Famed Egyptologist slated to speak at Incline college

Arguably the most prominent man in Egyptian archaeology will visit Incline Village Wednesday.

Dr. Zahi Hawass, secretary general of the Supreme Council of Antiquities and director of the Giza Pyramids and Bahriya Oasis Excavations, will give a guest lecture at 6 p.m. Wednesday at Sierra Nevada College.

Most notably recognized for his discoveries concerning King Tutankhamun's death, Hawass is also the author of many books, including the most recent, "Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs," which he will sign at SNC.

Hawass has appeared on numerous TV shows, including "Today Show," "CBS Sunday Morning," The Discovery Channel and National Geographic specials documenting his discoveries.

"It makes the heart tremble when you open an undiscovered tomb," Hawass said in a phone interview from Dayton, Ohio, a stop on a tour sponsored National Geographic. Hawass was lecturing at the Art Institute of Dayton.

Hawass found his love of archaeology in an ancient tomb during his first dig in Egypt.

"When I was 16, I wanted to be a lawyer," he said. "I joined the faculty and bought the books. And then I discovered that I didn't like the books so I decided to join the archaeology department."

Initially, Hawass said he found the archaeologists to be dull and without ambition so he pursued a failed career as a diplomat.

"I went back to archaeology, and I went out on a dig to a tomb," he said. "And there I found a statue of Aphrodite, the goddess of beauty and love. And when I was brushing the statue, I said to myself, 'I have found my love, archaeology.'"

Hawass earned a Ph.D in Egyptology from the University of Pennsylvania on a Fulbright Scholarship. His three years as secretary general of the Supreme Council of Antiquities have included demanding the return of five key ancient Egyptian treasures, including the Rosetta Stone, from foreign museums. He has also sought to upgrade the skills and knowledge of the SCA's 30,000 employees to conserve and protect Egypt's ancient heritage.

Hawass' lecture will include a slide show of his recent digs and discoveries and question-and -answer session following the lecture. For more information, call (775) 831-1314 or e-mail tahoeforum@sierranevada.edu.