The Supreme Council of Antiquities (SCA) is currently running a competition for children in the governorates of Cairo, Alexandria, Ismailiya, Beni Suef, Luxor and Aswan.

"Called the Golden Pharaoh Children Festival", the competition aims at spreading awareness of the Ancient Egyptian civilization and the Pharaohs.

"We will go to children everywhere to teach them about their ancestors," SCA Secretary-General Zahi Hawass told The Gazette...

SCA launches Children's competition, State Information Service, Egypt, August 01, 2005.

Minister of Culture Farouk Hosni is to open three mosques noted for their archaeological richness in Al-Azhar district today.   This follows on from development under the auspices of the ongoing national project to save and develop archaeological sites...

3 old mosques restored, State Information Service, Egypt, July 31, 2005.

by Amr Emam

Statues and artefacts dating back to the time of Rameses II have been unearthed in Cairo.

Secretary General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities (SCA) Dr Zahi Hawass told The Gazette yesterday that the items were found in Mataryia, a north eastern suburb of the capital.

Dr Hawass added that Mataryia was originally an important political and cultural centre in ancient times and was probably the location of one of the world's first universities.

An excavation team in Souk el-Khamis (Thursday Market) found the remains of a big temple and unearthed several statues.

Dr Hawass said SCA officials would be exploring the earth under the great Pyramid by the end of this year.

"We will send a robot camera under the structure to give us a hint about what might be there behind the stone doors of the great Pyramid," Dr Hawass said.

It is believed that discovering what lies behind these doors might help researchers answer many questions about the ancient Egyptians.

Dr Hawass noted that archaeologists also found six new chambers near to the great Pyramid. Inside one of these rooms, which are "intact", some 404 small statues were found.

"The statues, known as shwabti, were meant to answer questions for the deceased in the after- world," Dr Hawass said.

Rameses II artefacts unearthed in Cairo suburb, The Egyptian Gazette, Egypt, July 31, 2005.

cf. Rameses II artefacts unearthed in Cairo suburb, State Information Service, Egypt, July 31, 2005.

A large number of Egyptologists have come together in support of Dr. Zahi Hawass and written to the editor of the Times with regard to the article that appeared in the Sunday Times on 22nd May 2005.

We are writing to express our regret about the injudicious and inaccurate May 22, 2005 article about Dr. Zahi Hawass, Secretary-General of the Egyptian Supreme Council of Antiquities.

As archaeologists and epigraphers working at many sites throughout Egypt (in most cases for many years), we completely reject the assertion that Dr. Hawass has created an atmosphere of intimidation, so far as such foreign- sponsored work is concerned.   Dr. Hawass and his colleagues in the SCA have been unfailingly and generously supportive and cooperative as regards our projects.   In addition, Dr. Hawass and his colleagues have vigorously promoted the protection of archaeological sites and monuments throughout Egypt as the need for expanded land use has become necessary and acute.

From our perspective, Dr. Hawass is a most positive figure...

Generous support, The Times, UK, July 31, 2005.

cf. King Tut tut tut, The Times, UK, May 22, 2005.