The Mubarak of Antiquities

I really should have just done a blog about Zahi Hawass. Despite my efforts to research antiquity situations outside Egypt, I keep finding more perspectives about Hawass. In an earlier post I wondered about whether Hawass was still in charge of Antiquities, then I found out he was no longer, however the in between was still unknown to me.

This article challenged my views of Hawass, just as many others have. I grew up admiring him, inspired to pursue a career in history, Egypt or otherwise. However, it is apparent that many young Egyptians reviled the man, with his political connections to Mubarak and his strict control of antiquities. I never put him in a political context, much less a corrupt one. The article also points out how his strict management has benefited Egypt, both culturally and economically. It quotes Egyptologists as worried about whether the Ministry of Antiquities will be downgraded, risking Egypt's treasures. As much as I want to find news about the goings on outside Egypt, this is just too intrinsic to my coming of age in history to ignore.