of over three thousand books as a unit after his death in order to provide a service to young students of Egyptology. He visualized a special building constructed on the west bank of the Nile at Luxor. Habachi put himself under enormous pressure in the last two years of his life. He was anxious to complete his articles on Rizkallah Makramallah and Zaki Saad for the Coptic Lexicon. Habachi's cycle of despondency was broken when he received invitations by the Austrian and German governments to receive decorations. No one expected him to travel to Europe, but with the foolhardiness of a man of action, he insisted on going. The Labib Habachi Archives in the library are in active use by scholars around the world. Habachi's awards are mounted near the bay window where he worked at a large desk.Less
Labib Habachi long harbored a wish to keep his personal library of over three thousand books as a unit after his death in order to provide a service to young students of Egyptology. He visualized a special building constructed on the west bank of the Nile at Luxor. Habachi put himself under enormous pressure in the last two years of his life. He was anxious to complete his articles on Rizkallah Makramallah and Zaki Saad for the Coptic Lexicon. Habachi's cycle of despondency was broken when he received invitations by the Austrian and German governments to receive decorations. No one expected him to travel to Europe, but with the foolhardiness of a man of action, he insisted on going. The Labib Habachi Archives in the library are in active use by scholars around the world. Habachi's awards are mounted near the bay window where he worked at a large desk.
