Who Is Zahi Hawass, the Controversial Face of Modern Egyptology?

"As academics go, Hawass is impressively intrepid in his bid for new audiences. Last year, he made an appearance on Joe Rogan's podcast, racking up millions of views as the "worst guest ever" for passionately refusing to engage with wild conspiracy theories, including that aliens built the pyramids. Though Hawass clearly enjoys the spotlight, his flair for storytelling and spectacle has brought deserved attention to a suite of significant discoveries in the field of Egyptology."

"The most staggering of these came in 2021, under Hawass's stewardship. The lost Golden City is a 3,000-year-old metropolis of humble dwellings, workshops, a bakery and a brick factory that was been dubbed the "ancient Egyptian Pompeii." In The Man With the Hat, the camera lingers over many of its standout treasures, including precious blue pottery made by local artisans."

"In The Man With the Hat, the camera lingers over many of its standout treasures, including precious blue pottery made by local artisans. The find was an astonishing "accident" that emerged from the search for Tutankhanum's funerary temple, Hawass told me, estimating that only 30 percent of Egypt's ancient monuments have yet been unearthed. The most highly anticipated of these is the tomb of queen Nefertiti, which Hawass believes lies undisturbed"

Zahi Hawass is a 78-year-old Egyptian archaeologist and former minister for antiquities who led projects including the $1 billion Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM). He frequently appears on television and public platforms, using storytelling and spectacle to make ancient Egypt accessible. A documentary presents his rise while largely sidestepping controversies. He maintains that archaeology needs theatrical "spices" to attract broader audiences. He appeared on a major podcast and rejected conspiracy theories, including claims that aliens built the pyramids. In 2021 he oversaw the accidental discovery of the lost Golden City, a 3,000-year-old urban site with workshops and distinctive blue pottery. He estimates only about 30 percent of Egypt's ancient monuments have been excavated and believes Queen Nefertiti's tomb may remain undisturbed.

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