The Supreme Council of Antiquities has marked a day of homage to those archaeologists who spent their lives exploring, enriching, documenting and preserving Egypt's heritage, reports Nevine El-Aref If any ancient Egyptian spirits are still with us, then they were gathered at the Cairo Opera House last week when Egyptologists met to celebrate their first official day of tribute. The grand theatre became a temple for the day, embellished with a noble façade, columns and statues of ancient Egyptian Pharaohs and deities. The stage had a special backdrop featuring animated ancient Egyptian workmen carving the title of the gathering: "The First Day of Archaeologists" on a limestone wall. Strains of classical music filled the theatre hall as foreign and Egyptian archaeologists were welcomed by Zahi Hawass, secretary-general of the Supreme Council of Antiquities (SCA). From next year on the day will be held annually on 14 January. This is the date when, in 1953, the Egyptian Antiquities Authority (EAA) became an Egyptian-run organisation headed by Mustafa Amer, the first Egyptian archaeologist to oversee Egypt's antiquities. This year's event was also scheduled for 14 January but was delayed because Hawass underwent an emergency eye operation. "I cannot describe my happiness and joy to be among my professors, colleagues and students where we can exchange our knowledge, information and experiences in archaeology," Hawass said in his opening speech. "Today, after years of working in my beloved field, I am very proud of what the SCA has achieved not only to restore, preserve and protect Egypt's heritage but also to enrich and develop the life of archaeologists," he went on. Now, he continued, a social club for archaeologists is under construction in Al-Fustat, while plans for a hospital for members of the profession are being studied. Administration officers are also looking at ways to increase archaeologists' salaries and retirement pensions. During the ceremony seven archaeologists in particular were honoured with a certificate and a golden collar. These were Abdel-Hamid Zayed, Abdel-Rahman Abdel-Tawwab and Ahmed Abdel-Hamid Youssef as well as four deceased archaeologists: Ahmed Pasha Kamal, Selim Pasha Hassan, Mustafa Amer and restorer Ahmed Youssef. Ahmed Pasha Kamal: The godfather of Egyptian archaeologists, Kamal spent his whole life supporting Egyptian archaeologists and placing them within the framework of the Egyptian Antiquities Authority. The first Egyptian to be appointed to an archaeological post at the Egyptian Museum, he wrote several archaeological books and in 1903 he translated Maspero's book about the Egyptian Museum into Arabic. Kamal was responsible for several discoveries, among them was the Deir Al-Bahari cachette where he unearthed 40 identified mummies dating from the 17th to the 21st dynasties. Selim Pasha Hassan: Hassan was one of the earliest archaeologists, and is said to have created archaeology in Arabic language. In 1953 he was put in charge of the protection of antiquities in the Nile Valley, and he excavated several sites in Giza for the Egyptian Museum and Fouad I university. He was the first to excavate the area in front of the Sphinx and its valley. Among Hassan's most interesting discoveries was the tomb of Khentkawas, the fourth pyramid of Giza. In 1936, he was the first Egyptian to be appointed wakil of the EAA, where he exerted all his efforts to the return of the archaeological collection in the possession of the Egyptian royal family in order for it to be exhibited in the Egyptian Museum. Mustafa Amer: In addition to being the first Egyptian to head the EAA, in his day Amer was the head of Cairo University and general secretary of the Ministry of Education. Among his archaeological work was the excavation at the prehistoric cemeteries in Maadi and Heliopolis. In 1953 he located Khufu's solar boats in Giza. Ahmed Youssef: Youssef was known as Sheikh Al-Moramemeen, or the leader of Egyptian restorers. Restoring a jewellery box of Pharaoh Akhnaten -- now exhibited at the Egyptian Museum -- was his pass to the world of restorers. He restored several objects at the Egyptian and Coptic museums among which are the granite statue of Queen Hatshepsut and Anubis. After retirement he helped with the restoration of Khufu's solar boat, which took almost 27 years of hard and accurate restoration. Abdel-Hamid Zayed: A pioneering archaeologist who introduced the science of museology to Egypt, Zayed wrote several archaeological books in Arabic and English and shared in writing Gamal Mokhtar's book about ancient Egyptian history. Ahmed Abdel-Hamid Youssef: Youssef led the move to establish the ancient Egyptian documentation centre, which listed and classified the Nubian monuments before and after the international 1960s salvage operation. He focused his work on the Luxor monuments, and his participation in several national and international archaeological organisations helped popularise Egyptology.
