Welcome
to ‘VIRTUAL EGYPT’ Project!
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Throughout
the centuries, most of the monuments have been heavily destructed and altered,
due to natural and social forces.
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In
the 12th century, external stones of pyramids were used by Saladin
to build a fortress against crusaders.
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Early
French and English archeologists took sculptures and parts of the walls of
temples and tombs and brought them to European capitols.
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One
example is the first zodiac image, which was on the ceiling of the temple in
Dendera, now exhibited in the Louvre, Paris.
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Desert,
wind and the water of the Nile have contributed to the destruction
as well.
·
Gangs
of treasure hunters have not helped in
preserving the original image of the monuments.
·
One
of the reasons was also in the attitude of Egyptian rulers who would often
modify, reconstruct or adapt existing monuments to suit their needs causing
almost every temple in Egypt to have
several ‘layers,’ from old, from middle, from new kingdom and even from the Ptolomeic period.
To
visualize the original architecture of the monuments simply by seeing them, by
using video or photo material is clearly
impossible.
Who
will Benefit from ‘Virtual Egypt’?
3D
rendering technology opens for the first time the possibility to reconstruct
these monuments in their original splendor. VRML protocols and sophisticated
object-programming languages allow developers to create interactive 3D
applications. People can now be presented with the opportunity to visit the monuments
in ‘virtual reality’ and enjoying them in their original beauty and complexity.
Such
reconstruction is invaluable to professional Egyptologists, students,
historians, youth and the public at large.
But
the most important benefit is to humanity in general. The ‘Virtual Egypt’
project is, actually, aiming at creating and keeping the most accurate records
about the very first monuments of our civilization for future generations in
millenniums to come. However much the monuments might physically erode…
Sincerely
Yours,
Dr
Slobodan Simovic
The
President of “Virtual Egypt” Project Committee
Dr Slobodan Simovic, Dr Bojana Mojsov and Nenad Mikalacki-Django
– initiators of the project - in the entrance of Snofru’s pyramid.
PHASE 1: (JUNE 1999 –
JUNE 2001)
Phase
1 is “the demo” phase of the project and will consist of the following:
·
3D reconstruction of
the original image of Keops pyramid,
with pyramid temple, valley temple and the harbor.
The reconstruction will be done under
the supervision of Dr Zahi Hawas, the inspector of Gizah plateau. Dr Hawas will also provide texts and
documentation support.
·
3D reconstruction of
the original image of Setti I tomb
in The Valley of Kings.
The
reconstruction will be done under the supervision of Dr Bojana Mojsov, the
leading egyptologist involved in the physical conservation of Setti I tomb.
·
3D reconstruction of
the original image of The Temple of
Hattor in Dendera.
This reconstruction will be done in cooperation with archeologists appointed by the governor of Kena district, which has the Temple of Hattor in its jurisdiction.
RESULT:
A
complete 3D model of both internal and external image of a representative sample
of three major types of Egyptian monuments (pyramids, temples and tombs),
rendered in VRML enabled 3D software and programmed in C++ to allow
interactivity in viewing the monuments.
3D
models will serve to establish standards for the quality and accuracy of
reconstruction which will be maintained throughout the entire project.
7th MILLENIUM:
3D models rendered in
phase one will serve as the base for several different productions. Some of these productions will be part of an
extensive campaign connecting to the millennium celebrations.
The next millennium
is not simply the 3rd millennium.
It is the 7th millennium of our civilization whose first
magnificent achievements are the pyramids themselves. Our latest achievement,
however, is certainly in the capability to create “virtual reality”.
Egyptian monuments
are also first ‘data-basis’ that have kept record of a complete knowledge,
beliefs and social structure, which, in many respects, represent the very first
origin of our civilization and help tremendously in understanding our roots and
forgotten grounds of our current beliefs.
By
using the newest hardware and software products, the “Virtual Egypt” project
combines “the first” with “the latest” achievement announcing the new
millennium as the millennium in which the self-awareness of our civilization
will further improve.
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Demo: 3D reconstruction of Seti I tomb: samples of the monument’s wall-scripts
COMMERCIALIZATION:
The
plan is to explore and develop several products around the 3D models and to
commercialize then in the following ways:
·
By organizing CYBER-EXHIBITIONS in December 2000 in
Egyptian Departments of big museums (Berlin, Paris, New York, Cairo…). For these
museums it will be the best possible way of entering into the new millennium
increasing value to already valuable and popular collections.
·
By making a TV serial “Egyptian Monuments” with
three episodes: ‘Pyramids’, ‘Temples’ & ‘Tombs’ in which the history, logic
and mythology behind the monuments are fully presented. In the center of each
episode there will be one of the 3D models, which will be combined with
‘live-action’ or with cartoon-type 2D animation to present rituals and
religious customs. The TV serial, once proven, could also be successfully
distributed in the form of educational VIDEO
CASETTES.
·
By producing 3 CDROMS
in the serial “Egyptian Monuments”, which will contain: a video part
with the related TV episode, a file with 3D reconstruction for viewing and
interactive browsing, information and data about the monuments, as well as
several games and other edu-entertaining contents. CDROMS will be packed in
boxes which – when opened – turn into mockups, designed as a pyramid, a temple
and a tomb.
·
The entire contents
of the 3 CDROMS will also be packaged in 1 DVDROM
consisting of the complete TV serial, all the 3D models + more interesting
applications and data. The DVDROM will
be packed in pyramidal shaped boxes.
·
Images taken out of
the 3D models, together with photos and drawings, will serve as the unique and
incomparable visual material for the first 3
BOOKS in the serial about “Egyptian Monuments”: the books will be, of
course, about Keops Pyramid, Dendera Temple and Setti I tomb. Later, every monument reconstructed will become a
topic of a new book within the series.
·
For those who have
VRML browsers, the plan is to create a supporting club-based “Virtual Egypt” Internet Site with 3D files. This Site
will also support additional information and communication, with community
tools and a Shopping Mall by means of which all products and services related
to "Virtual Egypt" can be offered to the public worldwide. With such
complete video and graphic material, along with the support of leading
Egyptologists, this Site can easily become the ultimate and the richest
Internet reference for anyone interested in Egyptian history and culture as
well as attract lovers of the unique and interesting.
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Seti I tomb, demo reconstruction: samples of 3D reconstructed interior
BUDGET RAISING:
Budget raising team
will have the goal to assure the following sources of finances:
·
Subsidies:
From media development subsidies (like EU ‘Media Support” or Dutch “Stimulation
Fund”), to exhibitions and documentaries oriented subsidies (as, for instance,
different subsidies of Dutch Ministry of Culture).
·
Sponsoring:
Which will be concentrated around general sponsors to be found among companies
that are actively involved in hardware and software development (like IBN,
Microsoft, Phillips etc).
·
Soft-loans:
based on the publishing, distribution and broadcasting ‘Letters of Intent”
finalized with interested parties.
·
Advance Payments of Royalties: especially for CDROM and DVDROM rights agreed upon with
distributors territory by territory.
Sample: ‘Home’ Interface Design for ‘Virtual Egypt’ Site
If
the phase 1 is successfully completed, the phase 2 will proceed with:
·
Systematic
reconstruction of all important pyramids, tombs and temples in Egypt.
·
A complete
reconstruction of the Hellenic city of Alexandria;
·
Development of digital
catalogs for Nubian Museum in Assuan as well as Egypt Museums in Cairo and
Luxor.
These reconstruction
and developments are projected to take 5 years, from June 2000 till June
2005. Commercialization will coincide
with the structure established in relation to phase 1.
