The
world of the Pharaohs is full of magic and mystery. People today still
invoke the curse of the Pharaohs, even some modern Egyptologists, whose eyes are
full of envy and gossip. I had never seen an Egyptologist honored during
his lifetime, but there is always an exception. Last week foreign and
Egyptian Egyptologists met at the Association of Arab Archaeologists in an
auditorium at Cairo University to honor Dr. Ali Radwan.
When I
was invited by Dr. Mohamed El Kalaway to attend the honoring party, I thought
that only a few friends of Dr. Radwan would attend the event. I listened
to many of them give speeches to honor this man who has dedicated his life to
Egyptology. He has taught art, prehistory, and archaeology to many
students. He has always acknowledged archaeological problems and will
stand in front of any person who would hurt the monuments of Egypt. I saw
Gaballa Ali Gaballa, the General Secretary of the Supreme Council of Antiquities
speak about a great lady, Radwan’s mother. She raised this man, who
became such an exceptional treasure. My dear friend Dr. Tohfa Handousa
talked about the good days that made them like brothers and said that Dr. Radwan
always had an answer to any question that she ever asked him about Egyptology.
My favorite, another dear friend, was Rainer Stadelman. He is one of the
most important and knowledgeable living Egyptologists. He talked about how
he met Ali Radwan when he was young and realized that he was a promising
Egyptologist. Later he watched Radwan become a solid scholar in the field.
Also, the famous writer Sakina Fouad spoke about his wife and said that she
should be honored along with him because her love, support, and dedication gave
him the opportunity to reach for the top. Finally, his friend Mohamed El
Kalaway, who teaches Islamic art and archaeology, spoke. As a good friend,
he talked about Radwan as a human being. Khalaway organized and made this
event possible.
I
first met Dr. Ali Radwan in 1978, when I joined the Diploma at Cairo University.
He taught me Egyptian art and architecture. What I liked most about him
was that he chose every word with care and could explain an Egyptian statue as
if he was a lover talking about his beautiful lady. His voice would ring
in your ear with the music of his love for the monuments. He had way of
explaining the monuments that could make both a scholar and a member of the
public fall in love with archaeology. He is one of the few scholars who
can lecture to both the public and scholars without reading from notes as many
do. Ali Radwan wrote two important books that became solid textbooks for
our field. The first is on the scenes of royalty in a private tomb in
Thebes (Luxor). The second is about the bronze objects from ancient Egypt
dating from the predynastic period until the end of ancient Egyptian history.
After that, we became very close friends, and he is one of the few people who is
actually near my heart.
Tohfa
Handousa, and myself used to meet every Saturday and listen to the advice of Dr.
Radwan and Gamal Mokhtar, learn from their knowledge, and hear news of
Egyptology. Now after the death of my great friend Mokhtar, every two
weeks Handousa, Radwan, and myself meet for dinner to discuss the future of the
monuments. He worked as the Inspector of Antiquities in the Fayum, then he
went to finish his doctorate in Germany and returned as a professor of
Egyptology in the Faculty of Archaeology. He began his fieldwork at
Abousir, where he found many secrets in the sand. He discovered an
important cemetery that dated back to Dynasty I (3000 BC). He also found
boat pits near the tombs with wooden scraps that proved to be sailing boats.
He is looking now for the Sun Temples at Abousir, especially those that have not
been discovered yet. Radwan used to take his students and teach them
excavation technique at the site. It is rare nowadays to find a man like
him who has in his heart the history and archaeology of Egypt. This is why
he is loved by all. We watched him when he stood up to thank everyone.
I saw the tears of love in his eyes and how he looked to his lovely wife to say
thank you to her.
The
devil does not like things to go this smoothly. The Pharaoh’s Curse has
to come up, and jealous men appear as the representatives of Seth, the Egyptian
god of the devil. At this party, though, Seth did not attend. Only
Hathor and Horus, who represent faithfulness and love, came to the party
honoring Dr. Ali Radwan.
Who is Seth you ask? You can read about him HERE.