INTERVIEW WITH EGYPTIAN ARCHAEOLOGIST ZAHI HAWASS Keywords: Zahi Hawass, Ancient Egypt, archaeological discoveries, scientific activity, protection of ancient monuments Recently, a well-known archaeologist and historian, former Secretary General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities of Egypt Zahi Hawass, visited Moscow at the invitation of Russian philanthropist K. V. Malofeev, founder of the St. Basil the Great Charitable Foundation. One of the lectures - "Pyramids, mummies and Cleopatra: the latest archaeological finds in Egypt" - he gave to students and teachers of the Institute of Asian and African Countries of Moscow State University, after which he gave an interview to our magazine. - At one time, you entered the University of Alexandria at the Faculty of Law. How did you choose archaeology later? Why are you interested in this particular area of scientific knowledge? - Yes, at first I studied law for a while, because I wanted to become a lawyer. But then I decided that studying law wasn't what I wanted to do, so I transferred to the Faculty of Humanities, the Department of Greek and Roman Archaeology. Although I didn't know what the future held for me in this field of knowledge. In 1967, I graduated from the university and was appointed Inspector of the Egyptian Antiquities Service. Later, as fate would have it, I was sent to excavate an ancient city near Kom Abu-Billo in the Nile Delta. During the expedition, we discovered an ancient tomb. As I descended into it, I saw a beautiful statue. From that moment on, I fell in love with archaeology. - During your scientific career, you have made many important archaeological discoveries. Tell us more about the most unique, in your opinion, finds. What riddles did they help scientists solve later? - All the discoveries, in my opinion, are important, but I would like to say something about the graves of the pyramid builders found separately. This was a truly sensational event, as there was no evidence as to who built ... Read more