He says he is one of the most famous names in the history of cinema. “Indiana Jones it’s me”, he claims when meeting people.

Dr. Zahi Hawass is one of the most famous archaeologists in the world. He says that George Lucas, while in Egypt researching the story and characters for  Raiders of the Lost Ark – directed by Steven Spielberg and released to worldwide acclaim 1982 – planned a special trip to Cairo just to meet with him.

Lucas became utterly fascinated by his fedora hat. “Even my hat is the real Indiana Jones hat!” insists Hawass. The claim, truth be told, continues to upset the Indiana Jones and Raiders of the Lost Ark’s costume designer, Deborah Nadoolman Landis.

 

The great archeologist, endowed with a treasure trove of self-esteem, can soon be admired in a Netflix film about his life. That’s not all. He will also appear front and center in the Discovery Channel / National Geographic documentary about Tutankhamon and the breakthrough finding, 100 years ago, of his final resting place.

Let there be no doubt: Hawass could easily become the biggest Egyptian cinematic export since Omar Sharif. Among his great archaeological discoveries are the Valley of the Golden Mummies and the tombs of the pyramid builders. He also worked to scan all of the royal mummies. In doing so, he uncovered the mummies of queen Hatshepsut and queen Tye.

He recently announced the discovery of the Lost Golden City in Luxor. He’s now carefully excavating the Valley of the Kings, searching for the tomb of queen Nefertiti.

Hawass has published many books in the field of Egyptology. A recent work is “Zahi Hawass’ Secret Egypt”. He lectures all over the world. This year he embarks on a lecture tour in the United States. The itinerary includes 20 cities.

Hawass is also very busy digging in Saqqara, searching for the tomb of Imhotep, the famous architect who built the step pyramid. He will be using CT-Scans and DNA analysis to search for the mummies of queen Nefertiti and daughter Ankhsenamun.

 

Dr. Zahi Hawass was a Fulbright scholar at the University of Pennsylvania in 1987, where he did his Ph.D. In his native Egypt’s, he was the first Minister of Antiquities.

We talked to him during the Magna Graecia Film Festival in Calabria, Italy, an event Dr. Hawass has attended many times before. This year, the festival screened Tutankhamon, the Last Exhibition, a 2022 documentary by Ernesto Pagano about the discovery of the Tutankhamun tomb in 1922, as well as the preparation of the Tutankhamun exhibition launched in Los Angeles in 2019.

 

Dr. Hawass, can you tell us about all your television projects and specials?

The one about my life is done by Netflix. It centers on me searching for the tomb of Imhotep. Imhotep was the first architect in history who built pyramids of stone, five thousand years ago, at Saqqara. The Netflix film follows me around.

People know me through my discoveries but they don’t know much about my life. The film is 90 minutes long and will be shown all over the world in 192 languages.

When will this Netflix special be aired?

In about three months. This really was the most difficult film I did. It took lots of my time for the last six months. It took them a year to finish it. The film follows me. I’m excavating in the valleys and the hills, searching for the tomb of Nefertiti and the tomb of Ankhesenamon, queen of Tutankhamun. In the film, we pay special attention to Saqqara, a site encompassing more than 11 pyramids and tombs.

Regarding the Discovery film, what will be the big novelties there?

It’s a two-hour film, which will be aired on November 4^th, marking the 100th anniversary since the unveiling of the tomb of Tutankhamun. It’s very important to make a new film about the subject. There are many new things about Tutankhamun, like the use of DNA in our search for members of his family.

We are also going to find out how he died. At the same time, we are searching for the mummies of Queen Nefertiti and her daughter. In October there will be a big announcement about how Tutankhamun died and about the discovery of Nefertiti’s mummy.

Do you already know how Tutankhamun died?

We know for sure that he had an accident. But, to prove that, we need to show if he contracted an infection or not. We are searching now for an infection in his left leg. If there is an infection, that means he died as a result of an accident. This would finally solve the mystery surrounding this golden boy, Tutankhamun, after 100 years.

You also made some discoveries in Asia, right?

Yes, a very important discovery. Last year, in Asia, we made one of the most important discoveries in the world. Actually, there will be a big event here in Italy, in October, to celebrate that. I cannot reveal anything more. I found the Golden City.

This Golden City was found in Luxor, near the tomb of Tutankhamun. This is the most important discovery. The Golden City goes back to the reign of Amenhotep III.

We know about tombs and temples but this is the first time that we discover a large city. We consider it the largest settlement ever found in Egypt. The city tells us about the life of the artisans and the workmen who really made that civilization.

There’s been all this talk about how you were the real inspiration behind the character of Indiana Jones. What does that mean to you in your work as an archaeologist?

Archaeologists are usually people sitting in offices studying books. They never tell the public anything. I’m really happy to be the one who really began to teach the public about archaeology through films, television, and everywhere.

That’s why I think I am the only archaeologist known worldwide. I explain my findings to the public in a simple way. I make the subject matter approachable to all.

I was talking yesterday in a theater here in Catanzaro, in Calabria, and I really loved the questions from the audience. They were asking many interesting questions, showing how the film has captured the hearts of people everywhere. That really makes me happy.

Tell us how it all started. When did you first feel that archeology was, in a way, the love of your life?

Since I was about 25. That’s when I discover my true calling. I also became Egypt’s Minister of the Antiquities, in 2011. But I quit that job because I began loving the actual process of excavating, making exciting discoveries, revealing things, and working on the pyramids.

It’s inevitable that I ask you about Indiana Jones. Did you ever talk with Steven Spielberg about that connection?

Not with Spielberg, but with the actual person who created Indiana Jones: George Lucas. Lucas came to Cairo and he asked to see me. We had dinner together. He said: ‘You know, the reason I came is to ask one question: why did your hat become more famous than Harrison Ford’s?’   I told him: ‘My hat is the genuine archaeologist  hat, but Harrison Ford’s hat is a fake one.’  

Can I then see your hat?

Come to Cairo and I’ll show you!