Although our pharaonic civilization is of an Egyptian nature whether geographical or historical,It is interesting to note the most prominent scholars of Egyptology are of a foreign nature ,and that study of Egyptology is a branch of archaeology that deals with the study of ancient Egyptian history such as literature, language, art, religion and fossils . What's more, they didn't get the prominence in vain, but for their archaeological discoveries, which made them monopolize that science . A quick look at the six scientists that have emerged over the last two centuries will make us realize that fact, and one of the most important of all was the following:
"August Mariet"
The French scholar "August Ferdinan Francois Mariet"was born in" bouloni sur meyer"city in northern France in 1812.He came to Egypt in 1850 ,He was sent by the French government to look for some monuments and manuscripts,He became the first foreign scientist to be titled with Pasha, an elevated Egyptian title of the time. The reason he got it was his discoveries that affected the archaeological life in Egypt, as well as his establishment of the Egyptian museum and the Egyptian antiquities agency which later became the supreme council of antiquities.
Mariet has been in Egypt for 30 years,He continued searching for Egyptian antiquities and started with Saqqara area.He carried out great potholes until he unearthed the calfs' grave "Sarabum" and he worked in excavation alone without any official connection to the government. He has transferred to France much of what was found such as antiques and ancient paintings. One day the French engineer "Ferdinan Delesips decided to become responsible for the affairs of antiques in Egypt, and succeeded in convincing "Saeed Please" his close friend who awarded him the position in 1858,Mariet did his job officially for the first time, He excavated antiquities and monuments and all of them were moved to warehouses set up for them in Bolaq district.
During the reign of Ismail Pasha, he repaired and expanded the warehouses of Bolaq to become the first and largest home of Egyptian antiquities and monuments until the end of the century. Throughout this period, he made great discoveries, and discovered many of the most important discoveries in the temple of the naval monastery, as well as some monuments in the temple of Karnak and Hapu in luxor. He also discovered the statue of Khafra in Giza, the statue of the sitting writer and Sheikh El Balad in the area of Saqqara.
"Gaston Maspiro"
The French scholar "Gaston Camil Charles Maspiro" was born in Paris to two Italian parents in 1846. He showed an early interest in ancient Egyptian civilization and before he reached 14, he was able to read two hieroglyphic texts . He got the two texts from the archaeologist" August mariet".Then he studied Egyptology alone by learning the Egyptian antiquities preserved in the Louvre Museum and the inscriptions on the Egyptian obelisk in Concorde square then he became known in scientific milieus after translating the texts of"Mariet".
Maspero came to Egypt at the head of the French mission in 1881, 5th of January and 13 days just before the death of August Mariet.He was fluent in Arabic which qualified him to become the director of the Egyptian antiquities department and custodian of the Egyptian antiquities museum in Bolaq when he was only 34 years old.
Maspero has many great discoveries qualifies him to replace professor mariet. He completed the excavations carried out by Mariet in Saqara and expanded the research borders. He was particularly interested in tombs containing important pharaonic texts that enrich the hieroglyphic language. He have already found 4,000 portions which he photographed and printed and his name has been closely associated with the naval monastery in Luxor. He has worked on excavation and digging for long periods. He later founded the French institute of antiquities in Cairo which he created specifically to study Egyptian antiquities of all kinds.
The most important thing Gaston maspero has done throughout his residency in Egypt is his constant fight against stealing Egyptian antiquities so he transferred hundreds of mummies and looted antiquities to the Egyptian museum. He could impose a new law in 1912, which dictated that people were not allowed to excavate but limited only to scientific missions after approving its project,Diggers are not allowed to get the half of what they find but they only get pieces that have its parallel in Cairo museum . The diggers may granted an exit visa from Egypt only if he leaves the archaeological site in a satisfactory manner which aroused the anger and hatred of foreign smugglers and traders of antiquities,He also imposed a charge for watching the view of archaeological sites to compensate the costs of prospecting and maintenance.
"Haward Carter"
The English archaeologist Howard Carter was born in Kensington County in London,in 1874. He was so passionate about Egyptian civilization that in 1891 he ventured to come to Cairo when he was only 17 years old,He started studying the hieroglyphic inscription and painting .Before he was 20 years old, he worked at archaeological discoveries in the tombs of beni hassan, The headquarter of the graveyards of the princes of middle Egypt who ruled Egypt 4,000 years ago.He then worked at many archaeological sites in the areas of Tal El Amarna, Edfo and Abu Simbl,He also discovered traces belonging to Queen Hatchebsout in the cemetery of the naval monastery in 1899,As a result, he took a job in the Egyptian supreme council, He resigned in 1906 because of a dispute between Egyptian archaeological site guards and some French tourists.
In 1907 after many years described as barren , Carter recognized Lord George Edward Stanford molinx Herbert who was known as Lord Carnarvon.An English aristocrat who is an enthusiastic fan of exploratory expeditions so he easily agreed to fund carter's expeditions.Later, carter became responsible for all of carnarvon's excavations works. Infact, Howard carter later became one of the most prestigious scientists ever who engraved their names in the history of Egyptian science for his valuable discoveries.Perhaps the most notable ever was the discovery of the tomb of the unknown pharaoh Tut Ankh Amun, an 18th pharaoh of the Egyptian family on 4th of November in 1922.
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