Dr. Zahi Hawass - Adventures inArchaeology The Secretary General of the Egyptian Supreme Council of Antiquities comes to Manchester.

M2 PRESSWIRE-January 13, 2011-: Dr. Zahi Hawass - Adventures inArchaeology The Secretary General of the Egyptian Supreme Council of Antiquities comes to Manchester(C)1994-2011 M2 COMMUNICATIONS

RDATE:13012011

Dr. Zahi Hawass, Secretary General of the Egyptian Supreme Council of Antiquities, Vice-Culture Minister for Egypt and one of the most important Egyptologists in the world today, will be holding his first public lecture in Manchester at Bridgewater Hall on Friday, 4 February 2011 in conjunction with Tutankhamun His Tomb and His Treasures. In his 90 minute multimedia lecture Dr. Hawass will discuss Egypts most famous pharaoh; Tutankhamun, the search for the tomb of Queen Nefertiti, new insights on the tombs in the Valley of the Kings and the exciting research into the tombs of Cleopatra and Mark Anthony. He will also draw on biographical anecdotes and personal experiences from his many years of scientific activity, including his current excavations at Giza and latest project revealing the secrets of the mummy of Ramesses III.

Dr. Hawass said: Every time I go to the Egyptian Museum with visitors or a film crew, I always love to take them up to the room of Tutankhamun's treasures and show them the boy king's golden mask. This beautiful treasure, which was unfortunately cut from the face of Tutankhamun with hot knives, is one of the most beautiful and stirring images of ancient Egypt. I have worked so much with Tutankhamun and his family over the past several years and I look forward to sharing my stories in Manchester.

The lecture sees Hawass return to the UK after his sell-out speech in front of 2,300 visitors at the IndigO Theatre in Londons O2 Arena, back in August 2008. Highly regarded among experts for his commitment to drawing worldwide attention to Egypts history and treasures, Hawass has made a decisive contribution to the lasting public legacy of Ancient Egypt and the far-reaching cultural significance of this era. Hawass has made a number of major discoveries over the course of his career, including the Tombs of the Pyramid Builders at Giza and the Valley of the Golden Mummies at Bahariya Oasis. He soon plans to reveal the secrets of the hidden doors inside the Great Pyramid, and he most recently completed work on clearing the mysterious tunnel in the tomb of Seti I. He has been a consultant for documentaries, films, television specials, and magazine stories and has written extensively on Egyptian archaeology, most recently publishing books on Cleopatra, the tombs of the New Kingdom nobles and a limited-edition photographic volume on the Theban Necropolis. Hawass was recently awarded the Personality of the Year Award by La Asociacin Plataforma Para El Fomento de Los Oficios Artisticos (APFOA) in recognition of his efforts to preserve Egypts cultural and archaeological heritage. Hawass was chosen by the APFOA because he has brought the wonders of Egypts heritage to the world through his discoveries and restoration projects.

Dr. Hawass continues What is important to me is that I have the great good fortune to spend my days doing something I love, and being given the opportunity to make a difference in the world. Following his lecture, visitors will be treated to a book signing and be able to get signed copies of Hawass books including his long-awaited new childrens book King Tut and I. Tutankhamun His Tomb and His Treasures is based at the Museum of Museums at the Trafford Centre Manchester. This awe-inspiring exhibition carries visitors on a captivating journey through time into the lost wonders of ancient Egypt and reveals the epic story of the discovery of the forgotten tomb of the Boy King, giving visitors the opportunity to look through Howard Carters eyes and experience the amazing moment of discovery for themselves. Over 4,000 square metres of exhibition space, replicas of 1,000 burial artefacts and state-of-the-art multimedia technology brings to life the story of Tutankhamun and the fascinating cultural and spiritual world of ancient Egypt. The Exhibition continues until Sunday 27 February 2011. Visit www.tutankhamunmanchester.com for more info. The lecture is presented by Semmel Concerts (promoter of the exhibition Tutankhamun His Tomb and His Treasures in Manchester) and in conjunction with The Manchester Ancient Egypt Society.

LECTURE DETAILS

Dr. Zahi Hawass - Adventures inArchaeology Friday 4 February 2011, 7.30pm Bridgewater Hall, Manchester Tickets: 15 - 20, Concessions: 10, Children (up to 16 yrs) & School Groups: 7 How to Book: In person at the Bridgewater Hall Box Office, Lower Mosley Street Manchester. Alternatively, call 0161 907 9000* or www.bridgewater-hall.co.uk* / www.ticketmaster.co.uk*

*Price includes VAT, service charges apply for internet and telephone bookings.

For more information, images or interview requests, please contact John Bridge at Bill Elms Associates on 0151 245 0136 | 07792463135 | john@billelms.com

Notes to Editors

A little about Dr. Zahi Hawass

World-renowned archaeologist Zahi Hawass currently serves as Secretary General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, and directs ongoing excavations at Giza, Saqqara, and in the Valley of the Kings. Dr. Hawass received his PhD in 1987 from the University of Pennsylvania, where he studied as a Fulbright Fellow. He has written numerous scholarly articles and books, and is highly respected as an Egyptologist. In addition, Dr. Hawass is known for his charisma and his ability to reach out to the public, raising awareness of archaeology and the preservation of Egypts precious heritage. Dr. Hawass has made a number of major discoveries over the course of his career, including the Tombs of the Pyramid Builders at Giza and the Valley of the Golden Mummies at Bahariya Oasis. He soon plans to reveal the secrets of the hidden doors inside the Great Pyramid, and he most recently completed work on clearing the mysterious tunnel in the tomb of Seti I. One of the most significant research efforts that Dr. Hawass is currently leading is the Egyptian Mummy Project (EMP), which is using modern forensic techniques such as CT scanning and DNA analysis to answer questions about human remains from ancient Egypt. Through the EMP, Dr. Hawass has been able to identify the mummy of Queen Hatshepsut, uncover the family of King Tutankhamun and solve the mystery of the murder of Ramesses III. Dr. Hawass has been a consultant for documentaries, films, television specials, and magazine stories and has written extensively on Egyptian archaeology. He most recently has published books on Cleopatra, New Kingdom nobles tombs and a limited-edition photographic volume on the Theban necropolis. Over the course of his distinguished career, Dr. Hawass has been presented with numerous honours, including four honorary doctorates and countless other awards. He is currently working on a new series of childrens books, which will cover topics such as King Tut, how to become an archaeologist and Dr. Hawass favourite monuments, the Giza pyramids.

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